Weather Alert in Montana
Avalanche Watch issued March 11 at 8:18AM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
AREAS AFFECTED: Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains; Potomac/Seeley Lake Region
DESCRIPTION: AVAMSO The following message is transmitted at the request of the West Central Montana Avalanche Center Missoula MT ...AVALANCHE WATCH ISSUED BY THE WEST CENTRAL MONTANA AVALANCHE CENTER... 07:53 MDT Wed Mar 11 2026 The West Central Montana Avalanche Center in Missoula has issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WATCH for the following areas: NWS Missoula MT - MTZ006 (MTZ006)...MTZ043 (MTZ043) * WHAT...A large winter storm will impact all zones starting Wednesday night with significant snowfall and high wind. * WHERE...The mountains around Seeley Lake, the Rattlesnake, and the Bitterroot Mountains from Lolo Pass to Lost Trail Pass. * WHEN...In effect from Wed 07:53 MDT to Thu 07:53 MDT. * IMPACTS...Snow and strong wind Wednesday night into Thursday Morning will rapidly increase avalanche danger. Avalanche danger could reach HIGH by Thursday morning. Large avalanches may fail naturally as buried weak layers become overloaded by the new snow and wind. * PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...Exceptionally dangerous avalanche conditions may develop. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Avalanches may run long distances and can run into mature forests, valley floors, or flat terrain. Consult https://missoulaavalanche.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.
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Weather Topic: What is Precipitation?
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Precipitation can refer to many different forms of water that
may fall from clouds. Precipitation occurs after a cloud has become saturated to
the point where its water particles are more dense than the air below the cloud.
In most cases, precipitation will reach the ground, but it is not uncommon for
precipitation to evaporate before it reaches the earth's surface.
When precipitation evaporates before it contacts the ground it is called Virga.
Graupel, hail, sleet, rain, drizzle, and snow are forms of precipitation, but fog
and mist are not considered precipitation because the water vapor which
constitutes them isn't dense enough to fall to the ground.
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Weather Topic: What are Shelf Clouds?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Shelf Clouds
Next Topic: Sleet
A shelf cloud is similar to a wall cloud, but forms at the front
of a storm cloud, instead of at the rear, where wall clouds form.
A shelf cloud is caused by a series of events set into motion by the advancing
storm; first, cool air settles along the ground where precipitation has just fallen.
As the cool air is brought in, the warmer air is displaced, and rises above it,
because it is less dense. When the warmer air reaches the bottom of the storm cloud,
it begins to cool again, and the resulting condensation is a visible shelf cloud.
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