Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
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313 FXUS65 KTFX 060002 AFDTFX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Great Falls MT 602 PM MDT Sat Sep 5 2026 Aviation Section Updated. .KEY MESSAGES... - Showers and thunderstorms tonight and Sunday, become a more widespread rainfall Sunday night into Monday. - An isolated severe storm possible Sunday. - Cool temperatures to begin the week, with some warmer afternoon temperatures for a few days mid week. && .DISCUSSION... /Issued 244 PM MDT Sat Sep 5 2026/ - Meteorological Overview: A slow moving upper level low will remain to our west through Sunday, before slowly moving eastward Sunday night into Monday. Expect waves of showers/thunderstorms to move through the CWA from now through Sunday afternoon. There is the potential that a few storms could become severe on Sunday, thus much of the CWA is in a marginal risk for severe storms. As the upper level low moves eastward Sunday night into Monday, the showers will change more into a stratiform rain, with the heaviest rainfall expected over North Central MT. There is also a marginal risk for excessive rainfall that could cause flash flooding Sunday night into Mon over North Central MT. Drier and warmer conditions develop mid week, with afternoon temperatures close to 10 degrees above normal by Thursday. By next Friday, another upper level trof will start to move southward into the Pacific Northwest, resulting in a moist southwesterly flow over Montana. Thus the chances for precipitation will start to increase once again next Fri/Sat. - Forecast Confidence & Scenarios: The main concern on Sunday for any severe storms will be strong wind gusts. This system on Sunday will not be as strong as the weather system that went through the CWA on Wednesday, never the less, an isolated severe storm is possible. Additionally, some storms could also produce heavy rainfall. By Monday night, the northern portions of North Central MT could have received between 1 and 3 inches of rainfall, with isolated amounts near 4 inches possible. Overall, flooding is not expected, but in areas that exceed 3 inches, the probability of minor flooding on small streams and creaks starts to increase. Brusda && .AVIATION... 06/00Z TAF Period VFR conditions are prevailing across the region currently however lower ceilings are expected to develop tonight after 06/04Z primarily impacting KGTF, KCTB, KHVR, and KLWT. IFR conditions will occur generally from 10Z until 18Z with potentially LIFR at KCTB from 12Z to 15Z. Rainshowers and mist will also restrict visibility over north and central MT from 06Z until 16Z. Secondary hazards will be mountain obscuration due to clouds, rain, and mist as well as icing in-cloud above FL100 along and 50 NM east of the Rocky Mtn Front. For KGTF: MVFR conditions for lower ceilings will develop by 07Z and potentially becoming IFR temporarily from 11Z to 14Z. Some uncertainty is present in the overnight low temperature and dewpoint depression which will determine if ceilings become IFR or LIFR for the morning. Low level northeast upsloping flow with adequate moisture is present to persist these conditions until late Sunday morning. - Akins && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 50 73 51 64 / 30 10 90 100 CTB 46 63 46 58 / 90 80 80 90 HLN 49 77 52 66 / 20 10 70 90 BZN 46 82 49 70 / 0 0 60 70 WYS 38 75 40 59 / 0 0 80 60 DLN 43 80 46 66 / 0 0 70 70 HVR 51 77 51 69 / 10 50 90 100 LWT 49 79 50 70 / 0 20 90 90 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... && $$ http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls