Orchard Homes, Montana 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

100
FXUS65 KMSO 011949
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
1249 PM MST Sun Feb 1 2026

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGES:

- Minor Road Impacts This Evening into Monday Morning: Light
  valley rain, localized black ice, mainly northwest Montana.
  Light snow on Lolo, Lookout and Marias passes.

- Mid Next Week: High pressure returns, continued above-normal
  temperatures.

Today as valley inversions break, temperatures climb into the 50s
in western MT and around 60F in Hells Canyon ID, under light
southerly winds. There is low probability of a record or two
breaking today.

A weak cold front pushes through this evening into the overnight,
bringing light precipitation. This is the tricky part of the
forecast, we feel confident at Lookout, Lolo, and Marias Passes
that 1 to 3 inches of snow will fall causing only minor impacts.
While the valleys of northwest Montana will be different, US-93
and west, the timing of rain will be in the early evening. East
of US-93, rain will fall but later in the evening and overnight.
US-2 east of West Glacier and US-93 north of Whitefish may have
areas of ice if the roads remain wet through sunrise on Monday, be
prepared for localized icy patches during the morning commute.

High pressure rebounds this week and very warm temperatures
return, with the potential of records falling Thursday and Friday.
Some caveats are how quickly can valley inversions rebuild
creating stability and how strong. Locations where valley
inversions rebuild, expect patchy fog and morning stratus.


&&

.AVIATION...VFR conditions are expected to prevail through much of
today as considerable mid- and high-level clouds stream
overhead. By late this afternoon, an approaching cold front will
promote valley mixing, bringing gusty winds of 15 to 25 kts.
Scattered to numerous showers will also develop late this
afternoon and continue through Monday morning, primarily focusing
from US-12 northward. Precipitation amounts will be light,
generally remaining below 0.05 inches in the valleys. Currently,
only KGPI has a 30% chance or less of receiving light rain between
02/05 and 02/09z. Snow levels will start near 6000 feet before
lowering to 4000 feet by early Monday, still valley precipitation
remains as rain.



&&

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

$$