Montana is facing high-temperature forecasts and dangerous fire weather ahead, which triggered a Red Flag Warning issued Saturday at lunch and will last until 6 PM the following day.
The weather in Montana is sunny, with record-breaking heat likely in many areas on Saturday. Wildfire smoke will cause hazy skies the entire day. Air quality may become unhealthy for sensitive groups during the afternoon and evening.
Temperature highs will be in the upper 90s and low 100s. In the afternoon and evening, a stray rainshower or thunderstorm may begin in the area as a result of a cold front. However, with extremely dry air in place, most stray dry.
Following the cold front, a brisk southwest breeze is anticipated, which increases the risk of fire all through the afternoon and into the evening. Wind gusts of up to 35 MPH and relative humidity below 12% will allow any new or existing fires to spread rapidly. Overnight, it will be mostly clear with lows in the upper 50s.
Montana Weekly Weather
On Sunday, the weather is pretty much the same. It will be sunny, hot, and a bit breezy. There will be a steady southwest breeze blowing at 10-15 mph with occasional gusts to 25 mph. Fire danger will remain high with decreasing haze throughout the afternoon. The area will experience temperatures in the mid 90s. Skies will be clear overnight with temperatures falling to the mid and upper 50s.
Labor Day Monday will be sunny and hot, with highs in the mid 90s. As with the day before, skies will be clear overnight as temperatures fall into the mid 50s.
Tuesday will also be sunny, however, temperature highs will slightly drop to the upper 80s and lower 90s. There will be mostly clear overnight as temperatures fall into the mid 50s.
Wednesday takes the weather back to being sunny and hot, with highs in the mid 90s. It will be clear overnight as temperatures fall into the mid 50s.
Thursday is forecasted to be cooler with scattered showers and possible thunderstorms. Temperature highs will also drop to the mid to upper 70s.
Friday will be mostly sunny, with temperature highs dropping a little more to the low to mid 70s, 3KRTV Great Falls reports.
Red Flag Warning
The National Weather Service - Great Falls, Montana, has issued a Red Flag Warning to Eastern and Central Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas.
The Red Flag Warning was issued today, Saturday at noon, and is meant to stay in effect until 6 PM tomorrow, Sunday. The warning was issued because of gusty winds, hot temperatures, low relative humidity, and very dry thunderstorms, which brought gusty and erratic outflow winds. Fire weather areas include zones 112 through 118.
Affected areas include Hill and Blaine Counties, Chouteau and Fergus Counties, Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-Rocky Mountain Front, Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest, Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest, and Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas.
Temperatures range from the mid 90s to low 100s on Saturday, and the upper 80s to mid 90s on Sunday.
Winds are blowing out of the south at 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. On Saturday evening, the winds will change to the west and continue through Sunday at 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
Authorities say that if a new fire starts, it could be very difficult to contain, The Weather Channel Reports.
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