FNUS75 KTFX 072002
FWSTFX

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

FORECAST IS BASED ON REQUEST TIME OF 1330 MDT ON SEPTEMBER 07.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
MONDAY EVENING...

.DISCUSSION...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER THE AREA
THROUGH SATURDAY BRINGING PROGRESSIVELY WARMER AND DRIER
CONDITIONS. WINDS WILL REMAIN LIGHT AND TERRAIN INDUCED TONIGHT
AND THEN INCREASE AS WINDS BECOME SOUTHWESTERLY ON SATURDAY.

.EXTENDED DISCUSSION...DRY CONDITIONS WILL COMBINE WITH INCREASING WINDS
AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT ARRIVING SUNDAY AFTERNOON. MIX OF WET/DRY
THUNDERSTORMS WILL ACCOMPANY FRONTAL PASSAGE. CRITICAL FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP IN THE FIRE AREA ON SUNDAY
AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL SHIFT FROM SOUTHWEST TO WEST WITH THE
FRONTAL PASSAGE AND BECOME GUSTY WITH LOW HUMIDITIES CONTINUING
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.

.REST OF TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........SUNNY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
LAL.................1.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....67-72.
MIN HUMIDITY........22-27 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
RIDGE TOP WIND......WEST WINDS AROUND 10 MPH.
MIXING HEIGHT.......5500 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........WEST AROUND 5 MPH.

.TONIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLEAR.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
LAL.................1.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....31-36.
MAX HUMIDITY........70-75 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........BECOMING DOWN-SLOPE/DOWN-VALLEY 3-8 MPH.
RIDGE TOP WIND......SOUTH WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
MIXING HEIGHT.......500 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........LIGHT WINDS.
INVERSION...........STABLE CONDITIONS WITH INVERSION DEVELOPING
                    AFTER SUNSET.

.SATURDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
LAL.................1.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....70-77.
MIN HUMIDITY........13-19 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 10 MPH.
RIDGE TOP WIND......SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH
MIXING HEIGHT.......8000 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........SOUTHWEST AROUND 15 MPH.
INVERSION...........WILL BREAK BETWEEN 10 AM AND NOON.

$$
FORECASTER...VANDENHEUVEL
REQUESTED BY...GREAT FALLS DISPATCH
TYPE OF REQUEST...WILDFIRE
.TAG 20120907.ELBOW.02/TFX