Western Montana: Weather Service issues winter storm watch above 4,500 feet
120112 Weather drawing
Kyler Latrielle, age 6, of Missoula drew the weather page for today. Weather art from Montana kids runs every day in the Missoulian. To offer your child's (or students') creations, please send the artwork on an 8.5x11-inch piece of paper and carefully print your phone number and the name, age, birth date and hometown of the student. Horizontal pictures work best. Send pictures to Missoulian Weather Drawing, Missoulian, P.O.Box 8029, Missoula, MT 59807-8029. The newspaper holds on to each drawing for a month or so after publication, if you wish to stop by and retrieve it.
2012-12-01T05:59:00Z2012-12-01T06:04:41ZWestern Montana: Weather Service issues winter storm watch above 4,500 feetmissoulian.com
Good Saturday morning, western Montana! The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for elevations above 4,500 feet from Saturday night through Sunday.
That watch includes a forecast of moderate to heavy snowfall and gusty winds, beginning late Saturday. Up to a foot of snow is possible on western Montana's mountain passes and upper elevations.
Winds are forecast to be sustained at 20-30 mph, with gusts to 40 mph, with whiteout conditions possible on the major passes.
In the valleys, the weekend forecast calls for rain and much lighter winds.
Rain is likely today after 11 a.m., as valley temperatures warm to a high of 45 degrees. Tonight, look for continued rain showers after 11 and overnight lows of 35.
Here is the Weather Service's forecast for the week ahead in the Missoula Valley:
Sunday: Rain. High near 45. South southeast wind 6 to 16 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers before 11pm, then snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 31. Breezy, with a southwest wind 18 to 23 mph decreasing to 7 to 12 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Monday: A chance of rain and snow showers before 11am, then a chance of rain showers. Snow level rising to 3700 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29.
Tuesday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Wednesday: Rain and snow likely. Snow level 3400 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41.
Wednesday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.
Thursday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34.
Thursday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Friday: A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34.
That watch includes a forecast of moderate to heavy snowfall and gusty winds, beginning late Saturday. Up to a foot of snow is possible on western Montana's mountain passes and upper elevations.
Winds are forecast to be sustained at 20-30 mph, with gusts to 40 mph, with whiteout conditions possible on the major passes.
In the valleys, the weekend forecast calls for rain and much lighter winds.
Rain is likely today after 11 a.m., as valley temperatures warm to a high of 45 degrees. Tonight, look for continued rain showers after 11 and overnight lows of 35.
Here is the Weather Service's forecast for the week ahead in the Missoula Valley:
Sunday: Rain. High near 45. South southeast wind 6 to 16 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers before 11pm, then snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 31. Breezy, with a southwest wind 18 to 23 mph decreasing to 7 to 12 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Monday: A chance of rain and snow showers before 11am, then a chance of rain showers. Snow level rising to 3700 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29.
Tuesday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Wednesday: Rain and snow likely. Snow level 3400 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41.
Wednesday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.
Thursday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34.
Thursday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Friday: A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34.
