436
FXUS65 KMSO 011848
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
1248 PM MDT Sat Nov 1 2025

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGES:

-  Windy conditions this afternoon and Sunday with the passage of
   a cold front.

-  Active weather pattern next week.

Strong west winds are developing across the region currently 50 to
60 mph about 2000 feet above the highest mountains. These winds
will slowly mix down to the surface. In the mountains, especially
northwest MT, gusts 40 to 50 mph will be common. In the valleys
gusts 35 to 45 mph will be possible with temperatures
adiabatically warming into the middle 60s. Due to cloud cover and
light precipitation northwest MT will only get into the 50s.

Precipitation will continue to spread across the region through
this evening ending on Sunday afternoon. This warm system will
keep snow levels elevated until most of the precipitation has
ended. While valleys are expected to be strongly downsloped and
receive light amounts, mountains along the ID/ MT border may still
receive an inch plus.

Our next system arrives on Monday with a modest slug of moisture
and lower snow levels. The focus of this system looks to be more
over north-central ID and west-central MT. A couple of wet inches
of snow will be possible over area mountain passes such as
Lookout, Lolo, and Lost Trail. Only minor travel impacts right at
the passes are expected.


The weather pattern remains active and a wetter and warmer system
to end the week is increasing in confidence.



&&

.AVIATION...A cold front will be pushing through the Northern
Rockies this afternoon and overnight. A plume of moisture is
making its way into northwest Montana causing vicinity showers
around KGPI by 01/19z with the shower activity diminish after
02/02z. The precip shower activity will impact KMSO between 01/23z
to 02/12z, KHRF between 02/01z to 02/13z, KBTM and KSMN during the
late overnight into early Sunday morning. Gusty west winds will be
associated with the front with gusts up to 35kts. Some stronger
gusts could be associated near showers as strong winds aloft get
pushed to the surface.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Wind Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to midnight MDT tonight
     for Kootenai/Cabinet Region...Lower Clark Fork Region.

     Wind Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 2 AM MDT Sunday for West
     Glacier Region.

     Lake Wind Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 2 PM MDT Sunday for
     Flathead/Mission Valleys.

ID...None.
&&

$$