While Wednesday was a warmer, hazy day, the recent cooler and wetter weather helped firefighters proactively fight most of Montana's blazes and increase containment. The fire activity has slowed as well, but the smoke increased a little. Most of Montana has "moderate" air quality, and most of this smoke is from fires in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. The next few days will be a bit warmer and breezy, and increased activity on some of the area's wildfires is expected. Thursday will be a bit warmer and breezy with highs in the 80s to low 90s. Some of Montana's wildfires could exhibit a bit more growth and thus smoke, and other fires in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon could have increased activity in the heat. Friday will be mostly sunny with an isolated thunderstorm over the southwest mountains in the afternoon. Highs will reach the 80s and low 90s, hot but not anything unusual. Saturday will be partly cloudy, hot and breezy with a few isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. A weak front will pass Saturday night, and Sunday will be warm and windy. An isolated thunderstorm is still possible on Sunday but most of the state will be dry. Highs will reach the 80s to about 90, but the wind will be fairly strong out of the west up to 25-30mph. Calmer conditions will return on Monday.
Have a great day,
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist
