Missoula, Montana 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

279
FXUS65 KMSO 142009
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
209 PM MDT Thu Aug 14 2025

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGES:

- Thunderstorms return Saturday and continue through the early week.

- Ridge builds in towards the end of the week, but thunderstorms
  are still possible under a monsoon pattern.

- Ridge potential increases for a typical hot, dry summer pattern
  late next week.

A trough approaching the Pacific Northwest region tomorrow will
cause the return of unstable southwest flow to the region. This
will cause some thunderstorms, mainly starting Saturday. As that
trough gets established along the U.S. West Coast, a ridge starts
to build over the central U.S., which will reinforce the southwest
flow over the area. That will keep the region in an afternoon
thunderstorm pattern most of the week.

Even as the ridge builds in, western Montana will be west of the
ridge axis, and there will be some moisture from the Southwest
Monsoon moving under the ridge that can cause more thunderstorms.
By late next week or into the weekend, the ridge axis drifts west,
placing the northern Rockies region under a typical hot, dry
summer ridge pattern.

&&

.AVIATION... Southwest flow over the region is bringing some mid
and high level clouds over the region today, and some wildfire
smoke. Wildfires in Idaho and as far away as western Washington
are sending smoke our way, with terminal KBTM the most likely to
be affected tonight and tomorrow. A large trough approaching the
Pacific Northwest tomorrow will cause increasing cloud cover.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for East Beaverhead.

ID...&&

$$