FNUS75 KMSO 261721
FWSMSO

SPOT FORECAST FOR CEDAR
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
1121 AM MDT SAT SEP 26 2009

FORECAST IS BASED ON REQUEST TIME OF 0950 PDT ON SEPTEMBER 26.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT...

.DISCUSSION...INCREASING SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT AHEAD OF AN
APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL INCREASE SOUTH WINDS LATE THIS
MORNING. THE TOP OF THE FIRE IS EXPECTED TO SEE THE BRUNT OF THESE
INCREASED WINDS AS BELIEVE GOAT HEAVE PEAK WILL SHELTER THE LOWER
ELEVATIONS OF THE FIRE. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO PASS OVER THE
FIRE BETWEEN 1200-1300 MDT TURNING THE WINDS WEST AND
INCREASING...WINDS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO MIX DOWN TO THE BASE OF
THE FIRE AS WELL. THE WINDS WILL REMAIN UP THROUGH THE
EVENING...BEING STRONGEST AT THE TOP OF THE FIRE WITH GUSTS TO 40
MPH. THE BASE OF THE FIRE IS EXPECTED TO DE-COUPLE WITH
SUNSET...BUT WINDS WILL REMAIN UP THROUGH THE NIGHT AT THE TOP OF
THE FIRE. SUNDAY ANOTHER UPPER RIDGE WILL BUILD OVER THE
FIRE...HELPING TO DECREASE THE UPPER LEVEL WINDS BY AFTERNOON.

.TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........SUNNY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....80-85 BASE...68-73 TOP.
MIN HUMIDITY........18-23 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........SOUTHWEST WINDS TO 8 MPH THIS MORNING TOP OF FIRE.
                    WINDS BECOMING WEST 9-12 MPH INCREASING TO
                    15-20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH IN THE
                    AFTERNOON.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.

.TONIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........CLEAR.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....29-34 BOTTOM...38-43 TOP.
MAX HUMIDITY........95-100 PERCENT BOTTOM...49-54 PERCENT TOP.
WIND (20 FT)........BASE...WEST WINDS 10-15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH
                    DECREASING TO AROUND 5 MPH AFTER 2100 MDT.
                    TOP...WEST WINDS 15-21 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND
                    40 MPH DECREASING 10-15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 25 AFTER
                    MIDNIGHT.
HAINES INDEX........4 LOW.

.SUNDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....62-67 BASE...52-57 TOP.
MIN HUMIDITY........17-22 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........BASE...WEST WINDS 6-7 MPH.
                    TOP...WEST WINDS 10-15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 25 MPH
                    IN THE MORNING. WINDS DECREASING TO AROUND 10 MPH
                    AFTER 1500 MDT.
HAINES INDEX........4 LOW.

$$
FORECASTER...MEAD
REQUESTED BY...TRISHA SKINNER
TYPE OF REQUEST...WILDFIRE
.TAG 20090926.CEDAR.01/MSO