A RED FLAG WARNING has been issued across most of Montana for Wednesday afternoon and evening. Just like Labor Day when numerous small fires started with existing fires growing, Wednesday will have potential for significant wildfire growth. Temperatures will be hot, humidity low and winds high. It has been nearly a week since there has been significant rain so fuels are very dry. However there is a pattern change on the way that will bring much cooler temperatures with solid rain, even high mountain snow. So let's get through these next few days safely and then Mother Nature pitches in with the fire situation. Thursday will be sunny, warm and dry but the wind will be light, thus the fire danger will not be as high. Widespread wet weather and cool temperatures move in for Friday. This weekend will start dry on Saturday with partly cloudy skies. That's the "nice" day as Sunday will be cloudy with increasing showers and thunderstorms. Rain could be steady Sunday night into Monday, and more rain is likely Tuesday. Temperatures will be cool enough in the mountains for snow levels to drop possibly as low as 8000' in the mountains. This type of pattern change may not end fire season, but it will certainly bring Montana closer to the end of the season.
Hurricane Dorian continues to slowly chug north along the Atlantic side of Floriday. Maximum sustained winds are down to 110mph from a peak of 185mph. Major beach erosion and flooding are likely along the East Coast as Dorian slowly moves north over the next several days. Besides Dorian there are 4 other Tropical systems in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific which is fairly typical as the peak of hurricane season is September 10th.
Curtis Grevenitz
