Columbia Falls, Montana 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

720
FXUS65 KMSO 191846
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
1246 PM MDT Thu Mar 19 2026

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGES:

-  Unseasonably warm, dry, and windy through Friday bringing
   elevated fire weather concerns especially across southwest
   Montana.

-  A few light showers possible, mainly confined to the mountains
   of northwest and west-central Montana.

-  Cold front passage on Saturday will bring increased winds, a
   chance for precipitation, and a return to more seasonal
   temperatures.

The Northern Rockies remain situated under the southward side of
an upper level ridge in a relatively active and warm southwest
flow.

The main story through Friday will continue to be the unseasonably
warm and dry conditions with westerly winds increasing. The
warmest and driest conditions (with wind gusts of 25-35 mph) will
be found south of the I-90 corridor and especially in southwest
Montana and portions of Lemhi County.

While most areas will remain dry, a few light showers are
possible, mainly confined to the higher terrain of northwest and
west-central Montana through Friday morning. Accumulations and
impacts from these showers will be minimal.

A cold front on Saturday brings a temporal maximum of wind and gusts
especially in the afternoon. This front will bring a period of
light to moderate convective precipitation. Following the frontal
passage, temperatures will drop back to near-seasonal averages and
with some light snow, with minimal to no impacts, possible into
late Saturday night. A drying trend will take hold for the
remainder of the weekend.


&&

.AVIATION...VFR weather conditions will largely prevail across the
airspace through tonight and into Friday. A few light showers in
west-central and northwest Montana (KGPI, KMSO) could bring
localized MVFR reductions through the overnight and morning hours.

The primary aviation concern remains gusty winds and significant
turbulence. Recent PIREPs indicate turbulence around 11,000ft MSL,
and a SIGMET is currently in effect for severe turbulence near and
along the Continental Divide up to 16,000ft MSL due to strong
low-level winds and mountain wave activity. At the surface, west
to southwest gusts of 15 to 25 knots are expected this afternoon
and evening with the strongest gusts anticipated toward KBTM and
to a lesser extent KHRF and KSMN. Winds will decouple overnight
before increasing again by late-morning on Friday.


&&

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

$$