textproduct: Missoula

DISCUSSION

KEY MESSAGES:

- Unsettled, cool, and showery conditions persist through the rest of the week and into the weekend.

- Frost and Freeze potential for Sunday through Tuesday mornings.

Westerly flow will remain over the region tonight through Friday. A weak disturbance is expected to move through the area late tonight into Friday morning which could cause some scattered light showers over portions of north central Idaho into northwest Montana. The snow levels will be hovering around 5000 feet, so snow will be mainly confined to the higher terrain.

A low pressure system is expected to push across the region this weekend. This feature will bring another round of widespread precipitation with snow levels dropping to around 4000 feet by Sunday morning. The mountain passes could have some minor impacts from the snow accumulations. The bigger impact will be the colder air that will be settling over the region this weekend. The models are showing a high probability of the majority of the valleys reaching the frost/freeze (28F to 38F) mark for Sunday through Tuesday mornings. Sensitive vegetation and early-season plantings should be protected during this time frame.

The long term models are trending towards a gradual warming trend through next week, but the region could still be impacted by scattered showers especially during the afternoon and evening hours.

AVIATION

Scattered light showers will continue to be over the region this afternoon and will be mainly confined to the higher terrain. These showers could obscure mountains at times. The majority of the terminals across the Northern Rockies will have gusty westerly winds into the early evening hours and then diminish after sunset. A weak disturbance is expected to move into the region tonight increasing the clouds and shower activity across north central Idaho into northwest Montana. KGPI has the best chance of being impacted by shower activity tonight.

MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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