Lolo, Montana 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

909
FXUS65 KMSO 142028
AFDMSO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
128 PM MST Wed Jan 14 2026

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGES:

-  High Pressure to bring prolonged dry pattern through early next
   week (January 20)

-  Areas of valley fog and stratus through Friday.

-  Trend toward a major pattern shift to colder and wetter
   starting Jan 21-22.

Low clouds and freezing fog developed last night and this morning
across portions of the region. The satellite imagery early this
afternoon depicts that the low clouds persist from Missoula west
to northwest Montana, and in Idaho, the Dworshak Reservoir and
portions of US-12 had fog and/or low clouds. Where it is sunny,
temperatures have warmed into the 40s...but mid- slopes are well
into the 50s! The Philipsburg, Montana RAWS weather station is
depicting a temperature of 58 degrees with light
winds...gorgeous! The previous record high from the USFS Ranger
Station in Philipsburg was 53 degrees, set back in 1996.

If the fog is able to thin out in places, temperatures may be able
to warm up this afternoon. If not, then they may struggle to get
out of the 30s.

More fog and low clouds are expected to develop tonight,
particularly near river systems and large bodies of water. This
stable pattern is expected to last through early next week. The
stagnant conditions will result in degrading air quality with
initial concern for lower elevations of north- central Idaho thus
Air Stagnation Advisories remain in effect. Additional air
stagnation advisories may be required in the coming days across
western Montana but the pattern is less favorable at least
initially for immediate concerns.

Increasing confidence, 70% chance, in an active pattern
developing by mid- week next week (January 22-24). This could be
favorable for both mountains and valleys. Details still vary on
how far west colder air will reach and the amount of moisture
available for precipitation production. Stay tuned as this would
be a major shift from the mild and dry weather through early next
week.


&&

.AVIATION...Valley fog and stratus will be the primary concern
over the coming days as high pressure ridging remains along the
West Coast. A weak disturbance will slide down from the northwest
on Thursday morning but with limited cloud cover and lack of
significant flow, valley inversions should continue to strengthen.
This strengthening will allow for an expansion and further
persistence to fog and stratus development, especially along and
north of Highway 12.


&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...ID...Air Stagnation Advisory until 10 AM PST Friday for Northern
     Clearwater Mountains...Orofino/Grangeville Region...
     Southern Clearwater Mountains.

&&

$$