A foot of snow in Montana right now

[agesilaus]

A sign of an early and cold winter? Snow

We passed thru Great Falls in late July and the next night they had a record low temp of 38 degrees.

[ppine]

I used to live Wyoming at 7,200 feet. The aspens turned in August. It could snow anytime. The northern Rockies are not for everyone.

[ken56]

Good reason to be in Tennessee right now, it's 93.

[agesilaus]

Yeah it was 95 here yesterday. It might be near the record for that date but no where's close to the summer record. I recall a summer with 100+ days for weeks on end. 95 is hot down here but we just stay out of the direct sun. As they say, "only mad dogs and Englishmen walk around in the midday sun." It actually feels fairly comfortable in my yard right now but it is under heavy shade and there is a good breeze.

Here are some comments from snowland:
" Nevada – Winnemucca snowfall breaks 142-year-old record
October 1, 2019 by Robert
Since at least 1877, maybe longer.

Montana Governor Declares Emergency
September 30, 2019 by Robert
This comes from the Sacramento Bee of all places.

Record-Smashing September Snowstorm Dumps Up to 4 Feet of Snow on Montana
September 30, 2019 by Robert
Historic September snowstorm and record cold.

Record snowfall in Spokane
September 29, 2019 by Robert
First measurable snowfall on Sept. 28 in at least 138 years, maybe a lot longer.

Montana – More than a foot of snow so far – LOTS more on the way
September 29, 2019 by Robert
Forecasters warned on Sunday that the early-season wintry blast (it’s still September!) will drop several additional feet of snow in parts of the region, creating potentially life-threatening situations.

Temperatures 15 to 30 degrees below average across much of Northwest
September 29, 2019 by Robert
“Many daily record low maximum temperature records are possible through Monday, especially across the Northern Great Basin/Rockies, and Northern California,” according to the NWS.

Now snowing in 8 states and 5 provinces – In September
September 29, 2019 by Robert
This will be a “Major To Historic Winter Storm in the northern Rockies,” warns the National Weather Service.

Nevada – Winnemucca snowfall breaks 142-year-old record
October 1, 2019 by Robert
Since at least 1877, maybe longer.

According to the National Weather Service, the .8 inch (20 mm) of snow recorded at Winnemucca Airport on Sunday, September 29, was the first snowfall in Winnemucca on that date since records-keeping began in 1877."

[paulj]

agesilaus wrote:
As for the "National Weather Predictor", don't they always predict a warm winter? You have to suspect a certain political bias in their pronouncements.

From today's short range forecast discussion:

https wrote:
...Much below average temperatures across the Northwest into the
Northern/Central Plains, and much above average temperatures east of the
Rockies/Northern Plains...

Predicted temperatures in North Florida are 95 Friday - that's close to the record.

[agesilaus]

Weather Channel

Actually it's 48 inches in Browning right to the east of Glacier where they got 24 inches. And snow in all the surrounding states. The most since 1934. Supposed to be clearing up tho today but it can take awhile to melt.

[paulj]

Alberta, especially the SW corner, is getting hit even harder.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/collisions-winter-snow-calgary-traffic-police-1.5301945

I read about this Arctic Express several days ago.

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2019/09/arctic-express-coming-to-northwest.html

Single weather events like this are not predictors of the up coming season. Seasonal forecasts are always more tentative than the near term (the next week or so).

[ppine]

Snow in the yard last night in Nevada.

[agesilaus]

As for the "National Weather Predictor", don't they always predict a warm winter? You have to suspect a certain political bias in their pronouncements.

I lived in Idaho for a year so I'm aware of the unpredictability of the weather out there. We went in a lava tube on July 3rd when it was in the mid 70's and came out to snow and 30 degree temps. But that sort of cold snap doesn't drop a foot of snow.

[Ivylog]

I had some concerns about going West later than normal this summer, August, because of smoke from fires. In 7 weeks we only had a little smoke from a controlled burn for 20 miles one day. Another colder and wetter winter would be good news for the West and the pine trees. Maybe not as good for the center of the country and all the flooding.

[ReneeG]

Check the national weather predictor. It's expected to be a warm October and early November. Indian Summer.

We live in Idaho. It's not uncommon for some areas to be down to 30 in July or an occasional snowfall at that time, but it's not a predictor of what the winter will look like.