781  
FXUS65 KMSO 021926  
AFDMSO  
 
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT  
126 PM MDT FRI OCT 2 2026  
   
DISCUSSION
 
 
KEY MESSAGES:  
 
- WARMING AND DRYING TREND THROUGH SUNDAY; COOL/COLD VALLEY LOWS  
WITH PATCHY FROST.  
 
- INCREASED WESTERLY WINDS ON MONDAY.  
 
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE BUILDING OVER THE NORTHERN  
ROCKIES THIS WEEKEND CAUSING A WARMING AND DRYING TREND. THEN ON  
MONDAY INTO TUESDAY A WEAK DISTURBANCE MOVES ALONG THE CANADIAN  
BORDER CAUSING THE RIDGE TO FLATTEN. THE BIGGEST IMPACT FROM THIS  
DISTURBANCE WILL BE INCREASED WESTERLY WINDS ON MONDAY AFTERNOON.  
 
A STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS BACK OVER THE WESTERN  
UNITED STATES WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY BRINGING ANOTHER ROUND OF  
UNSEASONABLY WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS. THE LATEST LONG TERM  
GUIDANCE IS SHOWING AROUND A 75% PROBABILITY OF A PATTERN CHANGE  
NEXT WEEKEND. DETAILS ON THE CHANGE IS UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME, BUT  
COOLER, INCREASED WINDS AND POTENTIAL FOR PRECIPITATION SHOULD BE  
EXPECTED FOR THE NORTHERN ROCKIES.  
 

 
   
AVIATION
 
MOST TERMINALS SHOULD EXPERIENCE WINDS OF 5-10KTS WITH  
THE POTENTIAL GUST UP TO 20 KTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A  
RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE BUILDING OVER THE REGION TONIGHT  
INTO SATURDAY. THIS RIDGE WILL CAUSE INCREASED STABLE CONDITIONS  
WHICH IN TURN COULD ALLOW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PATCHY VALLEY FOG  
THAT MIGHT IMPACT KGPI AND KMSO. BEYOND THE WIND THIS AFTERNOON  
AND POTENTIAL OF FOG SATURDAY MORNING, FAIR FLYING CONDITIONS ARE  
EXPECTED FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  
 

 
   
MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
 
 
MT...NONE.  
ID...NONE.  

 
 

 
 
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