Lake Wind Advisory 7, NWS Missoula, MT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
422 AM MDT Fri Oct 16 2020

.DISCUSSION...Showers have already started to move back into
northwest Montana this morning. These showers will be steadily
spreading southward throughout the day. Most locations should
experience some light precipitation with the exception being
across the Camas Prairie in Idaho and the broader valleys of
western Montana. Along with the increased showers will be the
gusty westerly winds mixing to the surface this afternoon and
evening. These strong winds will cause downsloping conditions in
the broader valleys.

A cold front is still on track to push eastward into the region
later tonight into Saturday. This front will create strong
easterly winds, especially around Badrock canyon near Columbia
Falls. The combination of wind and widespread snow will create
winter like conditions, so a winter weather advisory has been
issued for portions of the Continental Divide. Kalispell will
experience the easterly winds tonight, but how much or even if
they will receive snow is uncertain at this time. The cold front
appears to stall along the I-90 corridor from Lookout pass to
MacDonald pass.

The stalled front appears to linger into Sunday when a second
plume of moisture will track across the Northern Rockies. Areas
north of I-90 could experience some accumulating snow even to the
valley floor. While areas south of I-90 will experience snow in
the higher terrain with the valleys primarily receive rain. The
current model solutions indicating that the heaviest snow being
along the Mission mountains into the Bob Marshall wilderness. The
Seeley/Swan valley has the potential of receiving a significant
amount of snow by Monday morning.

Northwesterly flow will persist over the Northern Rockies through
next week keeping temperatures cool for this time of year and
fairly active. The models are hinting at another disturbance by
mid week, but details are unclear at this time.

&&

.AVIATION... Showers have moved into northwest Montana bring light
rain to KGPI. This precipitation will steadily spread southward
throughout the causing ceilings to lower. Gusty westerly winds
will mix to the surface this afternoon, especially at KMSO and
KBTM. A cold front will push into western Montana from the east
later tonight. This front will cause snow levels to drop
dramatically, allowing snow to fall to valley floors across
northwest Montana by Saturday morning. KGPI is anticipated to
experience gusty easterly winds around 17/05z.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 6 PM MDT
     Saturday Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 9 PM this evening to noon MDT
     Saturday West Glacier Region.

ID...None.
&&