textproduct: Missoula

DISCUSSION

KEY MESSAGES:

- A ridge of high pressure causing hot temperatures through the remainder of the work week.

- Showers and thunderstorms returning potential as early as Friday and lasting through the weekend.

A ridge of high pressure will be building over the Northern Rockies the remainder of the work week. Temperatures will be steadily rising each day with Friday expected to be the hottest day with most locations being in the 90s and the lower valleys of north central Idaho being well above 100 degrees.

Some of the hires models are showing some monsoonal moisture making its way up into the region by Friday. This moisture could lead to the development of high based thunderstorms across Lemhi county into southwest Montana. Any storms that develop in this environment could cause strong outflow winds.

A weak disturbance is expected to move through the region Friday night into Saturday ahead of the trough of low pressure. This disturbance will cause scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight into Saturday morning. The cold front associated with the trough is expected to push through the Northern Rockies on late Saturday. Cooler and breezy conditions are expected with the front and lasting into Sunday.

The latest long term models are indicating another ridge of high pressure building over the region for the first half of next week.

AVIATION

A ridge of high pressure will be building over the region today causing mainly fair flying conditions. The biggest impact to area terminals will be smoke from local and regional fires causing a reduction in visibility over the next 24 hours.

MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...None. ID...None.