Winter Storm Watches are in place across parts of Washington, Montana and Wyoming as the Northwest prepares for its first major snow and the coldest air of the season. More than a foot of snow is possible across the mountains.
BILLINGS, Mont. –All the ingredients are coming together for the season’s first snowstorm across the northern Rockies and Plains beginning Tuesday, potentially creating delays across the mountain passes.
Over the weekend, the Pacific received beneficial . Now, a parade of storms will bring even more moisture to the -plagued region.
FOX Weather meteorologist explained the setup for the season’s first winter storm:
“A cold front brushing over right now drags down the chilly air. And there’s also a storm strong enough for the season’s first major snow across the northern Rockies,” Freeze said. “Temperatures are going to drop to the freezing level at mountain passes like Snoqualmie, Stevens Pass and White Pass starting Monday night.”
Winter Storm Watches are in place from Tuesday through Thursday for parts of , Montana and , where the FOX Forecast Center expects between 7 and 12 inches of snow.
The National Weather Service in Great Falls Montana has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Tuesday and Wednesday for central, north central and southwest Montan, including Fort Benton, Great Falls, West Yellowstone and Big Sky.
(FOX Weather)
Heavy snow is expected in these areas with total accumulations between 5 and 13 inches.
Higher elevations in , including the Crazy Mountains, could see between 10 and 20 inches of snow. Showdown, Montana, will see most of its snowfall from Wednesday into Thursday.
Later this week, the snow will continue to spread east, dropping the first accumulations of the season in and northwestern .
Hazardous travel for mountain passes
Travel could become problematic with heavy snow impacting commutes on Wednesday and Thursday across the northern Rockies and Plains.
Between 8 and 12 inches of snow is forecast along Snoqualmie and Stampede passes in Washington, with most falling on Tuesday and Wednesday. Stevens Pass is forecast to receive between 16 and 24 inches through Thursday.
Forecast snowfall totals through Saturday.(FOX Weather)
The first winter storm will be a good start to snow totals, which received 233 inches of snow last year.
“It is going to be the passes that we’re watching when we look at the routes that you can take in Washington, Oregon,” FOX Weather meteorologist said.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, snow is in the forecast every day this week for the Cascade Mountain range, including the mountain passes.
Cascade Mountains snow forecast through Saturday.
(FOX Weather)
With the first snow of the season, now is the time to ensure your vehicle is -ready. Motorists should assemble a and prepare for winter driving conditions, including possible icy roads.
Cold week ahead with rain at lower elevations
It will be a soggy, cold week for those in the lower elevations of the Pacific Northwest, with up to 2 inches of rain forecast along coastal Washington and .
Rain forecast through Thursday.(FOX Weather)
Temperatures in through Wednesday will be in the 40s, with rain in the forecast throughout the day on Tuesday.
Temperatures will drop to the single digits by midweek for Bozeman and in Montana and into the teens for the Dakotas by this weekend.
With the single-digit , places like Bismarck, , will be bitterly cold.
It’s possible the snow could be sticking around through Halloween weekend, with temperatures remaining below freezing across the region into next week.
Bozeman, Montana, forecast.(FOX Weather)