textproduct: Missoula

DISCUSSION

KEY MESSAGES:

- Warmest temperatures of the summer for most this weekend through early next week. Elevated heat risk for those sensitive to heat, especially those without cooling or hydration.

- Low relative humidity and increased west winds will result in elevated fire weather concerns on today and Sunday, especially in southwest Montana.

- Choppy conditions at area lakes this afternoon and Sunday afternoon.

- Monsoon moisture surge will bring clouds, showers, and thunderstorms by Tuesday.

No major changes to the short-term forecast this weekend except that highs on Sunday have trended down a little bit over north- central Idaho and northwest Montana.

The combination of the heat, dry air and gusty winds will create near-critical fire weather conditions in southwest Montana.

A surge of moisture will move into the region from the south, elevating the risk for showers and thunderstorms across western Montana and north-central Idaho, bringing relief from the hot, dry, and windy weekend conditions. The initial shower and thunderstorm activity will bring mostly cloudy skies and erratic, gusty winds due to the very dry air at the surface. By Tuesday evening, the atmosphere will moisten enough for rain to reach the ground. If you have outdoor plans Tuesday through mid-week, plan accordingly.

AVIATION

VFR conditions along with temperatures rising into the 80s and 90s across the region this weekend. Gusty westerly winds to 25 knots are possible from northwest Montana to southwest Montana both days.

MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...Fire Weather Watch from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening for Deerlodge/West Beaverhead...East Beaverhead.

ID...Heat Advisory from noon MDT /11 AM PDT/ today to 9 PM MDT /8 PM PDT/ Sunday for Eastern Lemhi County...Southern Clearwater Mountains...Western Lemhi County.

Heat Advisory until 8 PM PDT Sunday for Lower Hells Canyon/Salmon River Region.