Record highs will be set, but temperatures will be so hot on Friday that the hottest temperature ever recorded for some towns will be challenged. 8/6/1961 was a day when several towns set their all-time high. A HEAT ADVISORY is in effect for most of northern and central Montana for Friday and Saturday. An EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING has been issued for eastern Montana for Friday and Saturday. A RED FLAG WARNING has been issued for Friday and Saturday afternoons for dangerous fire weather conditions. This will easily be the worst heat of the entire year for Montana, and the fire danger is about as extreme as it gets. Air quality remains “moderate” because of state, national and international wildfire smoke. Friday will be a scorcher with highs in many towns up above 100. Skies will be hazy with a breeze out of the south up to 15mph, but Friday will not be terribly windy. Saturday will have extreme heat for eastern Montana with the western areas starting to cool down slightly. Highs in western Montana will be in the 90s to around 100, but eastern Montana will be between 100-110! Wind will be more of an issue on Saturday afternoon with gusts between 20-30mph. Isolated thunderstorms will fire in the evening through central areas. Fire danger will remain very high through Sunday even though temperatures will start to fall. Highs will be in the 80s to around 90, but low humidity and west winds up to 20mph will keep the threat of wildfire growth extremely high. Cooler highs in the 70s and 80s with less wind will move back across the state for early next week. Stay cool and hydrated through this extreme heat. Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly that are without air conditioning.
Be safe.
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist
