Advisory Archive

The mountains around Cooke City are in a solar system of their own. Another 12-16 inches of dense snow has fallen in the last 24 hours and it’s still snowing. The Bridger Range only picked up another inch and the other ranges got 3-5”, but the amounts are misleading since the snow was very wet and it rained to 7,000 feet. Currently mountain temperatures are near freezing with lower 20s being recorded around West Yellowstone and Cooke City. West to southwest winds are averaging 20-30 mph with gusts of 40, except up Hyalite where the gusts have hit 60 mph. Today will be cloudy, winds will decrease and another 2-4 inches will fall around Cooke City.

Over the past 24 hours the mountains near Cooke City have picked up 15” of new snow. The mountains near West Yellowstone and Big Sky have picked up 10-12” while the mountains near Bozeman have picked up 4-8”. Currently, it’s still snowing hard with the exception of the Bridger Range where snowfall has briefly let up. Temperatures are on the rise with most mountain locations reading in the 20s F. Winds are strong out of the W-SW blowing 15-30 mph with upper elevation gusts reaching close to 50 mph. Today, snow will continue over the entire forecast area. The mountains near Cooke City and West Yellowstone will likely pick up 6-10” during the day while the mountains around Bozeman and Big Sky will pick up 4-6”. Light snow will continue tonight with a few more inches possible.

Overnight the Bridger Range picked up four inches of new snow. The rest of the advisory area picked up 1-3 inches. This morning, temperatures range from the single digits to low teens F and winds are light out of the W-NW. Today, an unsettled northwest flow will continue to produce light showers over much of the area with an additional 2-4 inches possible by this afternoon. Temperatures will warm into the upper teens F and winds will remain light to moderate out of the W-NW. A more potent storm system arrives tonight bringing with it heavier snow and stronger winds. The mountains near Bozeman and Big Sky could see 3-5 inches tonight while the mountains around West Yellowstone and Cooke City could pick 6-8 inches. Snow will continue through the day tomorrow.

Over the past twelve hours the Bridger Range received nearly 12 inches of new snow. The mountains near Big Sky including the northern Gallatin Range picked up 3-5 inches while the mountains around West Yellowstone and Cooke City squeezed out 1-3 inches. This morning light snow continues to fall and temperatures are in the teens F. Winds are blowing 10-20 mph out of the W-NW with stronger gusts being recorded around Big Sky. Today, snow will taper off by late morning and temperatures will remain in the teens F. Winds will continue to blow 10-20 out of the W-NW with stronger gusts possible along the ridgelines. Another round of snow will develop late tonight with 2-4 inches possible by tomorrow morning.

Another inversion this morning means the mountains have temperatures in the teens F while valley locations have temperatures below zero F. Today will have some sunshine and temperatures will rise into the 20s F. Winds should blow from the western half of the compass today 10-15 mph gusting to 25 mph. A storm will descend from the NW and snowfall should begin late this afternoon near Bozeman.

It’s hard to predict when the Bridger Range gets clobbered with snow, but things are lining up for it tonight: NW flow, moisture, cold air, and good lifting. By tomorrow morning, 6-8 inches of snow could fall in the Bridger Range. South of Bozeman and near Big Sky 3-4 inches should fall. Further south near West Yellowstone and Cooke City, 1-3 inches should fall. Saturday should be mostly dry and cold with more snow coming Sunday during the day.

Temperatures this morning in the mountains were in the teens F and rising; however, valley locations had below zero temps like Hebgen lake (-18F) and Gallatin Field (-7F). Northerly winds in the Bridger Range were blowing 20-30 mph this morning, south of Bozeman and near Big Sky they were blowing 15-25 mph, and near Cooke City and West Yellowstone they were blowing 10-15 mph. Today will have some sunshine and temperatures that should reach the 20s F. Winds should calm and blow 5-10 mph all around the compass depending on where you are. Snow should return Friday night through the weekend.

I’m happy to report that mountain temperatures are +10F to +15F this morning, almost 25 degrees warmer than yesterday, because of an inversion (although it’s not as strong in the Bridger Range: +5F). Skies are mostly clear and winds shifted from the east to north and are currently averaging 15 mph with gusts reaching 30 mph. Today will be sunny as mountain temperatures climb towards 20F and ridgetop winds continue to blow steady out of the north to northwest.

Today freezing cold east winds will dominate the weather. After lots of snow over the weekend, winds shifted yesterday from the west to the east and blew 30-40 mph in the Bridger Range and 10-20 mph elsewhere. An arctic airmass pushed in last night and dropped temperatures to -15F to -22F in the mountains. Temperatures may reach the single digits today and drop to near -20F again tonight before a gradual warming trend tomorrow.

Over the past 24 hours the Bridger Range received close to a foot of new snow. The mountains near Big Sky including the northern Gallatin Range picked up 3-6 inches while the mountains near West Yellowstone and Cooke City picked up 2-3 inches. At 4 a.m. mountain temps are in the single digits above or below zero F and winds are light out of the E-NE. Today, temperatures will struggle to climb above zero F under partly cloudy skies and winds will remain light out of the E-NE. Calm and cold weather is in store for the next 24 hours.

Over the past 24 hours the Bridger Range has received over a foot of new snow. The rest of the advisory area has picked up 4-6 inches. At 4 a.m. it’s still snowing and temperatures are in the single digits to low teens F. Winds are blowing 10-20 mph out of the W-NW. Today, snow will continue with an additional 2-4 inches likely in most areas. The Bridger Range could see up to 6 inches by tonight. Today, temperatures will warm into the upper teens to low twenties F and winds will continue to blow 10-20 out of the W-NW. Cold air arrives tonight with lows dropping well below zero F.