Winter System Update

Good morning. The Billings office of the National Weather Service has provided an update on the winter system moving into the area.

KEY POINTS

• First round of snow today into Wednesday.

• Heavier round of snow Wednesday night through Thursday.

• Beartooth, Absaroka and Crazy Mountains to pick up a foot or more of snow through Friday morning.

CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS BRIEFING

Increasing confidence on snow amounts and timing.

DETAILS

• Today:

  • Scattered snow showers this morning.

  • Area of more persistent light snow develops by afternoon and continue tonight.

  • Snow amounts will generally be light (around 1 inch) with heavier amounts northwest of Billings (2-3 inches).

    Wet roads due to melting snow could freeze tonight and make roads slick into Wednesday morning.

• Wednesday & Thursday:

  • Areas of light snow Wednesday morning, tapers off Wednesday afternoon.

  • A heavier round of snow develops Wednesday night and continues into Thursday evening.

  • Snow amounts: 2-4 inches over the plains, 3-6 inches in the foothills.

• Friday Through the Weekend:

  • Lingering light snow in the mountains and foothills Friday morning, but accumulations will be an inch or less.

  • Warmer and drier weather settles in for the weekend.

• Snow Total Forecast & Probabilities Today Through Friday morning:

  • General Snow Totals: 3-6 inches over the plains (highest northwest of Billings), 4-8 inches in the foothills.

  • GT=Greater Than, LT=Less Than.

    • Probability of 2 inches or more: Livingston=85%, Red Lodge=GT95%, Billings=90%, Sheridan=85%, Miles City=15%.

    • Probability of 4 inches or more: Livingston=45%, Red Lodge=90%, Billings=55%, Sheridan=60%, Miles City=LT5%.

    • Probability of 6 inches or more: Livingston=20%, Red Lodge=55%, Billings=20%, Sheridan=20%, Miles City=LT5%.

    • Probability of 8 inches or more: Livingston=LT5%, Red Lodge=20%, Billings=LT5%, Sheridan=LT5%, Miles City=LT5%.

• Mountains:

  • Heaviest snow on the west and southwest facing slopes.

  • General Snow Totals: 10-16 inches tonight through Friday morning Beartooth/Absaroka/Crazy Mountains.

    • Probability of 12 inches or more: 90% (west and southwest facing slopes).

  • Bighorn Mountains Snow Totals: 6-10 inches.

• Confidence & Uncertainty:

  • Confidence increasing on snow amounts and timing.