Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Missoula, MT

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FXUS65 KMSO 251837
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
1237 PM MDT Mon Mar 25 2024

.DISCUSSION...The Northern Rockies will continue to be under weak
northwesterly flow tonight through Tuesday. This flow pattern will
be conducive to scattered snow showers. The best snow
accumulations will be in the higher terrain. Lookout, Lolo, Marias
and Lost Trail passes are expected to receive 1 to 3 inches of
snow over the next 24 hours. This snow will create periods of
slushy to snow covered roads on the passes. The valleys could
receive a dusting up to an inch of snow accumulations by Tuesday
morning. Any snow accumulations in the valleys will primarily melt
on the roadways, but icy conditions may develop on area bridges.

A weak ridge of high pressure is still on track to slide over the
region Tuesday night into Wednesday. This ridge will give the
Northern Rockies a short respite in shower activity.

A weak cold front is expected to push through the Northern Rockies
Wednesday night into Thursday. Once again the main impact will be
snow in the higher terrain, especially for the mountain passes
along the Montana/Idaho border. Lookout, Lolo and Lost Trail
passes have a 60 to 80% chance of receiving a least 2 inches of
snow by Thursday afternoon. Lost Trail has a 45% chance of getting
over 4 inches, while the other passes drop into the 10 to 20%
range. Again the valleys should receive a trace to inch of new
snow on non-paved surfaces with localized areas across southwest
Montana into Lemhi receiving up to 2 inches.

The trough of low pressure associated with the cold front will dig
along the Pacific coast and hang out just off the southern
California coast through the weekend. This will leave the Northern
Rockies in a weak southwest to westerly flow pattern, keeping the
temperatures near seasonal averages along with isolated to
scattered showers Thursday through the weekend.


&&

.AVIATION...Another round of snow showers is expected this
afternoon, continuing through the overnight hours across all of
western Montana and north central Idaho. Intermittent reductions
in visibility and lingering low ceilings are anticipated,
especially for KGPI and KMSO. Mountain obscurations will be
common with showers.

&&

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

$$


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