textproduct: Missoula

DISCUSSION

KEY MESSAGES:

- Arctic air settled in western Montana.

- Quiet Weekend followed by more active weather next week.

Arctic air has been settling into western Montana tonight with many valley locations being in the single digits and teens this morning. A few very light showers continue to linger across northwest Montana causing some minor snow accumulations. Tonight a disturbance is expected to push across the region enhancing the snow activity. Snow accumulations will be relatively light with the valleys potentially getting up to an inch of new snow and the higher terrain including mountain passes receiving 1 to 3 inches by Friday morning.

A ridge of high pressure will be building over the Northern Rockies this weekend allowing for the development of valley inversions. These inversions could lead to the development of fog and stratus across the region especially north central Idaho into northwest Montana.

A trough of low pressure is expected to dig along the coast at the start of next week causing the upper level flow over the northern Rockies to become southwesterly. This flow pattern will pumping some decent warm moisture into the region. The development of valley inversions during the weekend along with this plume of warm moisture could cause mixed precipitation in the valleys during the start of next week. An active weather pattern appears to persist through the remainder of the work week with snow levels dropping by mid week.

AVIATION

Arctic air will continue to settle into western Montana this morning causing gusty easterly and northerly winds at KGPI and KMSO. The winds are expected to diminish as the day progresses. A few linger light showers will persist today especially across northwest Montana with low potential of impacts at KGPI. A weak disturbance is expected to move through the region tonight causing light snow across the region.

MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...Winter Weather Advisory until 8 AM MST this morning for West Glacier Region.

ID...None.