Winter Storm — Eastern Pondera, Montana

2020-04-12 · Eastern Pondera, Montana

Event narrative

Storm total snow from Friday evening through Sunday morning 9 inches. Reported via facebook. Report time and location are approximated.

Wider weather episode

A significant winter storm affects the region. Forecasts remain, generally, on track. Heaviest snow accumulation remains focused on the east slopes of The Rockies and along and to the north of The Little Belts. Total accumulations of 1 foot are forecast across areas of western Teton, NW Lewis and Clark, Judith Basin and Fergus counties near the mountains, where impacts to travel, agricultural and outdoor activities are greatest. Initial shift to northwesterly winds across the northern half of the forecast area with cooling behind the initial frontal feature a bit less aggressive than anticipated. Temperatures cooling to the 40s across the northern tier of the forecast area and to the 30s upstream over Alberta, and cooler temperatures gradually spread south into the

area. Onset of precipitation is somewhat nebulous with showers increasing through early evening before a more widespread surge of moisture and colder air moves south. Timing for heaviest precipitation across central MT shifted a bit later. While the arrival of snow and colder temperatures is somewhat slower, overall precipitation

amounts change little. Temperatures fall into the 20s for most areas north of I90, and locally high snowfall rates lead to icy or at least snow and slush covered roadways. Northerly to easterly winds increase with the arrival of colder air, creating areas of blowing and drifting snow in exposed areas. Steady or falling temperatures possibly reach as cold as the single digits in some locations.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 889838. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.