FNUS75 KMSO 181928
FWSMSO

SPOT FORECAST FOR KOOTENAI FIRE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
128 PM MDT SAT JUL 18 2009

FORECAST IS BASED ON REQUEST TIME OF 1303 MDT ON JULY 18.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DISCUSSION...SURFACE AND UPPER RIDGE WILL MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE
WEATHER OVER THE FIRE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. SOME CUMULUS
DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN 1400-1800 MDT. THE RIDGE WILL BE FLATTENED
OVERNIGHT AS A CANADIAN WEATHER SYSTEM MAKES ITS WAY ACROSS
NORTHWEST MONTANA. A MID LEVEL FRONT AND WEAK UPPER LEVEL JET
STREAK ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE FIRE LATE
TONIGHT. THESE FEATURES COMBINED WITH SOME MID LEVEL MOISTURE MAY
SET OFF SOME ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE FIRE AFTER MIDNIGHT.
WITH DRY LOW-LEVELS...GUSTY WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN IMPACT WITH
SOME POSSIBLE LIGHT RAIN ONCE THE ATMOSPHERE MOISTENS. SUNDAY WILL
SEE AN INCREASED SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT BEHIND THE FRONT. GIVEN
THE FIRES PROXIMITY TO KOOTENAI CREEK WHICH IS AN EAST/WEST
ORIENTATION...SOME CHANNELING OF THE WINDS IS POSSIBLE.

.TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....86-91.
MIN HUMIDITY........20-25 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........UPSLOPE 4-6 MPH.
HAINES INDEX........5 MODERATE.

.TONIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
                    THUNDERSTORMS AFTER MIDNIGHT.
CWR.................10 PERCENT.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....61-66.
MAX HUMIDITY........44-49 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........UPSLOPE 5-7 MPH BECOMING DOWNSLOPE 3-5
                    MPH AFTER 2100 MDT. ERRATIC WINDS WITH GUSTS
                    TO 30 MPH POSSIBLE NEAR STORMS AFTER MIDNIGHT.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.

.SUNDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
                    THUNDERSTORMS IN THE EARLY MORNING.
CWR.................10 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....78-83.
MIN HUMIDITY........28-33 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........WEST WINDS AROUND 6 MPH INCREASING TO 10-12
                    MPH BY NOON.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.

$$
FORECASTER...MEAD
REQUESTED BY...TONY LUBKE
TYPE OF REQUEST...WILDFIRE
.TAG 20090718.KOOTE.01/MSO