374
FXUS65 KMSO 182026
AFDMSO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
126 PM MST WED FEB 18 2026
DISCUSSION
KEY MESSAGES:
- COLD ARCTIC AIR SETTLING IN WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE IN
WESTERN MONTANA.
- SNOW TAPERING OFF THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.
- THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES (BELOW ZERO) ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY MORNINGS.
- EXPECT A QUIET WEEKEND FOLLOWED BY A MORE ACTIVE, SNOWY PATTERN
NEXT WEEK.
MODERATE SNOW HAS FALLEN ACROSS NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA
TODAY AND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING. AN ARCTIC
AIR MASS AND GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS ARE PRODUCING DANGEROUS WIND
CHILLS AS LOW AS 30 DEGREES BELOW ZERO IN THE MOUNTAINS ALONG THE
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, AND NEAR 10 DEGREES BELOW ZERO IN THE FLATHEAD
VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON. PERSISTENT SNOW, BLOWING SNOW, AND SLICK
ROADS HAVE PROMPTED WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES TO REMAIN IN EFFECT
ACROSS WESTERN MONTANA, INCLUDING THE SEELEY LAKE, BLACKFOOT, AND
BUTTE REGIONS.
IN NORTH-CENTRAL IDAHO, SNOW HAS MOSTLY MOVED OUT OF THE AREA,
WITH ONLY ISOLATED MOUNTAIN SHOWERS REMAINING. WHILE TEMPERATURES
ARE COLD, THE ARCTIC FRONT HAS NOT MOVED INTO IDAHO; THEREFORE,
THE BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS AFFECTING WESTERN MONTANA ARE NOT
EXPECTED TO REACH IDAHO.
LOOKING AHEAD, LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS MAY PERSIST THROUGH FRIDAY. A
RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE (AN AREA OF SINKING AIR THAT TYPICALLY
CLEARS SKIES) WILL BRING DRIER WEATHER OVER THE WEEKEND. HOWEVER,
ANOTHER STRONG STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED EARLY NEXT WEEK. BY MONDAY
AND TUESDAY, PRECIPITATION IS LIKELY TO RETURN. WHILE THE
MOUNTAINS WILL SEE MORE SNOW, RISING TEMPERATURES MAY LEAD TO A
RAIN-SNOW MIX IN THE VALLEYS.
AVIATION
VISIBILITY OF 1 MILE OR LESS AND CEILINGS BELOW 1,000
FEET WILL PERSIST THROUGH (19/0300Z) THIS EVENING AS SNOW SHOWERS
MOVE ACROSS WESTERN MONTANA. AN ARCTIC FRONT, CURRENTLY STALLED
ALONG THE IDAHO-MONTANA BORDER, WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE NORTHEAST
WIND GUSTS OF 20 TO 30 KNOTS THROUGH SUNSET FOR KALISPELL (KGPI),
MISSOULA (KMSO), AND BUTTE (KBTM). THESE GUSTS, COMBINED WITH
MODERATE SNOW, WILL CAUSE BLOWING SNOW AND FURTHER REDUCE
VISIBILITY AT KGPI AND KBTM. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE
INCH OR LESS ARE EXPECTED AROUND KALISPELL, WITH UP TO THREE
INCHES FOR BUTTE BEFORE SNOW TAPERS OFF AROUND MIDNIGHT. EXPECT
WIDESPREAD MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS ACROSS WESTERN MONTANA THROUGH
THURSDAY MORNING.
MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MT...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
FLATHEAD/MISSION VALLEYS...KOOTENAI/CABINET REGION.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM MST THURSDAY FOR WEST GLACIER
REGION.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 11 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
BUTTE/BLACKFOOT REGION...LOWER CLARK FORK REGION...
POTOMAC/SEELEY LAKE REGION.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
BITTERROOT/SAPPHIRE MOUNTAINS.
ID...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
NORTHERN CLEARWATER MOUNTAINS...SOUTHERN CLEARWATER
MOUNTAINS.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM PST THURSDAY FOR LOWER HELLS
CANYON/SALMON RIVER REGION.
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