201 FXUS65 KMSO 131826 AFDMSOArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Missoula MT 1226 PM MDT Sat Sep 13 2025
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGES:
- Scattered afternoon showers mainly along I-90 today, near perfect late summer day for most.
- Confidence is increasing for widespread showers Sunday into Monday, for some a beneficial rain.
A few showers or a thunderstorm will slowly move southeast along I-90 today. Mainly hugging the terrain. For most today will be a near perfect late summer day with light breezes, near normal temperatures, and plenty of sunshine.
Tomorrow with the inclusion of high resolution models there is increasing confidence that the next system will bring widespread showers and beneficial rain to at least north-central Idaho and potentially parts of western MT. The higher terrain of Idaho County could have totals of 0.20 to 0.60" by Monday morning, while Clearwater County is closer to 0.10 to 0.45". We are still in convective season so it is quite reasonable to believe one ridgeline will receive the high end while the next ridge over will receive the low end. Even the low lands have totals between 0.10 to 0.40", all dependent on how close you are to stronger cores.
Western Montana is a different story. There still remains some uncertainty of how organized the system will become. The stretch of area along US-93 south of Polson to Lemhi County ID, has a 25th to 75th percentile range of 0.10 to 0.40", with localized amounts as high as 0.60". The higher terrain of the Bitterroots, Sapphire, Rattlesnake, and Mission Mountains may receive amounts equal to Idaho County, 0.20 to 0.60". The amounts north of Polson and southwest MT will be dependent on how organized this system becomes with 0.00 to 0.15" range of totals.
The Northern Rockies becomes stuck between deep troughs during the middle of next week and temperatures blossom 4 to 8 degrees above normal, with drying conditions, and light breezes. This will be short-lived potentially as models diverge greatly around the 18th and 19th, more to come in future forecasts.
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.AVIATION...A small band of showers/ thunderstorms will slowly move southeast along I-90 and gradually diminish during the afternoon. Beyond mention of showers in the vicinity of KMSO and KBTM between 13/1900 and 14/0000z, VFR conditions will prevail widespread. Increasing mid to upper level clouds on Sunday will signal the next period of convection affecting north-central Idaho before 15/0000z and west-central MT after.
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.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. ID...None. &&
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NWS MSO Office Area Forecast Discussion