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:
- Pockets of light valley freezing rain/pass level snow later this week.
- February is going to come in like a very mild lamb.
Temperatures this morning range from one below at the Bert Mooney Airport in Butte to the single digits above zero and teens in western Montana, to the 20s in the lower valleys of north-central Idaho. Night-time satellite imagery depicts a few areas where fog and/or low clouds are trying to form over Lake Koocanusa, MacDonald Lake, Hungry Horse Reservoir and over the southern part of Flathead Lake.
It feels a little strange to say this considering our mild winter so far, but highs today will run near average for late January. The average high for both Missoula and Butte is 33 degrees, and 32 degrees in Kalispell. For Orofino, Idaho, average highs are at 42 degrees (yesterday they warmed up to 38 degrees Fahrenheit).
After a chilly start Tuesday, an upper level ridge will shift over the region providing sunshine to start with high clouds moving in later in the day. There may be a little bit more low cloud coverage or patchy fog in portions of northwest Montana.
On Wednesday, the ridge of high pressure becomes increasingly "dirty" and weaker, with the passage of a weak disturbance that could bring a few light showers to the mountains, snow levels gradually rising to around 4000 feet.
More waves of moisture will be possible Thursday through Saturday. With the recent cold spell, ground temperatures will be sub- freezing. This could set the stage for freezing rain or wintry mix. Black ice would be the biggest impact, especially at night. With the flow having more westerly wind, many locations could mix out and warm up well into the 30s and 40s, possibly hitting 50 degrees or higher in a few spots! Does this remind you a bit of our winter?
February's opening act features 40s and 50s, extending a winter that has leaned far more Pacific than Arctic. This is literally what the ensembles are showing...deep southwest flow across the eastern Pacific!
AVIATION
VFR conditions will prevail across most of the Northern Rockies today under steady northwest flow. The primary exception remains Northwest Montana, where a few spots may have patchy fog or low clouds by a few lakes.
MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MT...None. ID...None.
IMPORTANT This is an independent project and has no affiliation with the National Weather Service or any other agency. Do not rely on this website for emergency or critical information: please visit weather.gov for the most accurate and up-to-date information available.
textproduct.us is built and maintained by Joshua Thayer.