800 FXUS65 KMSO 140837 AFDMSOArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Missoula MT 237 AM MDT Tue Oct 14 2025
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGES:
- Valley rain/snow and mountain snow showers for portions of the forecast area today.
- Seasonable temperatures with valley rain showers and light mountain snowfall Wednesday into Thursday.
- Widespread rain chances increasing for Sunday, and a return to cooler temperatures on Monday.
Moisture moving in from the south will bring showers to Lemhi County, southwest, and west-central Montana today. Through this morning, light snow may accumulate in valleys and mountains across Lemhi County and southwest Montana, with minimal impacts expected.
The weather pattern will remain unsettled into the middle of the week as a low-pressure system develops near Yellowstone from Wednesday into Thursday. This will bring another round of showers and high-elevation snow, mainly to southwest Montana and Lemhi County. In contrast, areas farther north and west, including northwest Montana and the remainder of north-central Idaho, are likely to stay dry with mild valley temperatures.
Heading into the weekend, weather models show a dip in the jet stream approaching from the Pacific Northwest, though differences in its timing and strength still exist. The most likely scenario involves mild temperatures with isolated showers on Saturday before the main system arrives. This will usher in cooler temperatures and widespread precipitation on Sunday and into early next week. By Monday, models are in strong agreement that a deep trough will settle over the region, ensuring a continued period of cool and unsettled weather.
&&
.AVIATION...A persistent stratus deck is causing IFR conditions and low ceilings at KBTM and along the Continental Divide, which will linger through the morning. Showers approaching from the southwest will also lower visibility in snow across Lemhi County and southwest Montana, affecting the KBTM and KSMN terminals. For the rest of the region, expect lingering MVFR ceilings and obscured terrain, with conditions forecast to improve over north- central Idaho and northwest Montana by this afternoon. Winds will generally be light and terrain-driven, though some easterly flow will persist in certain areas.
&&
.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. ID...None. &&
$$
NWS MSO Office Area Forecast Discussion