Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Lakeside, MT

FXUS65 KMSO 241855 AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Missoula MT 1255 PM MDT Thu Apr 24 2025

DISCUSSION

KEY MESSAGES:

- Isolated to scattered showers across southwest Montana, Lemhi County and north central Idaho through Friday.

- Trending cooler and wetter Sunday into Monday

Now through Friday, scattered showers will develop across southwest Montana, Lemhi County, and southern portions of Idaho County. Shower activity will mainly be focused in the afternoon and evening hours. Locations north of a line from Butte, MT to Lost Trail Pass to Grangeville, ID will see primarily dry, warm and sunny conditions as high pressure strengthens.

East winds will also be a factor across all of western Montana and north central Idaho. These winds are just starting to increase this afternoon and will likely peak in areas exposed to easterly winds this evening into the overnight hours. Winds will generally be less than 30 mph, though exposed areas of northwest Montana may see gusts approaching 40 mph. The main impact will be to those recreating on area lakes, due to choppy water conditions. Winds will continue through Friday morning, gradually decreasing by afternoon.

Saturday will be a transition day as the flow aloft becomes more southwesterly ahead of an approaching upper level low pressure system. While Saturday will likely be the warmest day of the week for many locations, there will also be increasing clouds and even some showers and isolated thunderstorms by the afternoon and evening.

Cooler and wetter conditions are on tap by Sunday into Monday, with the highest confidence in significant precipitation focused along the Continental Divide into southwest Montana. Recent forecast models have been trending precipitation amounts down across northwest Montana, especially closer to the Idaho panhandle. Snow levels by Monday morning will drop to around 6500 feet, meaning a light coating of snow is possible for the higher terrain.

The majority of forecast models (80 percent) continue to show high pressure building back into the region by mid to late next week.
Warmer temperatures and drier conditions are anticipated. At the current time, it does not look like this will be a prolonged warm and dry period, with models indicating it could become more active again by next weekend.
Show more