Sunrise 6:36 AM   Sunset 8:36 PM Moonrise 3:20 PM   Moonset 4:24 AM

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FXUS65 KMSO 190846 AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Missoula MT 246 AM MDT Fri Apr 19 2024

DISCUSSION
I trough extending westward from the Great Lakes region still has us under a cooler air mass today. However, high surface pressure east of the Continental Divide is setting up easterly flow, which flows down off the Continental Divide, into western Montana and Idaho today. Also, while the upper level trough remains over our region, it is filling in today as we transition to a ridge of high pressure for Saturday. That means we can look forward to a cooler than average day today with a chilly east wind, but, there will be fewer if any snow showers today.

Temperatures bump up quickly under mostly sunny skies for Saturday as an upper level ridge takes over, but just for a day. By Sunday another cold front is coming. This next one won't be as cold as the last one though, so we're expecting showers Sunday and early next week to mainly be rain in the valleys with mountain snow.

All the long term models and ensembles point to the active, but not really intense Spring weather pattern to continue for the next couple of weeks.

AVIATION
Rising heights today along with some light easterly downslope flow from the Continental Divide will keep showers at a minimum today. VFR conditions expected through Saturday as a ridge builds in.

MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MT...None.
ID...None.

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