Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
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557 FXUS65 KTFX 101126 AFDTFX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Great Falls MT 426 AM MST Mon Nov 10 2025 Aviation Section Updated. .KEY MESSAGES... - Windy and mild conditions today with well above average afternoon temperatures. - Strong winds today along the Rocky Mountain Front and locally further east across north-cecntral Montana. - Dry and unseasonably mild conditions persist through Thursday with a change to cooler and unsettled conditions by the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... /Issued 339 AM MST Mon Nov 10 2025/ - Meteorological Overview: Upper level ridge continues to slump southeast across MT this morning beneath troughing moving through western Canada. By this afternoon mid level flow further increases across the Northern Rockies and MT as as the upper ridge further flattens in response to an emebedded shortwave moving across southern AB and a southward sagging upper level jet streak. A fairly wide plume of mid-upper level moisture is producing plentiful high clouds and a Chinook Arch across the area this morning, which is likely to persist through much of the day until the shortwave passes this evening. While favorable conditions for mountain wave wind enhancement continue through tonight, lee-side troughing coupled with surface high pressure west of the divide and ridgetop stability peaking this morning will support the strongest winds along areas immediately adjacent to the east slopes of the Rocky Mtn Front. Increasing flow aloft and decreasing stability later today will result in widespread gusts in excess 40 mph across most of north-central MT by this afternoon. Afternoon temperatures will be 10-20 degrees above seasonal averages today with warmest readings across western portions of N-central MT, where clouds and winds have maintained temperatures in the 50s still early this morning. Clouds may be a limiting factor, but daily records may be reached at Cut Bank and Great Falls. Upper level ridging re-builds across Northern Rockies later tonight through Thursday for continued dry and mild conditions. Models are in good agreement to bring troughing into the Western US by late Thursday, beginning the transition to more seasonable temperatures and increasing chances for precipitation going into the weekend. There are still some significant differences however in the timing and degree of splitting that the tough undergoes while moving inland, leading to low confidence in precipitation details still at this time. Hoenisch - Forecast Confidence & Scenarios: High wind warnings remain in effect through this evening for the Rocky Mtn Front and adjacent plains including areas as far east as I-15 north of Conrad, where there is a 70% or higher probability of gusts exceeding 55 mph with similar probabilities for gusts exceeding 75 mph for areas along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mtn Front, including areas along and west of US-89 north of Pendroy. Further east across north-central MT there is some potential for localized gusts in excess of 55 mph, particularly with mixing this afternoon and/or in conjuction with the shortwave passing through the area this evening. Later this evening and overnight, conditions may become more favorable for mountain wave development for areas near the Southern Rocky Mtn Front and adjacent to the Little Belts and Highwoods. With isolated coverage of stronger gusts expected and probabilities generally less than 40% at this time, High Wind products were not expanded, but will continue to monitored today. Hoenisch && .AVIATION... 10/12Z TAF Period Westerly flow aloft across the Northern Rockies increases today with gusty surface winds and mountain wave turbulence the primarily aviation concerns. North-central MT terminals will see increasing surface wind gusts through today with winds slightly shifting from southwest to more westerly later this afternoon and evening. Hoenisch The KWYS TAF will not be issued until airport operations resume next spring. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 68 43 58 32 / 10 0 0 0 CTB 65 37 52 27 / 10 0 0 0 HLN 61 41 58 34 / 0 0 0 0 BZN 61 34 59 30 / 0 0 0 0 WYS 48 24 47 25 / 0 0 0 0 DLN 60 33 56 31 / 0 0 0 0 HVR 64 34 57 26 / 10 0 0 0 LWT 64 38 56 30 / 0 0 0 0 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning until 9 PM MST this evening for East Glacier Park Region-Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera- Northern High Plains-Southern High Plains-Southern Rocky Mountain Front. && $$ http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls