821 FXUS65 KMSO 140745 AFDMSOArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Missoula MT 145 AM MDT Sun Sep 14 2025
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGES:
- Widespread showers this afternoon into Monday for most of the Northern Rockies, for some a beneficial rain
- Warming and drying by mid week
An upper level trough along the West Coast this morning will usher in a cold front by this afternoon. Showers and isolated thunderstorms will increase from west to east across the Northern Rockies. Wind gusts of 20-30 mph will be common mid afternoon through early evening accompanying the front and showers. Areas of showers will continue tonight through much of Monday as a weak mid level low rotates through.
The probability of a wetting rain is high 70-100% for much of the Northern Rockies, excluding far northwest Montana where chances are only 20-40%. In fact, the probability for at least 0.25 inch of rainfall is 40-70% across north-central Idaho and west-central Montana. Overall, widespread showers are anticipated with a beneficial rain for many locations. Additionally, it will be much cooler with daytime highs 5-10 degrees below normal on Monday as snow levels drop to around 8500 feet.
The Northern Rockies become stuck between deep troughs during the middle of this week and temperatures blossom 5 to 10 degrees above normal, with drying conditions, and light breezes. Ensemble clusters diverge greatly around the 18th and 19th on the details but generally agree on a weak upper level trough along the West Coast. This trough should help to bring showers back into the forecast with a gradual cooling in temperatures.
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.AVIATION...Other than patchy morning valley fog, VFR conditions will dominate into this afternoon. Showers and isolated thunderstorms will increase from west to east across the Northern Rockies this afternoon ahead of and along a cold front. Wind gusts of 20-25 kts will be common mid afternoon through early evening accompanying the front and showers. Areas of showers, periodic lowered ceilings/visibility and mountain obscurations will continue tonight through much of Monday as a weak mid level low rotates through.
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.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. ID...None. &&
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NWS MSO Office Area Forecast Discussion