348
FXUS65 KMSO 280929
AFDMSO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
329 AM MDT SAT MAR 28 2026
DISCUSSION
KEY MESSAGES:
- EXPECT A WARM AND DRY WEEKEND, WITH TEMPERATURES RUNNING ABOUT
10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.
- COLD FRONT PASSAGE MONDAY BRINGING COOLER, BREEZY AND SHOWERY
CONDITIONS
- CLOSED LOW BRINGING WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION FOR THE LATTER
PART OF THE WORK WEEK
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO BE OVER THE NORTHERN
ROCKIES TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT. THIS RIDGE WILL CAUSE WARM AND DRY
CONDITIONS, AS TEMPERATURES WILL BE RUNNING AROUND 10 DEGREES
ABOVE NORMAL. THE RIDGE SHIFTS TO THE EAST ON SUNDAY CAUSING THE
UPPER LEVEL FLOW TO BECOME SOUTHWESTERLY. THIS FLOW PATTERN WILL
ALLOW SOME MOISTURE TO MAKE ITS WAY INTO NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO INTO
NORTHWEST MONTANA BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW LEVELS WILL BE FAIRLY
HIGH SO SNOW WILL BE MAINLY CONFINED TO THE HIGHER TERRAIN WITH
MINIMAL IMPACTS TO MOUNTAIN PASSES.
A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO PUSH ACROSS THE NORTHERN ROCKIES
SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. THIS FRONT WILL CAUSE WIDESPREAD
PRECIPITATION WITH LOWERING SNOW LEVELS ALONG WITH BREEZY WESTERLY
WINDS AND COOLER TEMPERATURES. TEMPERATURES ON MONDAY APPEAR TO BE
RUNNING AROUND 10 DEGREES BELOW SEASONAL AVERAGES. LOOKOUT AND
MARIAS PASSES EXPECTED TO RECEIVE THE MOST SNOW DURING THIS
FRONTAL PASSAGE WITH TOTALS BEING AROUND 3 TO 6 INCHES OVER SUNDAY
NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. LOLO AND LOST TRAIL COULD RECEIVE 1 TO 4
INCHES OF SNOW. THE MAJORITY OF WESTERN MONTANA IS EXPECTED TO
EXPERIENCE GUSTS OF 20 TO 40 MPH BY MONDAY AFTERNOON, THE BIGGEST
CONCERN WILL BE CHOPPY CONDITIONS ON FLATHEAD LAKE.
A TRANSITORY RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO SLIDE THROUGH
THE REGION TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY LEADING TO A WARMING AND
DRYING TREND. THEN ALL THE MODELS ARE SHOWING A DECENT TROUGH OF
LOW PRESSURE IMPACTING THE NORTHERN ROCKIES BY THE END OF THE
WEEK. THE DIFFERENCES IN THE MODELS DEAL WITH THE TIMING AND
STRENGTH OF THE TROUGH AS IT PASSES THROUGH THE REGION THURSDAY
INTO FRIDAY. ACCUMULATING SNOW IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN ALONG WITH
THE POTENTIAL OF HIGHER VALLEY SNOW IS STILL A POSSIBILITY DURING
THE TROUGH PASSAGE.
AVIATION
FAIR FLY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITH SOME HIGH LEVEL
CLOUDS STREAMING OVER PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO INTO
NORTHWEST MONTANA. WINDS OF 20 KNOTS ARE STILL ANTICIPATED TO
DEVELOP DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS TODAY.
MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MT...NONE.
ID...NONE.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
Main Text Page