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000
FXUS65 KMSO 212017
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
217 PM MDT Sun Apr 21 2024

.DISCUSSION...An active spring-like weather pattern will continue
with a few nice days mixed in with cooler, showery, and windier
days.

Breezy winds subside this evening, then return on Monday afternoon
under a northwest flow. A few showers will be found along the
Canadian border and Divide but overall Monday will be dry with
seasonable temperatures.

After a brief ridge on Tuesday featuring valley high temperatures
back into the 60s (70s for north-central Idaho), shower (and
isolated thunder) chances return on Wednesday and Thursday under
southwest flow aloft.

Ensemble clusters agree on a deep trough over the western U.S. the
end of this week through at least next Monday (April 29). The
majority (roughly 60%) of cluster scenarios support the idea of
multiple rounds of widespread precipitation (especially from I-90
southward) associated with 1-2 closed lows. Snow levels are
currently forecast at 5500-6500 feet but will trend lower (closer
to 4500 feet) if a well developed closed low passes just south of
our region. Speaking to the other 40% of the clusters, less
widespread precipitation would occur but still scattered daily
showers would be common with seasonable temperatures.

For more details on the week ahead, the potential of widespread
precipitation by late week, along with April climate stats,
please view our latest Weather Briefing video on our YouTube
channel at https://www.youtube.com/NWSMissoula.


&&

.AVIATION...Westerly wind gusts of 15-25 kts will subside this
evening in the valleys with another breezy afternoon on Monday. A
few showers and mountain obscurations will occur along the
Canadian border and the Divide, otherwise VFR conditions will
prevail for much of the area into Monday.


&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Lake Wind Advisory until 8 PM MDT this evening for
     Flathead/Mission Valleys.

ID...None.
&&

$$