Winter Storm in Montana, November 28 to 30, 2014

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
150 PM MST FRI NOV 28 2014

...ARCTIC FRONT TO IMPACT NORTHERN ROCKIES TONIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY...
...BITTERLY COLD TEMPERATURES BY SUNDAY...

.DISCUSSION...With the arctic front now past the Canadian/US
border east of the Divide, it won't be long until the harsh
effects of the front will begin to impact western Montana and
central Idaho. Given the high confidence in this front and all of
its associated impacts tonight and through the weekend, various
winter storm warnings/advisories have been issued.

The main impacts still remain as follows:

1) SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW CAUSING INCLEMENT TRAVEL: Northwest
Montana will be hardest hit tonight into Saturday as far as
snowfall and gusty east winds are concerned. Locations along
Highway 93 from Eureka south and east to the Divide will be most
impacted, with travel expected to be nasty over Marias Pass due to
intense snow/blowing snow. Any wet roads caused by rainfall today
could flash freeze, creating an icy surface for snow to fall on,
exacerbating travel issues through Saturday morning.

Snow across west central Montana and north central Idaho will also
present travel problems, especially over mountain passes
connecting the Idaho/Montana border. Accumulations over passes
will be greater than in valleys, where roads may become difficult
for a time but aren't expected to last as long as across NW MT.
Those traveling over Lookout and Lolo passes will encounter very
snowy travel, so plan accordingly.

2) BITTERLY COLD TEMPS/WIND CHILLS: Behind the arctic front,
expect winds to remain elevated as the coldest air settles over
the region. Temps have been mild recently, remaining in the 40s
and 50s, but will crash into the single digits and teens by
Sunday. This will definitely be felt, especially Sunday and
Monday mornings when temps will be in the single digits. Wind
chills in the negatives should be anticipated during this time.

Next week will feature a slow warming trend to near normal
temperatures by mid-week. a series of weak weather systems will
spread a chance of light precipitation across the area.

&&

.AVIATION...Light rain today will transition to heavy mountain
snow and moderate to heavy valley snow starting around 29/0300Z.
Gusty winds up to 35 to 40 kts are likely at KGPI around this same
time frame and will last through Saturday morning, in addition to
low visibility and ceilings due to snow and blowing snow. All
other terminals will experience impacts to aviation due to
snowfall and gusty winds, but snowfall is not expected to be as
great in these areas. Periods of intense snowfall are still
likely, with intermittent ceiling/vis reductions. Expect inclement
conditions to affect the Northern Rockies through the day Saturday
before conditions start to finally ease up.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 8 PM this evening to 11 AM MST
     Saturday Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains...Butte/Blackfoot
     Region...Lower Clark Fork Region...Missoula/Bitterroot
     Valleys...Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.

     WINTER STORM WARNING from 8 PM this evening to 11 AM MST
     Saturday Flathead/Mission Valleys...West Glacier Region.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 8 PM this evening to 11 AM MST
     Saturday Kootenai/Cabinet Region.

ID...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM PST
     Saturday Northern Clearwater Mountains...Southern
     Clearwater Mountains.

     WIND ADVISORY until 10 PM PST this evening Orofino/Grangeville
     Region.

&&