249
FXUS65 KMSO 010825
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
225 AM 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.

A warm, but windy day is in store for the Northern Rockies today
as a Pacific cold front traverses the region. Westerly winds will
steadily increase after the noon hour, with the strongest winds
starting around 2 PM across northwest Montana, and will remain
elevated through midnight tonight. The probabilities for wind
gusts in excess of 40 mph continue to increase, with probabilities
between 70 and 90 percent. Areas with the highest potential
impacts will be across northwest Montana, particularly Highway 37
in the Bull Lake area and Highway 2 from Libby to Kila. Lookout
Pass to Superior and areas along Highway 200 from Thompson Falls
to Plains will have high probabilities for gusts in excess of 40
mph as well. Winds this strong can make driving difficult,
especially for high profile vehicles, as well as the potential to
down trees, creating isolated power outages. Due to the potential
impacts, Wind Advisories have been issued for Lincoln County and
the Lower Clark Fork area along I-90 and Highway 200.

Flathead Lake remains an area of concern for gusty westerly winds
around 40 mph as well. Strong winds and rough waves on area lakes
will create hazardous conditions for small craft. The highest wave
heights of up to 3 feet are expected by Sunday morning, especially
along the north and eastern half of the lake.

Light to moderate rainfall will arrive with the front as well,
with 0.25"-0.50" by Sunday morning for the terrain along the ID/MT
border and for Clearwater County and the northern half of Idaho
County in Idaho.

Next week the Pacific Jet remains active and so will our weather.
A few things stand out for the coming week. Snow levels will
remain elevated as the polar jet remains well north in Canada.
Also, there is not a lot of confidence for another strong system
through at least next weekend.

&&

.AVIATION...A warm but windy day is in store for the Northern
Rockies as a Pacific cold front traverses the region. Westerly
winds will steadily increase this afternoon. The strongest winds
are expected across northwest Montana, including KGPI, starting
around 01/2000Z and remaining elevated through 02/0600Z.
Probabilities for wind gusts reaching 35 KT are around 40 percent
during this period.

KMSO, KHRF, and KBTM will see gusty winds as well, though not as
strong. The timing for the highest gusts at these sites will be
between 01/2200Z and 02/0800Z, with a 50 percent probability for
gusts around 25-30 KT.

Light to moderate rainfall will accompany the front, which will
briefly reduce visibilities and ceilings at all TAF sites from
approximately 01/2200Z to 02/1000Z.

&&

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

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

ID...None.
&&

$$