textproduct: Missoula

DISCUSSION

KEY MESSAGES:

- Mountain Snow: Minor travel impacts are expected on mountain passes Thursday morning due to snow accumulations up to 2 inches.

- Mild Weekend: A warming trend begins Friday, bringing above- normal temperatures by Saturday.

This Thursday morning, a weak plume of moisture will continue to stream over the Northern Rockies, bringing minor travel impacts to mountain passes in western Montana. Moisture will finally move out of the area this afternoon around noon. Breezy west to southwest winds will remain over the area today as well, but not as strong as they were on Wednesday. The strongest gusts will be confined to the mountains along and north of I-90 where there is a 60 percent probability for gusts reaching 40 mph. The valleys will see gusts around 30 mph or less, with only a 20 to 25 percent probability they will exceed 30 mph.

A ridge of high pressure will begin to develop over the Northern Rockies Friday and will remain in place at least through the weekend. The ridge will bring a warming and drying trend to the region, with afternoon high temperatures running around 10 degrees above normal by Saturday.

A change back to a more active weather pattern, with temperatures returning to near normal, is expected by early next week. Currently, 60 percent of the forecast ensemble models have this change arriving as early as Monday, with the remaining 40 percent delaying it until Wednesday. Either way, a return of mountain snow and valley rain showers is expected, and temperatures will drop back down to where they should be this time of year, with highs in the upper 40s to low 50s in western Montana and 60s in north- central Idaho.

MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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