FNUS75 KMSO 141640
FWSMSO

SPOT FORECAST FOR PATTEE CANYON
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
1040 AM MDT SAT MAY 14 2011

FORECAST IS BASED ON REQUEST TIME OF 1011 MDT ON MAY 14.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DISCUSSION...A STRONG EAST TO WEST SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL
COMBINE WITH IMPRESSIVE RIDGE TOP WINDS TO CREATE GUSTY EAST
WINDS OVER THE FIRE TODAY. THE SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST NATURE OF THE
DRAW NEAR THE FIRE COULD CHANNEL THE WINDS TO A MORE NORTHEAST
DIRECTION. THE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY UP THROUGH THE
EVENING...BEFORE DECOUPLING AFTER SUNSET. CLOUDS CURRENTLY OVER
THE FIRE WILL DISSIPATE AS A MORE STABLE AIR MASS MOVES INTO
THE REGION. THE EAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY EARLY
AFTERNOON...THEN BECOME SOUTHEAST AS THE THERMAL TROUGH BUILDS OVER
THE FIRE. CLOUDS WILL ALSO INCREASE TONIGHT AND WITH CONTINUED
WINDS...ANOTHER MILD NIGHT WITH LOWER RECOVERIES. WITH THE THERMAL
BOUNDARY ACTING AS A FOCUSING MECHANISM...THERE A CHANCE FOR SOME
LATE DAY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE FIRE.

.TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY IN THE MORNING BECOMING MOSTLY SUNNY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....68-73.
MIN HUMIDITY........21-26 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........UPSLOPE WINDS 7-9 MPH...BECOMING EAST/NORTHEAST
                    17-21 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH...MAINLY
                    AFTER 1200 MDT.
MIXING HEIGHT.......4200 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........EAST 35 MPH.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.

.TONIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....43-48.
MAX HUMIDITY........70-75 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........EAST WINDS 18-19 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30
                    MPH DECREASING TO 9-12 MPH AFTER SUNSET.
MIXING HEIGHT.......500 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........EAST 10 MPH.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.

.SUNDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY. CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS AND
                    THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON...MAINLY AFTER
                    1500 MDT
CWR.................10 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....67-72.
MIN HUMIDITY........27-32 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........EAST/NORTHEAST WINDS 7-13 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 25. WIND
                    BECOMING SOUTHEAST AFTER 1500.
MIXING HEIGHT.......5800 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........SOUTHEAST 30 MPH.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.

$$
FORECASTER...MEAD
REQUESTED BY...MITCH DANA
TYPE OF REQUEST...WILDFIRE
.TAG 20110514.PATTE.01/MSO