Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
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438 FXUS65 KTFX 311004 AFDTFX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Great Falls MT 404 AM MDT Fri May 31 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Seasonably mild and dry conditions are expected through Saturday afternoon with another cool night tonight before a weak weather disturbance brings a chance for showers and isolated thunderstorms to some areas Saturday evening. A more significant series of weather systems will bring wind and rain to the area Monday and Tuesday with warmer and drier weather developing later next week. && .DISCUSSION... Cyclonic west-northwest flow aloft on the periphery of upper level troughing centered across central Canada will bring one more day of near to slightly below average temperatures today and another cool night tonight before a more zonal (W to E) flow develops across the region this weekend and temperatures warm to near and slightly above seasonal averages. A relatively weak disturbance moves across the area Saturday evening with scattered showers and a few isolated thunderstorms possible, mainly across central and southwest MT. Early next week, an unusually strong (for early June) Pacific upper level jet moves moves onshore with a fairly potent mid level wave and surface low kicking out across MT/AB Monday night/Tuesday. Windy conditions are expected to develop Monday as westerly flow aloft increases ahead of the wave with very windy conditions likely across much of the area Tuesday and potentially into Wednesday. Latest probabilistic guidance maintains a 30-50% chance for gusts exceeding 45 mph Tuesday across southwest MT with 60% or higher probabilities across north-central MT, where there is a 90% risk of gusts in excess of 55 mph for areas adjacent to the Rocky Mtn Front. A plume of unusually deep Pacific moisture (PWATs 150-180% of normal) streams across the area ahead of the wave on Monday with the most widespread and persistent precipitation focused along and west of the continental dive but showers are also likely to the east, especially across central and southwest MT. Late next week, there is strong model agreement to build an upper level ridge across the interior western and NW US, resulting in temperatures warming well above seasonal averages by the weekend. Some uncertainty still exists with its amplitude and the W/E placement of the ridge axis with larger differences arising next weekend. Hoenisch && .AVIATION... 31/06Z TAF Period VFR conditions prevail this TAF period. Winds will remain generally calm across all sites except KCTB through the overnight hours before picking up across central and north-central Montana after 31/18Z. Otherwise the main concern will be for scattered showers this afternoon across eastern portions of the hi-line including KHVR. - thor Refer to weather.gov/zlc for more detailed regional aviation weather and hazard information. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 67 38 75 49 / 0 0 0 20 CTB 64 37 70 44 / 0 0 0 0 HLN 70 42 77 51 / 0 0 10 20 BZN 67 37 75 46 / 0 0 10 30 WYS 61 33 67 41 / 0 0 0 30 DLN 67 39 74 46 / 0 0 10 20 HVR 67 39 75 50 / 10 10 0 10 LWT 62 37 72 46 / 0 0 0 40 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls