FXUS65 KMSO 070953

AFDMSO



Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service Missoula MT

353 AM MDT Mon Apr 7 2025



.DISCUSSION...



KEY MESSAGES:



-  Cold front passage on today will bring breezy winds, increased

   clouds and widespread showers



-  Transitory ridge on Thursday into Friday causing warm and dry

   conditions. 



-  Another cold front late Friday into Saturday bringing more

   active weather.



A cold front is currently positions across western Washington and

Oregon this morning. This front will steadily push across the

Northern Rockies throughout the day. Gusty southerly winds are 

expected to develop during the morning hours, especially over the 

Camas Prairie in Idaho and parts of southwest Montana. After the 

frontal passage the winds will switch to the west to southwest

with wind gusts up to 30 mph. These wind gusts could create

choppy conditions on area lakes, particularly Flathead Lake. The

front will also be bringing widespread precipitation to the

region. Snow levels will be fairly high, confining snow to the

highest elevations today. Snow levels will be dropping to around

4500-5000 feet by Tuesday morning, potentially allowing snow

accumulations at mountain passes. At this time, snow accumulations

are expected to be fairly minimal on roadways even over the

mountain passes. 



An cool and active weather pattern will persist Tuesday into

Wednesday as temperatures will be around seasonal average. 



A transitory ridge of high pressure slides through the Northern

Rockies Thursday into Friday causing temperatures to warm

dramatically to around 15 to 20 degrees above average. This ridge

will be short lived as another cold front is expected to push

through the region late Friday into Saturday causing the Northern

Rockies to return to a cool and active weather pattern for the

weekend. 







&&



.AVIATION...A cold front will be pushing through the Northern

Rockies. This front will cause gusty southerly winds ahead of its

passage followed by a quick shift to west to southwest direction.

Wind gusts up to 30 mph will be fairly common by this afternoon at

most terminals. Clouds will be steadily increase in coverage and

lower throughout the day. The front itself will be bringing

widespread precipitation. The precipitation type will be rain at

the terminals, but a period in reduced visibility should be

expected near heavier showers. 



&&



.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

MT...None.

ID...None.

&&



$$