The worst fire weather and possibly the worst weather of year in general is over, but the damage is done. A record breaking heat wave along with a cold front that triggered thunderstorms and wind resulted in many new fires across Montana, several that grew thousands of acres. Conditions have settled down as a cooler, calmer airmass moved in on Monday. Monday night and Tuesday morning will be cool with a good relative humidity recovery, which will slow fire growth. Tuesday will be warmer with highs in the 80s but only a light wind. Air quality will once again be affected by local and national wildfire smoke. Wednesday and Thursday will have hot temperatures in the 90s and an increase in west wind up to 10-20mph, increasing the fire danger once again but also creating conditions where existing fires will grow. But beginning Friday, a wet weather pattern will develop and last for several days. Friday will be warm with afternoon thunderstorms that could spark new wildfires. Saturday will be a mostly cloudy and cooler day with scattered rain and thunderstorms. Highs will be in the 70s. Sunday will also be cloudy and cooler with rain and thunderstorms again across most of the state. The wet weather, cooler temperatures and increase in relative humidity will really aid firefighters in their battles across Big Sky Country.
Have a nice evening.
Curtis Grevenitz
