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000
FXUS65 KMSO 221008
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
308 AM MST Wed Jan 22 2020

.DISCUSSION...Use caution this morning: Slick conditions are
possible as some roads/sidewalks have iced up overnight. Snow
covered roads are also occurring on area passes, along with the
potential of light freezing rain around Troy, Libby, and Thompson
Falls. Allow a little extra travel time.

Otherwise, unstable northwest flow will lead to periodic light to
moderate snow on the terrain today, especially the western passes
such as Lookout and Lolo. Snow amounts will be light but roads
will be snow covered at times. Valleys will be downsloped but
occasional snow showers are still possible throughout the day.

Widespread light snow will overspread the region this evening
with snow levels quickly rising by Thursday morning. Area passes
will likely have periods of snow covered conditions into Thursday.
Most valleys will be downsloped but some light precipitation will
fall, especially in northwest Montana. Once again with the rising
snow levels and overnight temperatures near freezing, spotty
light freezing rain will be possible early Thursday.

A shortwave moves over the region on Friday without much of a
surface front associated with it all. The overall impact will be
minimal with a slight increase in the very light snow rates. In 24
hours ending Friday evening we`re expecting 1 to 3 inches of new
snow in the mountains with snow levels above 4,000 feet for most
of the event.

The next system will come through Sunday night, and it will have a
better defined surface cold front. We don`t make rain/snow amount
forecasts out that far, but from what we can see so far it doesn`t
look like a very impressive system. Overall, the intermittent
light snow continues in the mountains.

&&

.AVIATION...Unstable northwest flow will lead to periodic
mountain snow and terrain obscurations with occasional showers
potentially reaching valley sites. Westerly winds will also be
stronger this afternoon with gust to 20 kt, primarily at KBTM.
Strong warm air advection takes place this evening continuing into
Thursday resulting in widespread light precipitation.
Precipitation will likely start as snow for most areas then
transition to rain in the valleys on Thursday. Near freezing
temperatures on Thursday morning could lead to a localized
freezing rain threat in valleys.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST this morning Lower Clark
     Fork Region.

ID...None.
&&

$$