Columbia Falls, Montana 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

752
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.

&&

.AVIATION...A low pressure system tracking into Yellowstone NP
today will continue to cause a few showers over Lemhi county and
southwest Montana. KSMN and KBTM have the best probability of
being impacted by a light shower. This system will also cause
gusty easterly winds across all of western Montana and north
central Idaho with the strongest winds being near the Continental
Divide. Gusts up to 25 kts will be possible for KMSO, KBTM and
KGPI. The strongest winds will likely occur this evening,
especially over the higher terrain.


&&

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

$$