A RED FLAG WARNING is in effect tonight through Wednesday evening.
Normally Red Flag Warnings are allowed to expire at night as temperature and wind decrease with a humidity increase. However, a new disturbance kicking off isolated thunderstorms through Tuesday night and Wednesday will keep the fire danger high. Lightning strikes, erratic wind and very limited moisture could not only cause existing fires to grow but even start new fires. Wednesday will be another partly cloudy and hot day with isolated thunderstorms. Some of the storms could approach the severe threshold in the southwest part of the state. Highs will be warm again in the upper 80s and 90s, even a few 100s in eastern Montana. Thursday will have scattered thunderstorms mainly over the northern part of the state including the Hi-line. An isolated storm or two are possible farther south. Temperatures will be hot but fall shy of record highs. Friday through the weekend will be sunny, hot and dry. A dry front passing through the state Saturday night into Sunday will create breezy conditions that keep the fire danger high through the weekend. A break from the heat is likely by Tuesday with highs dipping back into the 70s to around 80.
Stay cool.
Curtis Grevenitz
