003
FXUS65 KMSO 271832
AFDMSO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
1232 PM MDT TUE OCT 27 2026
DISCUSSION
KEY MESSAGES:
- ANTICIPATE COOLER TEMPERATURES AND PERIODS OF VALLEY RAIN AND
MOUNTAIN SNOW THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
THE NORTHERN ROCKIES REMAIN UNDER A VERY ACTIVE AND UNSETTLED
WEATHER PATTERN AS THE WEEK CONTINUES. PERIODS OF VALLEY RAIN
SHOWERS (IE: ELEVATIONS ROUGHLY BELOW 4000 FEET) ARE EXPECTED EACH
DAY, WITH MOUNTAIN PASSES AROUND AND ABOVE 4500 FEET LIKELY TO
SEE MINOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. WHILE ALL AREA MOUNTAIN PASSES WILL
HAVE THE CHANCE OF SEEING UP TO AN INCH OF SNOW, LOLO PASS AND
LOOKOUT PASS WILL HAVE A HIGHER POTENTIAL OF RECEIVING 2-3 INCHES
OF NEW SNOW BOTH WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNINGS. IF TRAVELING, IT
MAY BE WISE TO ALLOW EXTRA TIME AND ANTICIPATE WINTRY CONDITIONS.
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM LINGERING OFF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST
ON FRIDAY WILL GRADUALLY MAKE ITS WAY INLAND ON SATURDAY AND
SUNDAY, SPREADING ADDITIONAL VALLEY RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW SHOWERS
ACROSS THE REGION. AS A RESULT, HALLOWEEN MAY BE INTERRUPTED BY
PERIODIC LIGHT RAIN, WHICH LOOKS TO INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE DAY
INTO THE EVENING HOURS. BY SUNDAY, EXPECT WIDESPREAD
PRECIPITATION AS THE LOW PRESSURE TRAVERSES THE AREA AND SHIFTS
EAST OF THE DIVIDE.
THE FAR EXTENDED PERIOD BEYOND MONDAY (NOV 2) LOOKS MUCH DRIER
WITH SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES.
AVIATION
PERIODIC VALLEY RAIN SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT
WESTERN MONTANA AND NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO TODAY, WITH SNOW LEVELS
HOVERING AROUND 4000 TO 5000 FEET, KEEPING MOUNTAINS OBSCURED.
SHOWERS WILL INCREASE FOR KMSO, KHRF, AND KBTM THROUGH LATE THIS
EVENING BEFORE DISSIPATING. THAT BEING SAID, LOW CEILINGS AND THE
POTENTIAL FOR FOG WILL CONTINUE, PARTICULARLY FOR KGPI THROUGH
28/1500Z.
MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MT...NONE.
ID...NONE.
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