textproduct: Missoula
This forecast discussion was created in the public domain by the National Weather Service. It can be found in its original form here.
DISCUSSION
KEY MESSAGES:
- Light snowfall expected today, especially through north- central Idaho.
- Pockets of light freezing rain in valleys and snow at pass level are possible Thursday into Friday, especially in the mornings.
- 80-90% probability that many valley locations will reach the 40s and 50s this Friday through the start of February!
This morning's radar depicts a line of precipitation across eastern Washington and Oregon moving eastwards. Several hundredths of precipitation has fallen with this line in the form of freezing rain in Pendleton or plain rain in Kennewick. The current mesowest observations show that temperatures are in the lower to middle 30s in the Camas Prairie, but the dew point temperatures are in the teens. This means that any precipitation that falls, may fall as light snow instead of what the upstream observations showed. So no major changes to the light snow forecast this morning.
As the weak cold front moves through this afternoon, the westerly winds aloft will cause some downsloping for the Mission-Missoula- Bitterroot valleys. Other locations could pick up some light precipitation.
No major changes to the light precipitation forecast for Thursday into Friday as several waves will move through the region. Mixed precipitation is in the forecast, so watch out when traveling, especially in the mornings.
Very deep trough of low pressure across the eastern Pacific over the next several days will pump a large amount of warm, subtropical air into the western U.S. Meaning, this weekend's high temperatures will rise into the 40s and 50s across many valley locations. Even the NBM is showing 60 percent chance of highs exceeding 55 degrees in the Camas Prairie, Idaho, Mission, Deer Lodge and Bitterroot valleys!
A cold front, that could bring a couple inches of pass-level snow on Monday will cool us a bit...but well above average highs may return thereafter!
AVIATION
A weak wave will bring light snowfall across north- central Idaho generally after 28/1200Z today, then transition to mountain snow showers by the afternoon across the remainder of the region. Increasing winds near ridge top levels to around 35kts may lead to some increased mechanical turbulence, particularly after 28/1800z(1100 MST).
MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MT...None. ID...None.
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