Routine Fire Wx Fcst (With/Without 6-10 Day Outlook)
Issued by NWS Missoula, MT
Issued by NWS Missoula, MT
181
FNUS55 KMSO 030819
FWFMSO
Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Montana and N Cntrl Idaho
National Weather Service Missoula MT
219 AM MDT Wed Sep 3 2025
.DISCUSSION...
Idaho (Zones 102 and 103): Hot and dry conditions will peak today and
Thursday under a strong high-pressure ridge, with very poor overnight RH
recoveries in thermal belts. Winds today will generally be light and
terrain-driven. On Thursday, north and northwest winds in the afternoon
area expected to increase and shift to east during the evening
especially on exposed ridges. East winds will then remain into Friday
morning. Thicker smoke from Canada may be transported into the area by
Friday. The ridge will begin to weaken by the weekend, allowing for a
return of showers and thunderstorms.
Northwest MT (Zones 104 and 105): The peak of the heatwave will occur
today and Thursday with hot, dry conditions and poor overnight RH
recoveries in thermal belts. While winds will generally be light and
terrain-driven today, an uptick in northwest winds this afternoon,
combined with critically low RH, will temporarily elevate fire weather
concerns. The primary wind event arrives Thursday, as strong easterly
winds develop. Thicker smoke from Canada is expected to arrive with the
easterly flow on Thursday. Showers and thunderstorms are possible over
the weekend as the ridge breaks down.
West Central MT (Zones 106, 107 and 108): Hot and dry conditions will
persist through Thursday with poor overnight RH recoveries in the
thermal belts. Winds today will be mostly light and diurnal, but a brief
increase in northwest winds this afternoon could elevate fire concerns
given the critically low RH. The main concern shifts to wind on Thursday
as persistent easterly winds increase. Thicker smoke is expected to be
transported from Canada on Thursday. A pattern shift this weekend will
bring a return of showers and thunderstorms.
Southwest MT (Zones 109, 110 and 111): Hot and dry conditions under a
strong high-pressure ridge will peak today and Thursday, leading to poor
overnight RH recoveries in thermal belts. While winds today will be
mainly light and terrain-driven, a brief increase in northwest winds
this afternoon could temporarily elevate fire concerns. On Thursday,
northeasterly winds will increase, becoming gusty by the evening.
Thicker smoke from Canada is expected to arrive on Thursday. The ridge
will weaken by the weekend, allowing for the return of showers and
thunderstorms.
IDZ102-103-040830-
Palouse/Hells Canyon-Clearwater/Nez Perce-
119 AM PDT Wed Sep 3 2025
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny. Haze.
* Max Temperature.....95-105 valleys and 80-90 ridges.
* Min Humidity........8-16 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to becoming upslope/upvalley 4-8 mph in
the afternoon.
* Ridge Top............Southeast 5-10 mph becoming northwest in the
afternoon.
* Mixing Height.......1-2 kft agl until 1100. 11 kft agl after
1400.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph until 1100, then
northwest 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent in the Palouse/Hells Canyon...and
near 0 percent in the Clearwater/Nez Perce.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear. Haze. Areas of smoke after
midnight.
* Min Temperature.....55-65.
* Max Humidity........42-52 percent valleys and 35-45 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Downslope/downvalley 2-5 mph.
* Ridge Top............Northwest 5-10 mph becoming south after
midnight.
* Mixing Height.......10 kft agl until 1900. Below 500 ft to 1 kft
agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....Northwest 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent in the Palouse/Hells Canyon...and
near 0 percent in the Clearwater/Nez Perce.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Partly cloudy. Areas of smoke in the morning.
Haze.
* Max Temperature.....93-103 valleys and 75-85 ridges.
* Min Humidity........12-22 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to becoming upslope/upvalley 4-8 mph in
the afternoon.
* Ridge Top............South 5-10 mph becoming west 5-15 mph in the
afternoon.
* Mixing Height.......2 kft agl until 1100. 11 kft agl after 1600.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph until 1000, then
northwest 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 55-65. Highs 85-95. Min humidities
10-20 percent. East winds 10-15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 60-70. Highs 80-90. Min humidities
20-30 percent. Southeast winds 5-10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 55-65. Highs
75-85. Southwest winds 5-10 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 55-65. Highs
75-85.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 40 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
70-80.
$$
MTZ104-105-040830-
Kootenai-Flathead/Glacier Park-
219 AM MDT Wed Sep 3 2025
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny. Haze.
* Max Temperature.....95-100 valleys and 75-85 ridges.
* Min Humidity........10-15 percent valleys and 16-26 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to becoming upslope/upvalley 4-8 mph in
the afternoon.
* Ridge Top............East 5-15 mph becoming west in the
afternoon.
* Mixing Height.......2 kft agl until 1100. 11 kft agl after 1400.
* Transport Winds.....West 10 mph until 1300, then northwest 15
mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent in the Kootenai...and near 0
percent in the Flathead/Glacier Park.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear. Haze. Areas of smoke after
midnight.
* Min Temperature.....50-60.
* Max Humidity........62-72 percent valleys and 51-61 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Downslope/downvalley 2-5 mph.
* Ridge Top............North 10-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......9 kft agl until 1900. Below 500 ft to 1 kft
agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....Northwest 15 mph until 2100. North 10 mph
after 0400.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent in the Kootenai...and near 0
percent in the Flathead/Glacier Park.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Partly cloudy. Areas of smoke in the morning.
Haze.
* Max Temperature.....78-88 valleys and 63-73 ridges.
* Min Humidity........26-36 percent valleys and 43-53 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Northeast 10-20 mph.
* Ridge Top............Northeast 10-20 mph.
* Mixing Height.......3 kft agl until 1000. 6 kft agl after 1200.
* Transport Winds.....Northeast 15 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent in the Kootenai...and near 0
percent in the Flathead/Glacier Park.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 45-55. Highs 75-85. Min humidities
15-25 percent. East winds 10-20 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 50-60. Highs 80-90. Min humidities
15-25 percent. Southeast winds 5-10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Not as warm. Partly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers
and thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 20 percent. Lows 55-65.
Highs 70-80. Southwest winds 5-10 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
70-80.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
65-75.
$$
MTZ106-108-040830-
West Lolo-East Lolo-
219 AM MDT Wed Sep 3 2025
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny. Areas of smoke in the morning.
Haze.
* Max Temperature.....90-100 valleys and 83-93 ridges.
* Min Humidity........7-17 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to becoming upslope/upvalley 4-8 mph in
the afternoon.
* Ridge Top............Southeast 5-15 mph becoming northwest 5-10
mph in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.......1-2 kft agl until 1100. 12 kft agl after
1400.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph until 1000, then
west 10 mph until 1300, then northwest 15 mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear. Haze.
* Min Temperature.....50-60.
* Max Humidity........45-55 percent valleys and 36-46 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......West 5-10 mph.
* Ridge Top............West 5-10 mph.
* Mixing Height.......11 kft agl until 1900. Below 500 ft to 1 kft
agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....Northwest 15 mph until 2100, then variable
less than 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Partly cloudy. Haze and areas of smoke.
* Max Temperature.....80-90 valleys and 70-80 ridges.
* Min Humidity........21-31 percent valleys and 28-38 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......East 5-15 mph.
* Ridge Top............East 5-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......2 kft agl until 1000. 7 kft agl after 1200.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph until 0800, then
east 15 mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 50-60. Highs 75-85. Min humidities
10-20 percent. East winds 10-20 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 50-60. Highs 80-90. Min humidities
10-20 percent. East winds 5-10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 55-65. Highs
75-85. Southwest winds 5-10 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
70-80.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
70-80.
$$
MTZ107-040830-
Flathead Reservation-
219 AM MDT Wed Sep 3 2025
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny. Haze.
* Max Temperature.....95-100 valleys and 75-80 ridges.
* Min Humidity........9-14 percent valleys and 16-26 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to becoming upslope/upvalley 4-8 mph in
the afternoon.
* Ridge Top............Southeast 5-15 mph becoming west 5-10 mph in
the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.......3 kft agl until 1200. 12 kft agl after 1600.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph until 1100, then
northwest 10 mph until 1600, then 15 mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear. Haze.
* Min Temperature.....55-65.
* Max Humidity........42-52 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......West 5-10 mph.
* Ridge Top............Northwest 5-10 mph becoming southwest after
midnight.
* Mixing Height.......11 kft agl until 1900. Below 500 ft to 1 kft
agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....Northwest 15 mph until 2100, then 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent in areas west of Highway
93...and 0 percent in the Mission Mtns and areas east of Highway
93.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny. Haze and areas of smoke.
* Max Temperature.....85-90 valleys and 65-70 ridges.
* Min Humidity........28-38 percent valleys and 37-47 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Northeast 5-15 mph.
* Ridge Top............Southeast 5-10 mph becoming south 5-15 mph
in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.......2 kft agl until 1000. 8 kft agl after 1400.
* Transport Winds.....Northeast 15 mph until 1100, then 15 mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 50-60. Highs 80-90. Min humidities
15-25 percent. Northeast winds 10-20 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 55-65. Highs 80-90. Min humidities
15-25 percent. East winds 5-10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 55-65. Highs
75-85. Southwest winds 5-10 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 55-65. Highs
75-85.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 55-65. Highs
70-80.
$$
MTZ109-040830-
Bitterroot-
219 AM MDT Wed Sep 3 2025
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny. Haze.
* Max Temperature.....95-100 valleys and 80-85 ridges.
* Min Humidity........8-18 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to becoming upslope/upvalley 4-8 mph in
the afternoon.
* Ridge Top............Southeast 5-10 mph becoming northwest in the
afternoon.
* Mixing Height.......2 kft agl until 1100. 12 kft agl after 1500.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph until 1100, then
northwest 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear. Haze.
* Min Temperature.....55-60.
* Max Humidity........51-61 percent valleys and 37-47 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Northwest 5-10 mph in the evening becoming
downslope/downvalley 2-5 mph.
* Ridge Top............Northwest 5-10 mph becoming southwest after
midnight.
* Mixing Height.......10 kft agl until 1900. 1-2 kft agl after
2000.
* Transport Winds.....Northwest 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny. Haze. Areas of smoke in the
afternoon.
* Max Temperature.....85-90 valleys and 75-80 ridges.
* Min Humidity........18-28 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to becoming north 10-15 mph in the
afternoon.
* Ridge Top............South 5-10 mph becoming northwest 5-15 mph
in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.......1-2 kft agl until 1000. 10 kft agl after
1400.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph until 1000, then
north 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 50-60. Highs 75-85. Min humidities
15-25 percent. East winds 10-15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of rain showers and
thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 20 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
75-85. Min humidities 25-35 percent. Southeast winds 5-10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 40 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
70-80. Southwest winds 5-10 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
70-80.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 50 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
65-75.
$$
MTZ110-111-040830-
Deerlodge/West Beaverhead-East Beaverhead-
219 AM MDT Wed Sep 3 2025
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny. Areas of smoke. Haze in the
afternoon.
* Max Temperature.....85-90 valleys and 75-80 ridges.
* Min Humidity........8-18 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to becoming northwest 10-15 mph in the
afternoon.
* Ridge Top............West 5-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......3 kft agl until 1100. 12 kft agl after 1500.
* Transport Winds.....West 10 mph until 1200, then northwest 15
mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear. Haze and areas of smoke.
* Min Temperature.....38-48 valleys and 50-55 ridges.
* Max Humidity........51-61 percent valleys and 37-47 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Northwest 5-15 mph becoming southwest 5-10
mph after midnight.
* Ridge Top............Northwest 5-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......11 kft agl until 1900. Below 500 ft to 1 kft
agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....North 15 mph until 0100, then variable less
than 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny. Areas of smoke. Haze in the
afternoon.
* Max Temperature.....75-80 valleys and 65-75 ridges.
* Min Humidity........23-33 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......West 10-15 mph becoming north 10-20 mph in
the afternoon.
* Ridge Top............West 5-15 mph becoming north in the
afternoon.
* Mixing Height.......2 kft agl until 1000. 10 kft agl after 1400.
* Transport Winds.....Northwest 10 mph until 1000, then north 15
mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 40-50. Highs 70-80. Min humidities
15-25 percent. Northeast winds 10-20 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of rain showers. Chance of
showers 20 percent. Lows 45-55. Highs 75-85. Min humidities
20-30 percent. East winds 5-10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
70-80. Southwest winds 5-10 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 45-55. Highs
65-75.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 45-55. Highs
65-75.
$$