Red Flag Warning 13, NWS Missoula, MT

574 
WWUS85 KMSO 030248
RFWMSO

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
848 PM MDT WED SEP 2 2015

MTZ110-111-030400-
/O.EXP.KMSO.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-150903T0300Z/
DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD-EAST BEAVERHEAD-
848 PM MDT WED SEP 2 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES ACROSS THE DEERLODGE/WEST
BEAVERHEAD...EAST BEAVERHEAD...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING. 


$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
405 AM MDT TUE SEP 1 2015

...Fall-like weather expected by the end of the week...

.DISCUSSION...Dry southwest flow over western Montana and north
central Idaho will create overall pleasant conditions today.
Temperatures will trend warmer today, though remaining near seasonal
normals for this time of year.

A cold front will begin to move through the region on Wednesday,
starting a change in the overall weather pattern for the rest of
the week. The cold front will move through northwest Montana and
central Idaho Wednesday morning, west central Montana Wednesday
afternoon, and southwest Montana Wednesday evening. As the front
moves through, gusty southwest to west winds are expected to
develop, especially across west-central/southwest Montana where
frontal passage coincides with afternoon heating, further allowing
winds to mix to the surface.

Forecast models continue to show a band of precipitation
developing behind the front Wednesday evening into Thursday. The
exact placement of this band is still somewhat in question, but it
looks like many locations of western Montana and central Idaho
will see measurable rainfall with this feature. Forecast models
have slowed the progression of the associated upper level trough,
which will allow this band of precipitation to persist into Friday
morning. Much cooler temperatures (well below normal) can be
expected by Thursday in the wake of the front, especially for
areas that continue to see steady precipitation.

Friday through Sunday: Continues to be an unsettled period with
above normal chance of precipitation and cooler than normal
temperatures. The speed of the broadscale trough moving across the
Northern Rockies is in question, but have favored the slower
movement as depicted by the ECMWF weather model. This can be a
pretty cold pattern as some areas could see persistent rainfall
into the Labor Day weekend. Also snowfall is possible in the
higher elevations, especially above 6500 feet. A surge of colder
Canadian air late Friday into Friday night could actually drive
snow levels down a little bit more from Glacier Park to Marias
Pass. Also any breaks in the clouds at night could allow for
enough cooling that low temperatures could approach freezing. It
appears the best time and location for frost would be across
northwest Montana Friday morning. With clouds and precipitation
expected both Saturday and Sunday morning, it appears at this time
that colder low temperatures may be less likely.

Outlook for early next week: A gradual warmup will be expected but
temperatures will generally be below normal. Monday and possibly
Tuesday could be fairly dry days, but another system approaches
the region later Tuesday or Wednesday to bring another chance for
precipitation.

&&

.AVIATION...Overall pleasant conditions will persist today under
dry southwest flow aloft. Mid and high levels clouds will
continue to stream through the region, which could locally cause
the highest terrain to be obscured. Breezy southwest winds up to
30kts will be possible once again at ridge top levels this
afternoon, with generally light winds less than 15kts in the
valleys.

&&

.CLIMATE...
This has been the driest summer (June-July-August) on record for
Kalispell coming in with only 1.09" of rainfall. The 2nd lowest
was 1.40" set back in 1929. Kalispell also saw its 5th warmest
summer. Missoula saw its 8th warmest summer while Butte was 25th
warmest. Missoula also saw its 18th driest summer with 2.23".

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...FIRE WEATHER WATCH from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday
     evening Deerlodge/West Beaverhead...East Beaverhead.

ID...None.
&&