FNUS75 KMSO 021930
FWSMSO

SPOT FORECAST FOR CHRANDAL  FIRE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
130 PM MDT THU AUG 2 2012

FORECAST IS BASED ON REQUEST TIME OF 1245 MDT ON AUGUST 02.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

.DISCUSSION...MAIN ISSUE FOR TODAY WILL BE THE WINDS BECOMING
NORTHWEST ALONG AND BEHIND THE FRONT. THE FRONT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL
PASS OVER THE FIRE BETWEEN 1800-2000 MDT. THE LOWER ELEVATIONS
WILL REMAIN TERRAIN DRIVEN BUT COULD SEE SOME GUSTS TO 20 MPH FROM
THE NORTHWEST WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. AT THE TOP OF THE FIRE
THE NORTHWEST WINDS WILL BE SUSTAINED AROUND 15 MPH AND GUSTS
25-30 MPH ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE FRONT AND CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY
EVENING. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SOME CB DEVELOPMENT ALONG
THE FRONT BUT MAINLY VIRGA WOULD RESULT...WITH GUSTY ERRATIC WINDS.
THE TOP OF THE FIRE WILL EXPERIENCE NORTHWEST WINDS 10-15 THROUGH
THE NIGHT BUT GUSTS WILL SUBSIDE AROUND SUNSET. FRIDAY WILL BE
COOLER WITH INCREASED HUMIDITIES. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL ALSO
CONTINUE BUT DECREASE TO AROUND 10 MPH AT THE TOP OF THE FIRE.
BOTTOM OF THE FIRE WILL REMAIN TERRAIN DRIVEN.

.TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........INCREASING CLOUDS.
MIN HUMIDITY........14-19 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........BOTTOM OF THE FIRE VARIABLE 3-6 MPH. TOP OF THE FIRE
                    SOUTHWEST 8-10 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 15 MPH BECOMING
                    WEST 6-12 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS AFTER 1500.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....68-73.

.TONIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY.
MAX HUMIDITY........66-71 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........BOTTOM OF THE FIRE...VARIABLE 3-6 MPH BUT NORTHWEST
                    WITH GUSTS TO 20 MPH ALONG THE FRONT. TOP OF THE FIRE
                    NORTHWEST WINDS 8-12 MPH WITH GUSTS 25-30 MPH IN
                    THE EVENING.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....43-48.

.FRIDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
MIN HUMIDITY........21-26 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........BOTTOM OF THE FIRE...VARIABLE 3-6 MPH. TOP OF THE FIRE
                    NORTHWEST WINDS 5-9 MPH.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....63-68.

$$
FORECASTER...MEAD
REQUESTED BY...HEISEL  JOE
TYPE OF REQUEST...WILDFIRE
.TAG 20120802.CHRAN.01/MSO