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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.
&&

$$