Storm Watch Update

Press Release – The National Weather Service is developing more confidence in their forecasts concerning the storm that is predicted for Thursday afternoon through Friday morning…and it’s looking like the worst for Campbell County/Gillette will be Thursday evening drive-time.

This storm will be coming down from the north…so for once Montana and northern Wyoming and the Black Hills along with North Dakota will see more of this than the areas to our south. A lot of what they’re talking about will focus on areas from I-90 and to the north.

There will be some areas of light snow and flurries today (Wednesday), but little or no snow accumulation is expected in most areas.

They are expecting a system covering much of the central and eastern US will shift to the east today…and as it does, some warmer weather will slide into the area…pushing temps into the lower 20’s and even near 40 in some areas of northeastern Wyoming.

Then, tonight into Thursday, cold high pressure will sink into the eastern Dakotas ahead of an approaching system that will strengthen across
western South Dakota and far northeastern Wyoming, along which a band of snow will develop. The snow will persist longest across northwestern South Dakota, the Black Hills, and far northeastern Wyoming, before high pressure pushes the band southward into southern South Dakota Thursday night into Friday.

A long duration of light snow is expected from tonight through Friday, resulting in several inches of accumulation. The highest amounts will be across northwestern South Dakota, far northeastern Wyoming, and the northern Hills, with 5 to 8 inches possible (locally higher in the Hills). Other areas south of I-90 in Wyoming should receive less than 5 inches.

As cold air pushes into the region Thursday, highs will vary across from the teens across northwestern South Dakota to near 40 again across northeastern Wyoming. These warmer temperatures over will result in initial precipitation being rain or a mix in the more southerly parts of Campbell County and most of Weston County; additionally, forecasts suggest a brief period of freezing rain might be possible. Even though this is in the mix, they are not expecting anything significant for freezing rain before the precipitation turns to all snow.

There might be a little lingering snow Saturday, but overall a dry weekend is expected. Highs Friday and Saturday will be only in the single digits and teens, with wind chills both mornings in the teens and 20s below zero. The forecasts are showing a brief warmup to near average temperatures Sunday and Monday, but then more chances for snow yet another system moves into the region on Tuesday.

CCEMC – David King