842
FXUS65 KMSO 011841
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
1241 PM MDT Tue Oct 1 2024

.DISCUSSION...Gusty southwest winds of 15 to 30 mph will be the
main impact this afternoon through Wednesday. These winds will
be caused by an upper jet digging to near the Canadian border and
a cold front pushing through the Northern Rockies tonight into
Wednesday. Those planning to recreate on area lakes should prepare
for choppy conditions. Southerly winds will likely stay elevated
on Flathead Lake overnight, increasing the rough conditions by
Wednesday morning, thus a lake wind advisory has been issued.
There is a chance of a few showers on the terrain tonight into
Wednesday but overall this is a fairly dry scenario.

Ridging bumps up again Thursday into early Friday, followed by
another cold front late Friday. Gusty winds are again expected.
Scattered showers will accompany the front especially north of
I-90 but overall precipitation amounts will be light.

The pattern stays pretty consistent through at least the end of
next week (Oct 11-12th). Fairly dry, mostly above normal
temperatures, and occasional gusty winds every few days.

&&

.AVIATION...Westerly flow will strengthen into Wednesday as an
upper level jet digs to near the Canadian border. A cold front
will also push through the Northern Rockies tonight into
Wednesday. The main impact will be gusty southwest winds of 15-25
kts this afternoon and again Wednesday. Winds will remain
elevated on the terrain overnight but lessen in most valleys. A
few showers will also impact the terrain tonight into Wednesday
morning with brief mountain obscurations, mainly in northwest
Montana. Overall though, VFR conditions will be common into
Wednesday.


&&

.CLIMATE...Notable warm temperatures in September (rankings based
on average temperature for the month):

* Pierce ID: 3rd warmest on record at 56.9F
* Kalispell: 3rd warmest on record at 60.6F
* Missoula: 8th warmest on record at 61.9F
* Salmon: 6th warmest on record at 60.9F


&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Lake Wind Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 5 PM MDT
     Wednesday for Flathead/Mission Valleys.

ID...None.
&&

$$