Well...welcome to June weather in NW Montana...which happens to include Glacier National Park.
Absolutely GORGEOUS this past weekend...and now this.
The forecast I cut and pasted is an ugly one for the coming 24-48 hours.
As some here know, I helped
nevagunamakit and her three friends with planning her backpack this week.
They got a terrific itinerary
In at Chief
COS
MOK
ELF (three nights!)
and out
I hope they got their sh1t together. Things could get right
interesting in the Belly with that forecast.
It starting to look ugly outside now here in Whitefish... and to the East and the park.
pocketlint
000
FXUS65 KMSO 182015
AFDMSO
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
215 PM MDT Tue Jun 18 2013
.DISCUSSION...An active weather scenario is setting up for the
next 24-48 hours as a low pressure system begins to approach and move
through western Montana and north central Idaho. Below are listed
the main impacts with this system:
***Strong Thunderstorms***: Thunderstorms are already beginning to
form this afternoon under good surface heating and lots of energy
and moisture aloft, a favorable pattern for strong to severe
thunderstorms exists. The storms are expected to come in two main waves.
The first wave is expected to form across southwest Montana this
afternoon and move northward into west central and northwest
Montana (generally east of a line from Hamilton to Missoula to
Kalispell) this afternoon and evening. A second wave of
thunderstorms will develop tonight over north central Idaho and
move into northwest Montana (generally west of a line from Lost
Trail Pass to Lowell to Plains to Eureka) overnight.
Thunderstorms will have the potential to produce very heavy rain
(which could affect flood prone basins and recent burn areas in
Idaho county), hail potentially over 1 inch in diameter and
strong winds greater than 50 mph. Those with outdoor activities
today and tonight should keep an eye to the sky.
***Heavy rain***: As the upper low pressure system moves into the
region tonight and Wednesday, a scenario for very heavy rain is
developing. The heaviest rain is expected across the Clearwater
mountains into the Idaho panhandle and across northwest Montana.
1" to 2" of rain are possible in these areas tonight through
Wednesday night. River and stream levels will likely rise
although flooding is not anticipated at this time. There could be
localized issues with ponding of water on roadways in urban
areas. Elsewhere, most all of the region should see a wetting
rain however amounts will be lower as you head into southwest
Montana and Lemhi County. Another wave of moisture and energy
associated with the upper low pressure system will impact
northern Idaho and western Montana Wednesday afternoon. This
could mean an additional 0.25 to 0.75 inch of rain, with the
higher amounts in the higher terrain of northwest Montana.
***High terrain and mountain pass snow***: As the upper low
pressure system approaches late Wednesday, much cooler air will
rush into northern Idaho and western Montana. Snow levels should
be between 6000 to 7000 feet with some slushy snow/road impacts
possible over higher mountain passes such as Lost Trail Pass by
Thursday morning. However, by the time the cooler air arrives,
the heaviest precipitation should shift north into Canada and
well east of the Divide. The upper low pressure system will
continue to direct surges of moisture and a very cool air mass
over the northern Rockies Friday and Saturday. Higher terrain
areas should continue to see some additional snow.
In the longer term, the very cool and moist low pressure system
should exit to the east late Saturday. However, it appears a moist
westerly flow may set up over the northern Rockies late Sunday,
Monday and Tuesday with additional showers.