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:
- Cold front moves through the region today, leading to cooling trend, gusty winds, and scattered showers.
- Mild temperatures much of this upcoming week, with next system bringing precipitation Tuesday into Wednesday.
A Pacific cold front is tracking southeastward across the Northern Rockies today, with gusty west-northwest winds continuing through the afternoon. Peak gusts this afternoon will reach 25-40 mph across valley areas with gusts of 40-55 mph over mountain and backcountry areas.
Unseasonably warm temperatures are causing mountain snowmelt. Combined with an additional 0.25 to 0.50 inch of precipitation, this creates a heightened risk for flooding of small streams and creeks. As a result we expanded the current flood watch from Lincoln County to also include Sanders and Mineral Counties. Currently, only the Fischer River near Libby is forecast into action stage. Additionally, there is concern for a continuation of rock falls and slides.
The air mass following the cold front is very dry and the Northern Rockies will remain breezy through Tuesday. Due to low humidities and breezy conditions fire weather risks will be elevated, please use caution with outdoor burning.
Tuesday our next system arrives, with increasing prefrontal winds gusting 25 to 35 mph in the mountains and precipitation beginning late afternoon. Snow levels quickly rise 5000 to 6000 feet, so any winter travel hazards will be limited to a slushy inch or two at mountain passes.
AVIATION
Cold front is currently draped over north central Idaho up into Glacier NP and will be quickly pushing through the remainder of the Northern Rockies this afternoon. A band of light rain is associated with the front with significant dry air behind the front. Gusty southwest winds ahead of the front will quickly become west to northwest after frontal passage with gusts up to 35 knots at area terminals. The winds are expected to diminish after sunset. Fog development on Sunday morning is expected to be fairly limited to the extent of drier air that is being mixed to the surface behind the front.
MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MT...Flood Watch through Sunday morning for Flathead/Mission Valleys...Kootenai/Cabinet Region...Lower Clark Fork Region.
ID...None.
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