Key messages
- Gusty winds on Saturday creating choppy conditions for area lakes, especially across northwest Montana.
- Cooler and showery by early to mid next week.
Discussion
High pressure remains in place over western Montana and north central Idaho today resulting in warm conditions above normal for this time of year. Patchy valley fog is possible again this morning but should dissipate by this afternoon.
A dry cold front is still expected to move through the region on Saturday. Breezy conditions will develop area wide, though the strongest winds are anticipated across northwest Montana. West winds gusting 30 to 40 mph are anticipated, which will create choppy conditions on area lakes, including Flathead Lake. The increased wind will allow for better atmospheric mixing, allowing temperatures to top out into the upper 60s to near 70 for many valley locations.
Temperatures will trend cooler behind the front on Sunday, though still running a few degrees warmer than normal. Brief high pressure will build back over the region early next week, maintaining coll mornings and warm afternoons through Tuesday.
Forecast models continue to cut off a large area of low pressure along the west coast by mid next week. With most of the energy with this system digging well south, it appears the Northern Rockies will be under split flow aloft. This will result in cooler temperatures and unsettled (showery) conditions.
Aviation
High pressure remains over western Montana and north central Idaho today. VFR conditions will dominate the airspace. However, valley fog will likely develop once again in lower river valleys, including near KGPI and KMSO. Fog may become dense for a few hours this morning near these airfields between 16/1100z and 16/1600z. A cold front will move through the region on Saturday bringing increase mid level cloud cover, and more notably, gusty westerly winds.
Mso Watches/Warnings/Advisories
MT...None. ID...None.