872
FXUS65 KMSO 171901
AFDMSO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
101 PM MDT FRI APR 17 2026
DISCUSSION
KEY MESSAGES:
- SHOWERS CONTINUE AGAIN TODAY.
- WARMING AND DRYING THIS WEEKEND INTO NEXT WEEK.
- WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION AND COOLER TEMPERATURES BY MID WEEK.
SATELLITE AND RADAR IS SHOWING THE SHOWER ACTIVITY INCREASING
ACROSS THE NORTHERN ROCKIES THIS AFTERNOON UNDER NORTHWESTERLY
FLOW ALOFT. THE MAJORITY OF THE SHOWERS ARE PRODUCING SNOW, BUT
IMPACTS TO ROADWAYS ARE FAIRLY MINIMAL. THE BIGGEST IMPACT FROM
THE SNOW SHOWERS IS THE REDUCTION IN VISIBILITY.
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE IS STILL ON TRACK TO BUILD OVER THE
REGION THIS WEEKEND INTO NEXT WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL BE STEADILY
CLIMBING EACH DAY WITH THE WARMEST DAY BEING ON TUESDAY. THE
MAJORITY OF THE VALLEYS WILL BE IN THE 70S AND 80S ON TUESDAY
WHICH IS 20 DEGREES ABOVE SEASONAL AVERAGES.
A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO PUSH ACROSS THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY
CAUSING WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION AND GUSTY WINDS. THE PATH OF THE
LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY IS STILL UNCERTAIN AT
THIS TIME, BUT ANTICIPATED COOLER TEMPERATURES AND AT LEAST SHOWER
ACTIVITY.
AVIATION
NUMEROUS LIGHT SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH
THE NORTHERN ROCKIES THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THESE SHOWERS
WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING IFR CONDITIONS FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME. ALL TERMINALS WILL ALSO BE IMPACTED BY GUSTY WESTERLY WINDS
THIS AFTERNOON. BOTH THE WINDS AND SHOWERS WILL BE DIMINISH THIS
EVENING, ESPECIALLY AFTER SUNSET. A RIDGE WILL BUILD OVER THE AREA
TONIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND CAUSING MAINLY FAIR FLYING CONDITIONS.
THE BIGGEST CONCERN WILL BE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PATCHY VALLEY FOG.
MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MT...NONE.
ID...NONE.
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