300
FXUS65 KMSO 291851
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
1251 PM MDT Mon Apr 29 2024

.DISCUSSION...The unsettled and cooler pattern continues through
the middle of next week.

Today, snow showers continue above 6000 feet, along with valley
rain showers. Showers will be complemented by an isolated
thunderstorms or two, with graupel being a primary precipitation
type. Breezy conditions will be widespread with valleys gusting 25
to 30 mph. Travel along ID-28 in Lemhi County, ID could have 40
to 50 mph crosswinds, impacting high profile vehicles.

Tuesday will be a rinse and repeat of Monday. The major
differences will be the stronger winds will migrate north over
the Glacier Park region and shower activity will be less
widespread compared to Monday.

Our current weather system, expected Wednesday, will be getting
wound up east of the Continental Divide, wrapping moisture from
the east into Glacier National Park. Snow levels will be 3500 feet
and below, so expect the precipitation type from the Flathead
Valley and eastward to be in the form of wet snow. Given that road
temperatures will remain warm enough at lower elevations, travel impacts
will be limited to road surfaces above 5000 feet, or basically
just at Marias Pass. Valleys should expect outdoor activity to be
cold and wet, however, so make appropriate preparations.

On Thursday, temperatures warm slightly and shower activity
becomes isolated again, but our next weather system for Friday
will already be trucking through Oregon. This system will create
an easterly gradient, keeping most of the energy and moisture
south of I-90. A trace of snow will be possible in higher valleys
of southwest Montana Friday morning.

Saturday morning may be the only shower-free period through the
middle of next week, so get out there and enjoy it if you can.

Showers increase on Sunday and will set up a rare spring closed
low pressure system for northwest Montana on Monday. If the track
of this low does not change, Monday will be a soaker for
northwest Montana.


&&

.AVIATION...Widely scattered convective shower activity will
continue through late this evening, with graupel and/or a rain-
snow mix being the main threats to aviation. Heavier showers could
be intense at times, bringing with them periodically lowered
visibility and ceilings, and localized gusty winds of 25 to 30
mph directly under the passing showers. Showers will linger
overnight into Tuesday, while gusty winds will temporarily ease
after 30/0600Z, but are expected to increase once more after
30/1800Z.

&&

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

$$