FNUS75 KMSO 201812
FWSMSO

SPOT FORECAST FOR STEWART FIRE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
1212 PM MDT TUE SEP 20 2011

FORECAST IS BASED ON REQUEST TIME OF 1146 MDT ON SEPTEMBER 20.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DISCUSSION...A DRYING AND WARMING TREND FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS
WILL THE MAIN ISSUE ON THE FIRE. STARK DECREASE IN WINDS TODAY AND
TONIGHT AS SURFACE AND RIDGETOP WINDS DECREASE UNDER THE BUILDING
RIDGE. THIS WILL RESULT IN DIURNALLY/TERRAIN DRIVEN WINDS DURING
THE DAY. FIRE LOCATION IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOVE STRENGTHENING
SURFACE INVERSIONS SO WINDS WILL BE SIMILAR TO DAYTIME SPEEDS AND
HUMIDITIES WILL ONLY HAVE MODERATE RECOVERIES. THEREFORE FIRE
ACTIVITY WILL REMAIN ELEVATED DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

A WEATHER SYSTEM WILL KNOCK DOWN THE RIDGE THURSDAY...BUT MAIN
IMPACT WILL BE INCREASE WINDS THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT.

.TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........SUNNY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....59-64 BOTTOM...50-55 TOP.
MIN HUMIDITY........25-30 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........VARIABLE 3-5 MPH BECOMING UPSLOPE 6-8 MPH IN
                    THE AFTERNOON.
HAINES INDEX........2 VERY LOW.

.TONIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........CLEAR.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....32-37.
MAX HUMIDITY........69-74 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........DOWNSLOPE WINDS 6-8 MPH IN THE EVENING BECOMING
                    VARIABLE 4-6MPH.
HAINES INDEX........2 VERY LOW.

.WEDNESDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........SUNNY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....65-70 BOTTOM...57-62 TOP.
MIN HUMIDITY........18-23 PERCENT BOTTOM...25-30 PERCENT TOP.
WIND (20 FT)........VARIABLE 4-6 MPH BECOMING UPSLOPE 6-8 MPH IN THE
                    AFTERNOON.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.

$$
FORECASTER...MEAD
REQUESTED BY...DSCHULTE
TYPE OF REQUEST...WILDFIRE
.TAG 20110920.STEWA.01/MSO