MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST

Time and Day:  Monday 10/10/2016

The Snapshot:   It’s wonderful to see snow on Cowboy Ridge.  This morning’s radar has dry conditions over most of the state with the recent weather system heading into northern Montana.   The week will start out dry with a clearing trend.  A series of storms arrives mid-week with another wet weekend ahead.  

The Science:  2.56” of water fell over the weekend with last night’s freezing levels dropping to around 5000’.  The barometric pressure is on the rise with the atmosphere stabilizing over the PNW during the next 24hrs.   Therefore, clouds should begin to break up today with mostly dry conditions prevailing.  We should see a bit more sunshine tomorrow with clouds developing on Wednesday.    

The Long Range:  A large low-pressure system developing in the Gulf of Alaska this week will drive another series of storms through the PNW starting late Wednesday night or early Thursday.   Early forecast models have the freezing levels between 6000’ and 8000’ through the weekend. 

Precipitation Ending at 4am: Today 24hr water = 0 Snow = 0 Tomorrow’s 24hr water =  0 snow = 0 Trend and Timing: Dry today and tomorrow.

24hr temperature ending at 4 am tomorrow:                                        Low: 28    High: 38 Freezing level: 4500.' Trend and Timing:    Freezing levels will hover around 4500’ with early morning temps dropping below freezing.  Daytime temps will recover into the low 40’s tomorrow.

24hr Winds (mph) ending at 4 am tomorrow: Base: 0-5 NW Ridge Top: 0-10 WNW Trend and Timing: Light northwesterly winds today shifting easterly tomorrow.

jM