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000
FXUS65 KMSO 222037
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
237 PM MDT Tue Aug 22 2017

.DISCUSSION...
Stable conditions from high pressure over the northern Rockies.
As a result, the valley smoke has been very slow to disperse,
keeping degraded air quality in-place. Mid-level smoke from
Oregon wildfires is also moving overhead, adding to the smoke
content in our view.

As high pressure shifts eastward on Wednesday, isolated showers and
thunderstorms are possible in north-central Idaho and southwest
Montana by late afternoon. Gusty outflow winds and dry lightning
will be the main concerns for this initial round.

Heading into Wednesday night, winds will become increasingly
breezy, and showers and thunderstorms will spread across northwest
/west-central Montana and north-central Idaho. These storms have a
better chance at producing some rainfall, but widespread wetting
rains are not expected. Lightning and wind activity will be
unfavorable for wildfires.

Scattered showers/thunderstorms will shift eastward through west-
central/southwest MT along a quick-moving cold front Thursday
morning through Thursday night. Again, gusty winds and lightning
will be the main threats. Wildfires in the region are anticipated
to stay fairly active during these breezy, unstable conditions.

A strong, warm high pressure pattern will return by the weekend,
allowing dry and smokey conditions to return to the area.

&&

.AVIATION...Warm and stable conditions are in place today,
keeping low-level valley smoke from dispersing too much. Mid-level
smoke from Oregon is also moving overhead. KMSO and KBTM, as well
as KGIC, will experience visibility reductions in the evening and
overnight as stable conditions persist into morning.

&&

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

$$