FNUS75 KTFX 071200
FWSTFX

SPOT FORECAST FOR ELBOW PASS COMPLEX...GREAT FALLS DISPATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
600 AM MDT FRI SEP 7 2012

FORECAST IS BASED ON REQUEST TIME OF 0531 MDT ON SEPTEMBER 07.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
MONDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...

.DISCUSSION...

HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE REGION WILL PRODUCE CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT
WINDS THROUGH TONIGHT WITH THE AIRMASS GENERALLY REMAINING STABLE.
GRADUAL WARMING AND DRYING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH
VERY WARM AND DRY AS WELL AS UNSTABLE CONDITIONS EXPECTED ON
SUNDAY AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA
SUNDAY NIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE FRONT
SUNDAY NIGHT FOLLOWED BY VERY WINDY AND CONTINUED DRY CONDITIONS ON
MONDAY.

.TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........SUNNY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
LAL.................1.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.
INVERSION...........WILL BREAK AROUND NOON WITH A STABLE LAYER NEAR
                    10000 FT LINGERING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....70-75 VALLEYS...65-70 RIDGES.
MIN HUMIDITY........20-25 PERCENT VALLEYS...25-30 PERCENT RIDGES.
WIND (20 FT)........BECOMING UP-SLOPE/UP-VALLEY 3-8 MPH.
RIDGE TOP WIND......SOUTHWEST WINDS 5-15 MPH.
MIXING HEIGHT.......5000 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........WEST AROUND 10 MPH.

.TONIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........CLEAR.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
LAL.................1.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.
INVERSION...........STABLE CONDITIONS WITH INVERSION DEVELOPING
                    AFTER SUNSET.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....32-38 VALLEYS...40-45 MID-SLOPES/RIDGES.
MAX HUMIDITY........65-75 PERCENT VALLEYS...55-65 MID-SLOPES/RIDGES.
WIND (20 FT)........BECOMING DOWN-SLOPE/DOWN-VALLEY 3-5 MPH.
RIDGE TOP WIND......SOUTH WINDS 5-10 MPH.
MIXING HEIGHT.......LOWERING TO LESS THAN 1000 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........SOUTH 5-10 MPH.

.SATURDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........SUNNY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
LAL.................1.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.
INVERSION...........WILL BREAK AROUND NOON WITH A STABLE LAYER NEAR
                    13000 FT LINGERING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....75-80 VALLEYS...71-76 RIDGES.
MIN HUMIDITY........15-20 PERCENT VALLEYS...20-25 PERCENT RIDGES.
WIND (20 FT)........UP-SLOPE/UP-VALLEY 3-8 MPH.
RIDGE TOP WIND......WEST WINDS 5-10 MPH INCREASING TO 10-15 MPH WITH
                    GUSTS AROUND 20 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
MIXING HEIGHT.......8000 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........SOUTHWEST AROUND 15 MPH.

$$
FORECASTER...HOENISCH
REQUESTED BY...GREAT FALLS DISPATCH
TYPE OF REQUEST...WILDFIRE
.TAG 20120907.ELBOW.01/TFX