479
FXUS65 KMSO 090822
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
222 AM MDT Mon Mar 9 2026

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGES:

- Active, wintry, and windy weather continues through this week.

- A potent storm bringing strong to damaging winds is expected
  Wednesday through Friday, with the most intense conditions on
  Thursday.

Winds will be story throughout this week as the Jet Stream remains
draped across the region. Each afternoon expect winds to increase
west or southwesterly gusting 25 to 35 mph, higher in the
mountains.

During this time, periods of light precipitation can be expected.
Nothing beyond isolated minor winter driving impacts are expected.
However, any precipitation that falls overnight could produce
trace, slushy accumulations in valleys.

Wednesday our next system will begin to affect our region. The
models have continued their trend of strengthening the system.
Winds on Thursday will be quite strong, potentially as strong as
or stronger than this weekends system. Downed trees and power
outages are a potential throughout western Montana. Additionally,
this is a very wet system. Without getting specific, snow in the
mountains will be measured in feet with the potential of snow
water equivalent of 1 to 3 inches, with isolated amounts exceeding
4 inches by Saturday morning. The wind component of this storm
will likely effect daily life Thursday and Friday, we`ll be
closely watching the hydrologic evolution of this system as well.


&&

.AVIATION...A strong jet stream aloft with zonal flow is causing windy
conditions to continue through Tuesday. Some mountain snow
showers are expected today. Impacts at area terminals from showers
will be less due to the effects of down slope flow into the
valleys, mostly showers in the vicinity.


&&

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

$$