While most of the state is very smoky with RED FLAG WARNING conditions, some relief is on the way for Saturday and Sunday (temporarily). A cold front will move through Montana through Thursday night and Friday. This front will ultimately cool off the heat, but the passage of the front will produce strong wind on Friday. Thus, the fire danger continues through Friday. Scattered thunderstorms will rumble over the southern areas of the state, but most towns will be dry, warm and windy through Friday evening. As the wind flips to more of a true west direction, there will be some improvement of the air quality and visibility unless new wildfires grow here in Montana. Saturday will be a cooler day with highs in the 70s to around 80 with a few showers and thunderstorms over northern Montana. Wind will be light out of the northwest up to 15mph. Sunday will be partly cloudy with scattered afternoon storms. Highs will be in the 70s to around 80. While the fire danger over the weekend won’t be as bad as Friday, everything is extremely dry and is just waiting for a spark to trigger a wildfire. Next week, temperatures will slowly build each day culminating in highs near 100 from Wednesday through Friday. An intense heat wave will consume most of the state.
Have a great day.
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist
