A FLASH FLOOD WATCH is in effect for the Horse Gulch Burn Scar near Canyon Ferry Lake.
It's nothing short of a miracle and incredible firefighting efforts that the base lodge at Maverick Mountain and the buildings in Elkhorn Hot Springs survived the Sand Creek Fire.
That fire has grown to nearly 30,000 acres and has claimed at least part of Maverick Ski Area in the Pioneer Mountains of southwest Montana. However, a wildfire of that size and intensity burning everything in its path, it really is a testament to the structure protection by the firefighters on that fire. Amazing. Parts of the mountain have burned, the lift line has been damaged, the mid lift and ski patrol shack has burned, but this is certainly not a complete disaster. And now, there is some hope and help as a cold front has moved into the state with cooler, cleaner air and some thunderstorms. The next few days will be a blessing in the form of cool temperatures, clean breathing air, and rain showers and thunderstorms. Thursday will be a mostly cloudy day with widespread showers and thunderstorms. Highs will be as cool as the 50s around East Glacier, the rest of the state will be in the 60s and 70s. Areas of rain and rumbles will continue through the night into Friday. Friday will be a rainy day for most northern and eastern areas of Montana. The rest of the state will be partly to mostly cloudy with a few showers and thunderstorms. The rain, cooler temperatures and higher humidity will help to slow some of the fires. While there will be lightning strikes, the wind does not look especially strong following the storms. This weekend will be partly cloudy and warmer with just a few isolated thunderstorms. Highs will climb back into the 70s and 80s. This rain likely will not put out the fires. The smoke will not completely go away. But, a few days of cooler, wetter weather in the middle of August will be a welcome sight for Montana. Average to below average temperatures with continued moisture from thunderstorms will prevail at the beginning of next week. And once again, I believe the worst heat and fire danger of the summer are behind us.
Have a great day,
Curtis Grevenitz
