850
FXUS65 KMSO 190739
AFDMSO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
1239 AM MST WED FEB 19 2025
DISCUSSION
KEY MESSAGES:
- ANOTHER ROUND OF WIDESPREAD LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW WEDNESDAY
- A WARMER, ATMOSPHERIC RIVER LATE THIS WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT
WEEK. SNOWLEVELS RISING TO ABOVE 5000 FEET THROUGHOUT THE
NORTHERN ROCKIES.
ANOTHER ROUND OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW WILL ARRIVE LATE THIS
MORNING IN NORTH-CENTRAL IDAHO, SLOWLY SPREADING EAST INTO WESTERN
MONTANA BY LATE AFTERNOON. WHILE SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED
TO REMAIN LIGHT (2 TO 4 INCHES) COMPARED TO RECENT SNOW, CLEARED
ROADWAYS MAY BECOME SNOW-COVERED ONCE AGAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON
AND EVENING COMMUTES. THE BIGGEST CONCERN WILL BE WET ROADS
TURNING ICY AFTER SUNSET.
A WARMER ATMOSPHERIC RIVER WILL ARRIVE LATE THIS WEEKEND INTO EARLY
NEXT WEEK. SNOW LEVELS WILL ALSO BEGIN RISING TO ABOVE 5,000 FEET
THROUGHOUT THE NORTHERN ROCKIES DURING THE BULK OF THE
PRECIPITATION ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY. CURRENTLY, PROBABILITIES RANGE
FROM 60 TO 80 PERCENT FOR SNOW LEVELS RISING TO 6,000 FEET FOR
LOCATIONS SOUTH OF THE I-90 CORRIDOR, WHILE SNOW LEVELS ARE
EXPECTED TO REMAIN CLOSER TO 5,000 FEET FOR LOCATIONS TO THE
NORTH. DUE TO THE WIDESPREAD NATURE OF 1 TO 2 FEET OF SNOW
CURRENTLY ON THE GROUND, MELTING SNOW AND LOW-ELEVATION RAIN ARE
EXPECTED TO CREATE PONDING ON AREA ROADWAYS WITH POOR DRAINAGE, AS
WELL AS LOCALIZED MINOR FLOODING. TAKE PRECAUTIONS THIS WEEK BY
CLEARING SNOW WHERE YOU CAN.
NEAR-TO ABOVE-NORMAL TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO ROUND OUT THE
REST OF THE MONTH, LEADING TO FURTHER MELTING. OVERNIGHT
TEMPERATURES WILL ALSO LEAD TO REFREEZING EACH NIGHT AS
TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW FREEZING.
AVIATION
THE NEXT WEATHER DISTURBANCE WILL BE MOVING INTO THE
REGION TODAY CAUSING LOWERING CEILINGS ALONG WITH WIDESPREAD
LIGHT SNOW. TIMING ON THE LOWEST VISIBILITY AND CEILING WILL BE
20/00Z AT KMSO AND KGPI AND 20/0100Z AT KBTM LASTING THROUGH
20/0600Z. VICINITY SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 20/1200Z AT THOSE
LOCATIONS.
MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MT... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 AM MST
THURSDAY FOR BITTERROOT/SAPPHIRE MOUNTAINS...
BUTTE/BLACKFOOT REGION...FLATHEAD/MISSION VALLEYS...
KOOTENAI/CABINET REGION...LOWER CLARK FORK REGION...
MISSOULA/BITTERROOT VALLEYS...POTOMAC/SEELEY LAKE REGION...
WEST GLACIER REGION.
ID...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 AM WEDNESDAY TO 7 AM PST
THURSDAY FOR NORTHERN CLEARWATER MOUNTAINS...SOUTHERN
CLEARWATER MOUNTAINS.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 AM MST
THURSDAY FOR EASTERN LEMHI COUNTY...WESTERN LEMHI COUNTY.
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