FNUS75 KMSO 290037
FWSMSO

SPOT FORECAST FOR ELBOW PASS-FNF
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
637 PM MDT FRI SEP 28 2012

FORECAST IS BASED ON REQUEST TIME OF 1807 MDT ON SEPTEMBER 28.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DISCUSSION...MOISTURE WILL INCREASE OVER THE FIRE IN THE FORM OF
CLOUDS BY EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. THE CLOUDS ARE EXPECTED TO BREAK
UP BY NOON WITH INVERSIONS LIFTING SHORTLY AFTER, BETWEEN
1300-1500. ENOUGH LINGERING CLOUDS ARE EXPECTED THAT HUMIDITIES
ARE EXPECTED TO BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN FRIDAY. HOWEVER, AN
INCREASED PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL RESULT IN INCREASED WEST WINDS
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING. THESE INCREASED
WINDS MAY KEEP ACTIVE FIRE BEHAVIOR DESPITE SLIGHTLY HIGHER
HUMIDITIES. SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORE DRY AIR RETURNS TO THE
FIRE AS A WEAK UPPER RIDGE BUILDS OVERHEAD. DIURNALLY/TERRAIN
DRIVEN WINDS AND SLIGHTLY LOWER HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED.

.TODAY...

HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.
SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....BOTTOM 72-77. TOP 65-70.
MIN HUMIDITY........BOTTOM 22-27 PERCENT. TOP 27-32 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........WEST WINDS 8-12 MPH BOTTOM...14-18 MPH TOP.

.TONIGHT...

MIN TEMPERATURE.....BOTTOM 32-37. TOP 38-43.
MAX HUMIDITY........BOTTOM...85-90 PERCENT. TOP...66-71 PERCENT TOP.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.
SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLEAR.
WIND (20 FT)........WEST WINDS 10-14 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH IN THE
                    EVENING. BECOMING DOWNSLOPE 4-8 MPH AFTER SUNSET.

.SUNDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........SUNNY.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....BOTTOM 72-77. TOP 65-70.
MIN HUMIDITY........BOTTOM 17-22 PERCENT. TOP 22-27 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........UPSLOPE 4-6 MPH. TOP OF FIRE WEST WINDS 8-12 MPH
                    AFTER NOON.
MIXING HEIGHT.......8000 FT AGL.
MIXING WINDS........WEST 10 MPH.
HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW.

$$
FORECASTER...MEAD
REQUESTED BY...SETH CARBONARI
TYPE OF REQUEST...WILDFIRE
.TAG 20120928.ELBOW.01/MSO