FNUS75 KTFX 311457
FWSTFX

SPOT FORECAST FOR HOPLEY UNITS...LEWIS & CLARK NATIONAL FOREST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
857 AM MDT SUN MAY 31 2009

FORECAST IS BASED ON IGNITION TIME OF 0905 MDT ON MAY 31.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DISCUSSION...
A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL LINGER OVER THE FIRE AREA TODAY...KEEPING
WINDS GENERALLY OUT OF THE NORTHWEST. A WEAK AREA OF INSTABILITY ALOFT
WILL ALSO MOVE OVER THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON...WHICH WILL HELP
BRING A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA DURING THE
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS. A STRONGER COLD FRONT WILL
THEN MOVE THROUGH THE FIRE AREA LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY
MORNING...WHICH WILL BRING GUSTY AND STRONGER NORTH WINDS DURING
THE MORNING HOURS. IT WILL ALSO BRING A COOLER AND MORE MOIST AIRMASS
TO THE AREA FOR THE DAY ON MONDAY. THERE WILL ALSO BE A SLIGHT CHANCE
OF RAIN SHOWERS...BUT THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED...AS THE AIRMASS
WILL ALSO BE MORE STABLE.  COULSTON


.TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY. CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
                    THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.
CWR.................15 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....68-73.
MIN HUMIDITY........21-26 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........NORTHWEST WINDS 4 TO 7 MPH IN THE MORNING
                    INCREASING TO 5 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
RIDGE TOP WIND......NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH.
MIXING HEIGHT.......10500 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........NORTHWEST AROUND 20 MPH.

.TONIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY. CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
                    THUNDERSTORMS IN THE EVENING. CHANCE OF RAIN
                    SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT.
CWR.................15 PERCENT.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....37-42.
MAX HUMIDITY........80-85 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
RIDGE TOP WIND......NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
MIXING HEIGHT.......500 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........NORTHWEST AROUND 10 MPH.

.MONDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY SUNNY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS.
CWR.................10 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....47-52.
MIN HUMIDITY........69-74 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........NORTH WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND
                    25 MPH IN THE MORNING DECREASING TO AROUND 10
                    MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
RIDGE TOP WIND......NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH IN THE MORNING
                    BECOMING NORTH 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
MIXING HEIGHT.......3500 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........NORTH AROUND 20 MPH IN THE MORNING DECREASING
                    TO 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

$$
FORECASTER...COULSTON
REQUESTED BY...MARK CONWAY
TYPE OF REQUEST...PRESCRIBED
.TAG 20090531.HOPLE.01/TFX