FNUS75 KTFX 261229
FWSTFX

SPOT FORECAST FOR ELBOW PASS COMPLEX...USFS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
629 AM MDT SUN AUG 26 2012

FORECAST IS BASED ON REQUEST TIME OF 0546 MDT ON AUGUST 26.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DISCUSSION...
HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD OVER THE REGION FOR A
STRONG WARMING TREND WITH AFTERNOON HUMIDITIES AT OR BELOW 20
PERCENT. WEAK INSTABILITY ALOFT...MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND
EVENING HOURS...MAY CAUSE ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. IF ANY STORMS DO
DEVELOP IN THE FIRE AREA...LITTLE IF ANY PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED
AND THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE GUSTY ERRATIC WINDS. OTHERWISE...WINDS
WILL GENERALLY BE LIGHT.  COULSTON

EXTENDED DISCUSSION...
A DRY COOL FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH THE REGION WEDNESDAY. SURFACE
WINDS WILL INCREASE AND BECOME GUSTY BEHIND THE FRONT. THE
COMBINATION OF LOW AFTERNOON HUMIDITY AND STRONG WINDS WILL LIKELY
CAUSE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.  MPJ

.TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........SUNNY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
                    THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.
CWR.................5 PERCENT.
LAL.................1 UNTIL 1200...THEN 2.
HAINES INDEX........5 MODERATE.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....77-82 VALLEYS...72-77 RIDGES.
MIN HUMIDITY........8-13 PERCENT VALLEYS...13-18 PERCENT RIDGES.
WIND (20 FT)........LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS BECOMING SOUTHEAST
                    7 TO 12 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
RIDGE TOP WIND......SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH SHIFTING TO THE
                    SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

.TONIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
                    THUNDERSTORMS.
CWR.................5 PERCENT.
LAL.................2.
HAINES INDEX........5 MODERATE.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....38-43 VALLEYS...48-53 RIDGES.
MAX HUMIDITY........75-80 PERCENT VALLEYS...35-40 PERCENT RIDGES.
WIND (20 FT)........EAST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH BECOMING
                    DOWNSLOPE/DOWNVALLEY AROUND 5 MPH AROUND
                    MIDNIGHT.
RIDGE TOP WIND......SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH SHIFTING TO THE
                    SOUTH 5 TO 15 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

.MONDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
                    THUNDERSTORMS.
CWR.................5 PERCENT.
LAL.................2.
HAINES INDEX........4 LOW.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....82-87 VALLEYS...77-82 RIDGES.
MIN HUMIDITY........8-13 PERCENT VALLEYS...13-18 PERCENT RIDGES.
WIND (20 FT)........LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS BECOMING SOUTHWEST
                    5 TO 15 MPH AROUND NOON.
RIDGE TOP WIND......SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.

$$
FORECASTER...COULSTON
REQUESTED BY...KIP COLBY
TYPE OF REQUEST...WILDFIRE
.TAG 20120826.ELBOW.01/TFX