Weather Alert in Montana
Winter Storm Watch issued March 31 at 10:34AM MDT until April 3 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
AREAS AFFECTED: Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains; Butte/Blackfoot Region; Potomac/Seeley Lake Region
DESCRIPTION: * WHAT...Heavy snow possible. There is a chance of moderate to major winter weather impacts. Total snow accumulations between 6 and 12 inches possible for terrain above 5500 feet, including MacDonald Pass, Homestake Pass, Lost Trail Pass and Lolo Pass. 2 to 6 inches possible down to 3000 feet, including Butte, Seeley Lake and Anaconda. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...Butte, Highway 12 Garrison to Elliston, I-90 East Missoula to Bearmouth, Georgetown Lake, Highway 93 Sula to Lost Trail Pass, Highway 83 Seeley Lake to Condon, Lolo Pass, MacDonald Pass, Homestake Pass, and Highway 200 Bonner to Greenough. * WHEN...From Thursday morning through late Thursday night. * IMPACTS...For MODERATE winter weather impacts, expect disruptions to normal activities. Hazardous traveling conditions. Use extra caution while driving. Closures and disruptions to infrastructure may occur. For MAJOR winter weather impacts, expect considerable disruptions to normal activities. Dangerous or impossible traveling conditions. Avoid travel in the impacted areas if possible. Widespread closures and disruptions to infrastructure may occur. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning and evening commutes, especially over higher passes. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Heavy, wet snow may cause power outages and tree damage.
INSTRUCTION: Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
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Weather Topic: What is Rain?
Home - Education - Precipitation - Rain
Next Topic: Shelf Clouds
Precipitation in the form of water droplets is called rain.
Rain generally has a tendency to fall with less intensity over a greater period
of time, and when rainfall is more severe it is usually less sustained.
Rain is the most common form of precipitation and happens with greater frequency
depending on the season and regional influences. Cities have been shown to have
an observable effect on rainfall, due to an effect called the urban heat island.
Compared to upwind, monthly rainfall between twenty and forty miles downwind of
cities is 30% greater.
Next Topic: Shelf Clouds
Weather Topic: What is Sleet?
Home - Education - Precipitation - Sleet
Next Topic: Snow
Sleet is a form of precipitation in which small ice pellets are the primary
components. These ice pellets are smaller and more translucent than hailstones,
and harder than graupel. Sleet is caused by specific atmospheric conditions and
therefore typically doesn't last for extended periods of time.
The condition which leads to sleet formation requires a warmer body of air to be
wedged in between two sub-freezing bodies of air. When snow falls through a warmer
layer of air it melts, and as it falls through the next sub-freezing body of air
it freezes again, forming ice pellets known as sleet. In some cases, water
droplets don't have time to freeze before reaching the surface and the result is
freezing rain.
Next Topic: Snow
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