000 FNUS55 KMSO 021456 FWFMSO MISSOULA FIRE WEATHER OFFICE MORNING FIRE WEATHER FORECAST 900 AM MDT MON SEP 2 2002.....GILCHRIST DISCUSSION...AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL BEGIN TO DIG IN OFF THE WEST COAST TODAY. TEMPERATURES WILL RISE A FEW DEGREES TODAY AS THE RIDGE BUILDS IN AHEAD OF THE TROUGH. TOMORROW AS THE TROUGH DIGS FURTHER SOUTHWARD IT WILL PLACE THE DISTRICT IN UPPER LEVEL SOUTHWEST FLOW...DESTABILIZING THE ATMOSPHERE FOR A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. ALSO THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL TIGHTEN TOMORROW FOR GUSTY AFTERNOON WESTERLY WINDS. ******************************************************************** ZONES: 102 103 THIS INCLUDES: PALOUSE/HELLS CANYON...CLEARWATER/NEZ PERCE .TODAY... WEATHER.............BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. MAX TEMPERATURE....75-85...86-92 LOWER CANYONS 24 HR TREND: UP 3-5 DEGREES MIN HUMIDITY........24-34%...14-23% LOWER CANYONS 24 HR TREND: DOWN 5% SLOPE/VALLEY WIND...UPSLOPE 3-5 MPH BECOMING SOUTHWEST 5-9 MPH RIDGETOP WIND.......SOUTHWEST 13-23 MPH LAL.................1 CWR.................0% HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW .TONIGHT... WEATHER.............PARTLY CLOUDY. MIN TEMPERATURE.....45-55...56-63 LOWER CANYONS MAX HUMIDITY........70-80%...55-60% LOWER CANYONS SLOPE/VALLEY WIND...DOWNSLOPE 3-5 MPH LOCAL SOUTH 5-10 MPH RIDGETOP WIND.......SOUTHWEST 18-28 MPH LAL.................1 CWR.................0% HAINES INDEX........4 LOW .TUESDAY... WEATHER.............PARTLY CLOUDY. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF MAINLY MOUNTAIN AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. MAX TEMPERATURE.....73-83...84-90 LOWER CANYONS MIN HUMIDITY........24-34%...14-23% LOWER CANYONS SLOPE/VALLEY WIND...SOUTHWEST-WEST 6-12 MPH AFTERNOON G20 MPH RIDGETOP WIND.......SOUTHWEST 15-30 MPH LAL.................2 CWR.................LESS THAN 10% HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW ******************************************************************** ZONES: 104 105 106 107 THIS INCLUDES: KOOTENAI...FLATHEAD/GLACIER PARK...WEST LOLO... SALISH AND KOOTENAI RESERVATION .TODAY... WEATHER.............PARTLY CLOUDY. MAX TEMPERATURE.....73-83...62-72 MOUNTAINS 24 HR TREND: UP 4 DEGREES MIN HUMIDITY........25-35% 24 HR TREND: LITTLE CHANGE SLOPE/VALLEY WIND...SOUTHWEST 6-10 MPH RIDGETOP WIND.......WEST 15-25 MPH LAL.................1 CWR.................0% HAINES INDEX........2 VERY LOW .TONIGHT... WEATHER.............MOSTLY CLEAR. MIN TEMPERATURE.....45-55 MAX HUMIDITY........ABOVE 80% SLOPE/VALLEY WIND...DOWNSLOPE 3-5 MPH LOCAL SOUTH 4-8 MPH RIDGETOP WIND.......SOUTHWEST 15-30 MPH LAL.................1 CWR.................0% HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW .TUESDAY... WEATHER.............PARTLY CLOUDY. MAX TEMPERATURE.....72-82...61-71 MOUNTAINS MIN HUMIDITY........25-35% SLOPE/VALLEY WIND...SOUTHWEST-WEST 6-12 MPH AFTERNOON G20 MPH RIDGETOP WIND.......SOUTHWEST 15-30 MPH LAL.................1 CWR.................0% HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW ******************************************************************** ZONES: 108 109 110 111 THIS INCLUDES: EAST LOLO...BITTERROOT...DEERLODGE/WEST BEAVERHEAD...EAST BEAVERHEAD .TODAY... WEATHER.............BECOMING MOSTLY SUNNY. MAX TEMPERATURE.....73-83...62-72 MOUNTAINS 24 HR TREND: UP 2 DEGREES MIN HUMIDITY........22-32% 24 HR TREND: DOWN 5% SLOPE/VALLEY WIND...UPSLOPE 2-5 MPH BECOMING SOUTHWEST-WEST 6-10 MPH RIDGETOP WIND.......WEST-SOUTHWEST 10-20 MPH LAL.................1 CWR.................0% HAINES INDEX........2 VERY LOW .TONIGHT... WEATHER.............MOSTLY CLEAR. MIN TEMPERATURE.....45-55 MAX HUMIDITY........70-80%...55-60% MID SLOPES SLOPE/VALLEY WIND...SOUTHWEST 11-16 MPH RIDGETOP WIND.......SOUTHWEST 15-25 MPH LAL.................1 CWR.................0% HAINES INDEX........4 LOW .TUESDAY... WEATHER.............PARTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF LATE AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SOME STORMS COULD BE DRY WITH GUSTY ERRATIC WINDS. MAX TEMPERATURE.....76-86...65-75 MOUNTAINS MIN HUMIDITY........18-28% SLOPE/VALLEY WIND...SOUTHWEST 15-25 MPH RIDGETOP WIND.......SOUTHWEST 20-30 MPH LAL.................3 CWR.................10% HAINES INDEX........5 MODERATE ******************************************************************** 3 TO 5 DAY FORECAST ** WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ** WED...PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SOUTHERN DISTRICT. LOWS 42-55. HIGHS 63-77. WEST WINDS 5-15 MPH. THU...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS 38-50. HIGHS 60-74. WEST WINDS 5-15 MPH. FRI...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. LOWS 35-50. HIGHS 60-74. NORTHWEST WINDS 10-20 MPH. ********************************************************************