Winter!

Here's a skier's forecast for you:

Winter Storm Watch

URGENT-WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
354 AM MST FRI DEC 12 2008

.A STRONG WINTER STORM WILL IMPACT THE NORTHERN ROCKIES OVER THE WEEKEND. INITIALLY...SNOW WILL DEVELOP OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHWEST MONTANA THIS AFTERNOON AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. THIS FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH IDAHO AND WESTERN MONTANA PROVIDING INCREASED PRECIPITATION...FOLLOWED BY COOLER POST- FRONTAL AIR FRIDAY NIGHT. AT THE SAME TIME...ARCTIC AIR POISED OVER THE CANADIAN ROCKIES WILL BEGIN ITS PUSH SOUTHWARD INTO NORTHWEST MONTANA. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK AND PORTIONS OF THE FLATHEAD VALLEY BY LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.
BY SATURDAY

...A MAJOR SURGE OF ARCTIC AIR WILL PUNCH INTO WESTERN MONTANA. THIS FRIGID AIR MASS WILL BE USHERED IN BY STRONG NORTHEAST WINDS CAUSING BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW RESULTING IN LOCAL WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...PLUS BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS. THE BULK OF THE ACCUMULATING SNOW MAY BE CONFINED TO THE IDAHO PANHANDLE WHERE MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO BE FORCED OVER A COLDER DOME OF AIR TO THE EAST. A STRONG EASTERLY SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL MAINTAIN THE INFLUX OF ARCTIC AIR OVER WESTERN MONTANA AND PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO THROUGH TUESDAY WITH VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS HIGHLIGHTING THE FORECAST.

MISSOULA/BITTERROOT VALLEYS-BITTERROOT/SAPPHIRE MOUNTAINS-
BUTTE/BLACKFOOT REGION-POTOMAC/SEELEY LAKE REGION-
354 AM MST FRI DEC 12 2008

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT... A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP FRIDAY NIGHT...BECOMING MODERATE TO HEAVY AT TIMES. IN ADDITION TO ACCUMULATING SNOW...COLD AIR WILL SURGE ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE CREATING AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ON SATURDAY. ALTHOUGH SNOW IS EXPECTED TO TAPER OFF SATURDAY NIGHT...STRONG EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL COMBINE FOR DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS. A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

And the Backcountry Forecast:

WEST CENTRAL MONTANA- INCLUDING...RATTLESNAKE WILDERNESS AND BITTERROOTS FROM LOOKOUT PASS TO LOST TRAIL PASS
--------------------------- 4000-6000 FT ----------------------------
--------------------FRI --FRI NIGHT- SAT ---SAT NIGHT-SUN
CLOUD COVER: MCLDY CLOUDY CLOUDY CLOUDY MCLDY
HI/LO TEMPS: 29 TO 39 16 TO 23 18 TO 27 -13 TO -2 -4 TO 8
WINDS(MPH): S 10 ----S 14 ----------E 20 -----SE 18 -----E 16
PRECIP CHC: -----50 -----100------- 100------ 70 ---------40
PRECIP TYPE: -SNOW ---SNOW ---SNOW ----SNO/SHR -SNO/SHR
LIQUID AMT: --0.02 ----0.55 ------0.33 -----0.08 -------0.04
SNOW AMT(IN): 0 -------6-8 ---------8-10 -----2-3 ---------0
--------------------------- 6000-8000 FT ----------------------------
-------------------FRI --FRI NIGHT- SAT---SAT NIGHT-SUN
CLOUD COVER: PCLDY CLOUDY CLOUDY MCLDY MCLDY
HI/LO TEMPS: 27 TO 34 12 TO 21 15 TO 24 -11 TO 6 -2 TO 9
WINDS(MPH): --S 14----- SW 23---- W 18 -----SE 18 ----SE 13
PRECIP CHC: ----20 ------100 ------100 -------80 -------50
PRECIP TYPE: SNOW --SNOW --SNOW ---SNO/SHR- SNO/SHR
LIQUID AMT: -0.01 -----0.56 -------0.35 -----0.10 ----0.06
SNOW AMT(IN): 0 ------8-10 --------9-11---- 3-5------ 0-1
SNOW LEVEL: -4500 ---3000 -----500 -------0 --------0

Thus, it would seem the GFS model prediction beats out the EURO. Poor EURO.