A FIRE WEATHER WATCH has been issued for much of central Montana for Thursday.
While the fire danger will remain critically high the next few days, big changes that will put a dent in fire season will move throughout the west this weekend. Until then, please use extreme caution as wildfires could take off quickly if ignited in these conditions. The Yogo Fire in the Little Belt Mountains had significant growth in the windy, warm and dry conditions on Tuesday. A weak front will move through the state into Wednesday morning that will put a pause on the strong wind. Wednesday will be sunny with much lighter wind, generally out of the east between 5-10mph. It will be a beautiful day with highs in the 60s and 70s. The wind and fire danger will increase again on Thursday. Red Flag Warning conditions are likely with strong west wind, low humidity and warm temperatures. Highs will reach the 70s and 80s. Smoke from wildfires in California will also spread across the sky, increasing the haze. Friday will be slightly cooler with less wind, skies will be mostly sunny, highs will reach the 60s and 70s. The weekend will start off very warm but it will not end that way. Most of Saturday will be dry, windy and warm with highs in the 70s and 80s. A cold front will move through the state late Saturday night with rain showers and mountain snow. Sunday will be much cooler with scattered showers in the lower elevations, and snow in the mountains above about 5000'. Highs will be in the 40s and 50s, and the wind will be very strong. Cooler, showery weather will continue through the beginning of next week. This wet, chilly pattern will spread throughout much of the West which will benefit firefighters working fires across this part of the country. While this will not end fire season, it will steer us in a better direction.
Have a nice day.
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist
