578 
WWUS45 KMSO 012251
WSWMSO

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
400 PM MST (300 PM PST) WED JAN 1 2003

IDZ005-MTZ001-002-004-043-020500-
NORTHERN CLEARWATER MOUNTAINS-KOOTENAI/CABINET REGION-
WEST GLACIER REGION-LOWER CLARK FORK REGION-BLACKFOOT REGION-

...A WINTER STORM WATCH ABOVE 5000 FEET HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHWEST
   MONTANA AND THE NORTHERN CLEARWATER MOUNTAINS LATE THURSDAY NIGHT
   AND FRIDAY...

A MOIST PACIFIC SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION LATE THURSDAY NIGHT
AND FRIDAY. THIS SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BRING HEAVY SNOW AND
GUSTY WINDS TO THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHWEST MONTANA AND NORTH CENTRAL
IDAHO. SNOW TOTALS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ABOVE 5000 FEET BY
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

PERSONS WHO PLAN TO TRAVEL DURING THIS TIME FRAME SHOULD STAY TUNED
TO THEIR LOCAL NEWS OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS
APPROACHING STORM.

$$

MMM