Bigfork, Montana 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

565
FXUS65 KMSO 022106
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
206 PM MST Mon Feb 2 2026

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGES:

-  Light valley rain and mountain snow this afternoon and evening
   potentially causing patchy ice on Tuesday morning

- Mid week ridge: Warmth and stagnant pattern

- Pattern Shift on the Horizon (Feb 8-10): Increased precipitation
  chances


A weak disturbance is still on track to move through the Northern
Rockies this afternoon and evening. Snow levels will be hovering
around 4500 feet during the passage of the feature bringing up to
2 inches of new snow to the higher terrain and mountain passes,
especially Lolo, Lookout and Marias passes. Areas below 4500 feet
will experience some light rain and any roads that remain wet by
Tuesday morning could develop patchy ice due to cold sub-surface
temperatures.

A strong ridge of high pressure will build over the Northern
Rockies for Wednesday through Saturday. This ridge will produce
unseasonably warm temperatures in the region, but the extent of
warm air making down to the valley floors is still a little
uncertain. Confidence is growing that the valleys of Clearwater
County and across northwest MT, will develop low stratus/fog, which
will hinder the warming. Even these locations temperatures will
be running around 10 degrees above seasonal averages, but not be
able to reach their full potential. The remainder of the Northern
Rockies have a better but still low probability of experiencing
daily record warmth by Thursday/Friday time frame, especially down
the Bitterroot valley and the Butte/Anaconda region.

The models are still indicating that the ridge should begin to
break down during Sunday/Monday of next week. Temperatures should
be cooler along with increased chances for precipitation, but the
strength of the change is still uncertain.


&&

.AVIATION...A weak disturbance will be moving through the region
this afternoon and evening causing scattered showers. Freezing
level will be hovering around 4500 feet during this passage
limiting the snow to the higher terrain which will be obscured at
times. KMSO, KHRF, and KGPI have the best potential for vicinity
showers throughout the evening. The showers are anticipated to
linger across west central Montana overnight into Tuesday morning,
potentially impacting KHRF. Any wet surfaces Tuesday morning could
develop ice due to cold sub-surface temperatures.


&&

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

$$