Weather Alert in Montana

Recent Locations: Moore, MT

Avalanche Warning issued February 23 at 6:44PM MST by NWS Missoula MT

AREAS AFFECTED: Kootenai/Cabinet Region

DESCRIPTION: AVWMSO The following message is transmitted at the request of Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center Sandpoint ID. ...AVALANCHE WARNING ISSUED BY THE IDAHO PANHANDLE AVALANCHE CENTER... 16:00 PST Mon Feb 23 2026 The Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center in Sandpoint has issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING for the following areas: NWS Missoula MT - MTZ001 (MTZ001) NWS Spokane WA - ID 017 (Bonner County)...ID 021 (Boundary County)...ID 079 (Shoshone County) * WHAT...An Avalanche Warning is in effect from Monday 4 PM to Tuesday 4 PM. Very dangerous avalanche conditions have developed from heavy snowfall and strong winds, and will last through Tuesday. You can very easily trigger avalanches large enough to bury or kill you, and some will release spontaneously. Avoid travel in avalanche terrain during this period. * WHERE...The Selkirk Mountains, West and East Cabinet Mountains, Purcell Mountains, and the Bitterroot Mountains - Silver Valley above 4,000 feet. * WHEN...In effect from Mon 16:00 PST to Tue 16:00 PST. * IMPACTS...Dense snowfall and widespread drifting has formed dangerous slabs of snow over multiple fragile weak snow layers. The new snow is adding enough stress to the snowpack to cause a widespread cycle of avalanches large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person. Some of these avalanches could propagate widely across terrain features like ridges, and run long distances into mature forests, valley floors, or flat terrain. It will be very easy for backcountry travelers to trigger them. * PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...Travel in and around avalanche terrain is not recommended during this period. Consult http://www.idahopanhandleavalanche.org/ or www.avalanche.org for more detailed information. Similar avalanche danger may exist at locations outside the coverage area of this or any avalanche center.

INSTRUCTION: N/A

View All Alerts for Montana

Want more detail? Get the Complete 7 Day and Night Detailed Forecast!

Current U.S. National Radar--Current

The Current National Weather Radar is shown below with a UTC Time (subtract 5 hours from UTC to get Eastern Time).

National Weather Forecast--Current

The Current National Weather Forecast and National Weather Map are shown below.

National Weather Forecast for Tomorrow

Tomorrow National Weather Forecast and Tomorrow National Weather Map are show below.

North America Water Vapor (Moisture)

This map shows recent moisture content over North America. Bright and colored areas show high moisture (ie, clouds); brown indicates very little moisture present; black indicates no moisture.

Weather Topic: What are Fractus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Fractus Clouds

Fractus Clouds Next Topic: Freezing Rain

A fractus cloud (scud) is a fragmented, tattered cloud which has likely been sheared off of another cloud. They are accessory clouds, meaning they develop from parent clouds, and are named in a way which describes the original cloud which contained them.

Fractus clouds which have originated from cumulus clouds are referred to as cumulus fractus, while fractus clouds which have originated from stratus clouds are referred to as stratus fractus. Under certain conditions a fractus cloud might merge with another cloud, or develop into a cumulus cloud, but usually a fractus cloud seen by itself will dissipate rapidly.

They are often observed on the leading and trailing edges of storm clouds, and are a display of wind activity.

Next Topic: Freezing Rain

Weather Topic: What is Graupel?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Graupel

Graupel Next Topic: Hail

Graupel is a form of precipitation that is created by atmospheric conditions which cause supercooled water droplets to contact snow crystals and freeze to their surface.

Sometimes known as soft hail or snow pellets, graupel is delicate and easily destroyed by touch. Whereas hail usually falls during severe weather, graupel doesn't require such conditions to form, and can form in mild precipitation similar to situations which produce snowfall.

Next Topic: Hail