FXUS65 KMSO 081034 AFDMSO Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Missoula MT 334 AM MST SAT NOV 8 2014 ...MAJOR ARCTIC OUTBREAK STARTS SUNDAY NIGHT... .DISCUSSION...A major change in the weather is coming Sunday night. An arctic air mass will spill westward from the Continental Divide starting Sunday night. Monday through Thursday will be some of the coldest November days recorded in western Montana and central Idaho. Some major impacts expected with this system are: * Cold air pouring across the Continental Divide will cause strong easterly winds and low wind chills, especially in Badrock and Hellgate canyons. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings will be the coldest. * Many mountain locations and some valleys in Western Montana will see low temperatures below zero by Wednesday morning. Near record low temperatures are expected. * Several inches of snow are expected in the Mountains. Higher elevations in the Swan and Mission as well as Glacier National Park may receive over a foot of snow from Sunday morning through Tuesday Morning. * Most valley locations in western Montana can expect some snow for the Monday morning commute. Uncertainty in the forecast increases quickly later next week due to the unusually strong system in the Gulf of Alaska, which is the remnants of Typhoon Nuri. However, below average temperatures are more likely than average or higher temperatures. && .AVIATION...Moderate high pressure situated over the area will bring a chance for fog to develop at KGPI, KMSO and KSMN. The VIIRS night-time visible satellite image at 08/1010z revealed some valley fog across Clearwater County, Idaho and also north across the Idaho Panhandle. Any fog that develops near the aforementioned terminals will dissipate by noon. Expect light and variable surface winds at all the terminals. && .MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...WINTER STORM WATCH from Sunday evening through Monday afternoon Flathead/Mission Valleys. WINTER STORM WATCH from Sunday evening through Monday afternoon Potomac/Seeley Lake Region...West Glacier Region. ID...None. && $$  FXUS65 KMSO 201007 AFDMSO Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Missoula MT 407 AM MDT THU AUG 20 2015 .DISCUSSION...Hot spots visible overnight on 3.9 micrometer and NPP VIIRS Day/Night Band satellite imagery suggest that active fire behavior has continued overnight on many of the larger fires across Washington, Idaho and Montana, adding further smoke to the environment that will only compound the existing air quality and overall quality of life issues today. Fortunately breezy conditions this afternoon and the passage of a cold front on Friday will help clean out the air. However both of these instances of wind may also result in additional fire activity and thus the previously issued Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch continue unchanged. Another point of good news lies in the likelihood for some moisture with Friday's cold front. Models have become increasingly consistent in dragging more of the moisture/precipitation west into the Kootenai Region, an idea supported by a stronger upper level jet. And although amounts are still likely to be light, the presence of any rainfall at this point will certainly be welcomed! Precipitation amounts will increase closer the the Continental Divide and snow still appears possible above 6000ft early Saturday morning. Cooler conditions will linger across central Idaho and western Montana on Saturday and an overall decrease in fire activity should limit the amount of additional smoke into the atmosphere. Thus Saturday should prove to be quite a nice day across the Northern Rockies! The potential for frost will exist Saturday night into Sunday morning (mainly western Montana), but temperatures will quickly warm up during the day Sunday as a ridge of high pressure builds. Due to the warm temperatures and low humidity, smoke is expected to increase Sunday into Monday. In the long range, models are showing another trough digging down from Canada late Tuesday into Wednesday. This would lead to isolated to scattered thunderstorms ahead of the trough, and cooler, showery weather behind it. Overall, the weather pattern is starting to look like Fall in the extended. && .AVIATION....Smoke from area wildfires will continue to obscure visibilities today. Denser smoke plumes is expected today and will likely cause terrain obscurations across much of the area. Most terminals will see breezes around 10 to 15 kts with gusts up to 20 kts this afternoon. Other than smoke clouds, clear skies are expected with no precipitation. A cold front is expected on Friday, which will bring breezy winds and should help clear the smoke. && .MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...FIRE WEATHER WATCH from Friday morning through Friday evening Bitterroot...Deerlodge/West Beaverhead...East Beaverhead... East Lolo...Flathead/Glacier Park...Kootenai...Salish and Kootenai Reservation...West Lolo. RED FLAG WARNING from 9 AM this morning to 9 PM MDT this evening Flathead/Glacier Park. ID... FIRE WEATHER WATCH from Friday morning through Friday evening Clearwater/Nez perce...Palouse/Hells Canyon. && $$