598 
FXUS65 KMSO 110944
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
344 AM MDT Thu Oct 11 2018

.DISCUSSION...After a chilly start to the day and again for Friday
morning, afternoon high temperatures for both days will warm
closer to normal for this time of the year. Much of the region 
has been below normal for the past several days. 

This won't last long, at least for western Montana anyway. 
Another shortwave sliding south out of Canada will bring another 
re-enforcing shot of cold air, starting Friday night and 
lingering over western Montana through Saturday evening. Along 
with the cold airmass, more mountain snow is expected, 
particularly along the Continental Divide, and the 
Anaconda/Pintler Range, where 2 to 4 inches of snow is expected. 
Snow will start Friday night for the Glacier NP and Bob Marshall 
regions, and sliding south along the Divide through the day on 
Saturday. Snow levels will be starting off around 5500-6000 feet, 
and lowering to around 2000 feet by Sunday morning. The majority 
of the moisture will have moved out of the region by Sunday 
morning, so no accumulations for the valleys below 4500 feet 
expected. If you are planning any trips across the Divide Saturday
morning, expect slick and periodically snowcovered roads. Same 
goes for those in the backcountry, where cold, wet and raw 
conditions can be expected. 

Those in north-central Idaho will largely miss out on any
precipitation this weekend, aside from a few isolated showers 
here and there. But should feel much cooler, especially Sunday
morning. Depending on cloud conditions over the Northern Rockies
Sunday morning, we could be looking at our first widespread hard 
freeze (low to mid 20s), for the valleys of western Montana, and a
light freeze (30-32)for the valleys in north-central Idaho.

After a cold and wet weekend, we could be looking at a much 
warmer week next week as a dry and "warm" ridge of high pressure
builds over the Northern Rockies. Long range forecast models are
now in good agreement with a ridge settling in over the region by
mid week. This would actually translate to afternoon highs 
getting slightly above normal for this time of the year, by 
reaching the mid 60s.


&&

.AVIATION...Low and mid-level clouds will linger across western
Montana and central Idaho this morning as a short wave ridge 
builds into the area for today. Clouds will decrease through the 
day with just some scattered high clouds this afternoon in dry, 
northerly flow. Tonight some moisture moves through the ridge 
causing an increase in mid-level clouds.




&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...None.
ID...None.
&&

$$