FNUS75 KMSO 120235
FWSMSO

SPOT FORECAST FOR SAWTOOTH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
835 PM MDT TUE SEP 11 2012

FORECAST IS BASED ON REQUEST TIME OF 2001 MDT ON SEPTEMBER 11.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DISCUSSION...HIGH PRESSURE WILL SLOWLY BUILD OVER THE FIRE
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, LEADING TO A VERY DRY AIRMASS WITH WARMING
TEMPERATURES. HUMIDITY IN THE BELOW FORECAST IS REPRESENTATIVE OF
AREAS WITHOUT SMOKE. LOCATIONS THAT REMAIN UNDER HEAVY SMOKE EACH
AFTERNOON WILL SEE HIGHER HUMIDITY BY ABOUT 10-15%. STRENGTHENING
INVERSIONS WILL CAUSE POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERY ON THE MID SLOPES AND
RIDGES. THESE INVERSIONS WILL ALSO DECREASE MIXING...PARTICULARLY
IN THE VALLEY BOTTOM AND MAY ALLOW FOR SMOKE TO LINGER LONGER AND
REMAIN THICKER.

.WEDNESDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....BOTTOM 60-65...TOP 47-52.
MIN HUMIDITY........13-18 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........UPSLOPE/UPVALLEY 3-6 MPH. NORTHWEST 5-8 MPH WITH
                    GUSTS TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON AT RIDGE TOP.
MIXING HEIGHT.......2100 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........NORTHWEST 10 MPH.
HAINES INDEX........4 LOW.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........CLEAR.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....30-35 BOTTOM AND TOP. 40-45 MIDSLOPES
MAX HUMIDITY........70-75 PERCENT BOTTOM...48-53 PERCENT MIDSLOPES
                    AND TOP.
WIND (20 FT)........WEST WINDS 5-6 MPH IN THE EVENING BECOMING
                    DOWNSLOPE/DOWNVALLEY 2-4 MPH.
MIXING HEIGHT.......200 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........LIGHT AND VARIABLE.
HAINES INDEX........4 LOW.

.THURSDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....BOTTOM 71-76...TOP 59-64.
MIN HUMIDITY........6-11 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........UPSLOPE/UPVALLEY 3-6 MPH. WEST 5-7 MPH WITH
                    GUSTS TO 12 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON AT RIDGE TOP.
MIXING HEIGHT.......1800 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........SOUTH 5 MPH.
HAINES INDEX........5 MODERATE.

$$
FORECASTER...PALLISTER
REQUESTED BY...KELLY ALLEN
TYPE OF REQUEST...WILDFIRE
.TAG 20120911.SAWTO.02/MSO