825
FXUS65 KMSO 152100
AFDMSO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
200 PM MST SUN DEC 15 2024
DISCUSSION
KEY MESSAGES:
- LIGHT SNOWFALL AREA-WIDE MONDAY
- MIXED PRECIPITATION OR SNOWFALL TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY
ANOTHER WEAK WEATHER DISTURBANCE WILL BRING WIDESPREAD LIGHT TO
MODERATE IMPACTS DUE TO SNOW ACROSS MOST OF THE NORTHERN ROCKIES
EARLY MONDAY MORNING, AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY. LIGHT SNOWFALL,
PERHAPS A MIX BAG OF PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO START IN THE
CAMAS PRAIRIE OF IDAHO BEFORE SUNRISE. WHILE ACCUMULATIONS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT, A TRACE TO 1 INCH OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE IN THE
LOWER ELEVATIONS AROUND OROFINO BY MID-MORNING, CREATING A SLICK
MORNING COMMUTE. THE SHIELD OF LIGHT SNOWFALL WILL PROGRESS
EASTWARD INTO WESTERN MONTANA A COUPLE HOURS AFTER DAYBREAK, WITH
LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW PERSISTING THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AREA
VALLEYS ACROSS NORTHWEST MONTANA ALONG HIGHWAY 2 AND 93 ARE
EXPECTED TO RECEIVE 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW AND 3 TO 6 INCHES IN THE
HIGHER TERRAIN AND PASSES. THE AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY, WILL BE
ACROSS THE MISSOULA/BITTERROOT VALLEYS AND POINTS EAST, DUE TO THE
OF THE PRECIPITATION TIMING. IF THE PRECIPITATION TRENDS FASTER,
ADVISORIES MAY BE NEEDED FOR THESE LOCATIONS DURING THE MORNING
COMMUTE.
MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM OVERHEAD INTO THE NORTHERN
ROCKIES WEDNESDAY, THOUGH SNOWLEVELS WILL BE GRADUALLY INCREASING
UP TO 4000-5000 FEET BY WEDNESDAY MORNING. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO
BRING SNOW TO AREA PASSES, BUT WILL BEGIN TO TRANSITION TO A
WINTRY MIX IN THE VALLEYS, PARTICULARLY NORTHWEST MONTANA. POCKETS
OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN MAY ONCE AGAIN BRING A SLICK START TO THE
DAY ON WEDNESDAY.
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE NORTHERN ROCKIES
THURSDAY, AND IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN PLACE INTO NEXT WEEKEND.
VALLEY FOG AND/OR STRATUS MAY BECOME AN IMPACT THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY, WITH LIGHT MOUNTAIN SNOW AND A VALLEY WINTRY MIX NEXT
WEEKEND.
AVIATION
STEADY RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL TAPER OFF BY MID-
MORNING, THEN SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON
MAINLY FOCUSED ON THE TERRAIN. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS TONIGHT
BEFORE ANOTHER WEATHER SYSTEM WILL BRING LIGHT SNOW DURING THE DAY
ON MONDAY.
MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MT...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 5 AM MONDAY TO 9 AM MST TUESDAY FOR
BITTERROOT/SAPPHIRE MOUNTAINS.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 8 AM MONDAY TO 9 AM MST TUESDAY FOR
KOOTENAI/CABINET REGION...LOWER CLARK FORK REGION.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 AM MONDAY TO 9 AM MST TUESDAY
FOR FLATHEAD/MISSION VALLEYS...POTOMAC/SEELEY LAKE REGION...
WEST GLACIER REGION.
ID...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 AM MONDAY TO 8 AM PST TUESDAY FOR
NORTHERN CLEARWATER MOUNTAINS...SOUTHERN CLEARWATER
MOUNTAINS.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 AM TO 8 AM PST MONDAY FOR
OROFINO/GRANGEVILLE REGION.
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