613 
FXUS65 KMSO 011002
AFDMSO

WESTERN MONTANA AND NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
400 AM MST THU FEB 1 2001

...WINTER STORM WATCH FOR THE MOUNTAINS FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.SHORT TERM...SCTD LIGHT SNOW OVER WRN MONTANA WILL END THIS MORNING
WITH A RIDGE SETTING UP IN THE INTERIM BETWEEN SYSTEMS FOR 12 HOURS.
FAIRLY STRONG SHORT WAVE WILL BREAK DOWN THE RIDGE OVERNIGHT ALLOWING
A MOIST ZONAL FLOW OVER ENTIRE CWA STARTING EARLY FRIDAY INTO
SATURDAY. 50-60 KT WINDS AT 700 MB WILL ENHANCE OROGRAPHICS OVER THE
AREA BRINGING SIGNIFICANT SNOWS OVER THE MOUNTAINS FRI/FRI NIGHT.
THUS WILL KEEP THE WINTER STORM WATCH GOING FOR THIS PERIOD. STRONG
JET REMAINS OVER AREA SAT AT 300MB BUT QPF FROM AVN/MRF CARRY LIGHTER
AMOUNTS...THUS WILL HAVE A CHC IN ALL ZONES SATURDAY. TEMPERATURES
WARM UP ENOUGH FRI/SAT TO BRING A RAIN/SNOW MIX TO VALLEYS.  

.EXTENDED...RIDGE BUILDS ON SUNDAY TO DRY THINGS OUT CWA WIDE. THIS
WILL BE SHORT LIVED AS ANOTHER SHORT WAVE MOVES IN MON THROUGH WED TO
BRING COOLER TEMPS AND CHC SNOW ACROSS CWA. NESTER