NWS Missoula Blog
This blog is updated by NWS employees when time permits. It may contain references to current and past weather events, but its primary focus will be for community events that the NWS Missoula participates in. For the latest discussion on the current weather please see the Forecast Discussion and for the latest advisories and warnings see http://www.weather.gov/missoula.
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Monday, June 29, 2009
May Report
May 2009 was dominated by non thunderstorm wind events, with damage occurring in southern Idaho County on the 19th. Several ranches along the Salmon River corridor reported trees blown down between Shoup and Riggins. Warm temperatures started the spring snowmelt and runoff in earnest bringing the Bitterroot, Clark Fork and South Fork Rivers near or above flood stage at the end of the month. Warm Springs Creek also rose above flood stage inundating some property near Anaconda with flood waters.
Lemhi County Storm Ready ceremony was held May 11 at the LEPC meeting with Michelle Mead and I attending. Pictures of the event were posted on the Storm Ready web site.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Spring 2009 Spotter Newsletter
The Spring 2009 Spotter Newsletter is now available online. It addresses winter snowpack and spring runoff, climate change, and articles about google earth, how we produce forecasts, weather radar, and a staff spotlight. http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mso/spotter/Spotter_spring09.pdf
April Report
Wide ranges of temperatures in April allowed for some areas to receive heavy snowfall. Warm temperatures in the middle of the month enhanced snowmelt and rapid runoff. On the 2nd, 8 inches of snow fell on the benches above Orofino as well as at Elk City. 8 inches of snow also fell over Marias Pass on April 23. The strongest storm impacted the area region wide on April 27 and 28th. A conference call web weather briefing was conducted for customers for this event. Severe driving conditions were declared along the Continental Divide from Marias Pass and along portions of I-90 near Butte from strong winds and blowing snow. Strong gravity wave winds of 60 to 70 mph caused damage from Eureka to Columbia Falls, where numerous trees and power lines were blown down. A trailer was blown over and a mobile home lost its roof near Eureka. Hundreds of acres of trees were blown over in a forested area northeast of Eureka. The highest wind gust recorded was 75 mph at the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company.