222 FXUS65 KMSO 041925 AFDMSO Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Missoula MT 125 PM MDT Fri Apr 4 2025 .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGES: - Warming and drying through the weekend due to a ridge of high pressure - Cold front moves through on Monday followed by an active pattern next week Clearing skies and warming temperatures will continue into this weekend as a ridge of high pressure builds. Clear skies tonight will result in another chilly morning on Saturday, with overnight lows in the teens and twenties for western Montana and the higher elevations in Idaho. Daytime highs will start to creep up on Saturday and peak on Sunday, with temperatures hitting 10 to 15 degrees above normal. Cloud cover will begin to increase again on Monday as Pacific moisture on the south side of a low pressure circulation over the Gulf of Alaska makes its way inland. A favorable position of the upper level jet and a surface cold front will allow precipitation to begin by Monday night in north-central Idaho. Snow levels will be up above 5000 feet initially, so snow will be limited to the high terrain and mountain passes. Moist westerly flow will persist into Wednesday. The upper level jet stays just south of the Northern Rockies, which will help provide some forcing for ascent and keep precipitation (valley rain/mountain snow) in the forecast through Wednesday night. && .AVIATION...Satellite imagery this afternoon shows cloud cover building over the terrain, otherwise generally light winds and partly cloud skies are expected. High pressure is on track to build over the Northern Rockies this weekend, providing mostly sunny skies, light winds and warming temperatures. && .MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. ID...None. && $$