817
FXUS65 KMSO 300900
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
300 AM MDT Sat Aug 30 2025

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGES:

- Warming and drying trend into next week, potential heat impacts
  by early next week

Localized fog this morning may cause brief visibility reductions,
mainly in northwest Montana valleys.

High pressure will be strengthening over western Montana and north
central Idaho this weekend into next week. Temperatures will warm
each day, reaching into the 90s for western Montana valleys and
low 100s for the lower valleys of north central Idaho by early
next week. Heat impacts are possible, particularly in the lower
valleys of north central Idaho where overnight temperatures will
likely remain in the upper 60s.

One potential limiting factor to temperatures will be wildfire smoke.
As area wildfires become more active in the warm and dry
conditions, smoke may slowly degrade air quality, which can have
the effect of keeping daytime temperatures from warming to their
full potential.

Forecast models are showing a weak backdoor cold front brushing
along the Continental Divide late Tuesday into Wednesday. This
would likely allow temperatures to fall a few degrees by the
second half of the week, particularly in western Montana. A
notable switch in wind direction to easterly would also accompany
the front.

&&

.AVIATION...A ridge of high pressure will be building over the
region this weekend causing fair fly conditions other than the
potential for hazy conditions due to regional fires. Localized
valley fog is developing this morning, mainly across northwest
Montana. A period of lowered ceiling and visibility is possible
for both KGPI and KMSO.


&&

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

$$