Routine Fire Wx Fcst (With/Without 6-10 Day Outlook)
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
374
FNUS55 KTFX 210802
FWFTFX
Fire Weather Planning Forecast for North-Central Montana
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
202 AM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.DISCUSSION...
Strong ridging aloft will maintain very warm and dry conditions
today with northerly winds becoming easterly in the evening into
tonight. Subtle shortwaves will begin to undercut the ridge and
will bring a few higher based showers and thunderstorms this
evening into the overnight hours. Gusty winds and lightning will
be the primary hazard with this activity, especially for the
southern and western zones. The very warm and dry conditions will
persist into Saturday and even Sunday. Scattered strong to severe
thunderstorms will be the primary concern Saturday afternoon into
Saturday night with gusty westerly winds and elevated fire
conditions moving in on Sunday.
MTZ112-212215-
Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty-
202 AM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke in the morning.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......79-86...73-78 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........25-32 percent...35-43 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......5 percent up...10 percent up higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
east in the afternoon.
Ridges.............East winds around 5 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 5000-6000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......North 20 to 25 mph shifting to the east in
the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......54-60.
24 hr trend......4 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........59-69 percent.
24 hr trend......21 percent down...14 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........4500-5500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000
ft agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......Southeast 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming mostly sunny.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......82-88...75-80 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........25-30 percent.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 6000-7000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southeast 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.SUNDAY...Windy. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
Southwest winds around 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Windy. Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in
the mid 70s. West winds around 25 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows around 50. Highs in the upper 70s.
Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
lower 80s.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
upper 70s.
$$
MTZ113-212215-
Hill and Blaine Counties-
202 AM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......83-88...75-80 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........24-31 percent.
24 hr trend......1 percent up...10 percent up higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............East winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 7000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......East 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......57-62...51-60 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........59-69 percent.
24 hr trend......11 percent down...unchanged higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............East winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........5500-6500 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft
agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......East 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......85-91...77-82 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........24-29 percent.
24 hr trend......1 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds 20 to 25 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 5000-6500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southeast around 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.SUNDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 60s. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 20 to 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Not as warm. Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers.
Lows in the upper 50s. Highs around 80. West winds 20 to 25 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
lower 80s. North winds 20 to 25 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid
80s.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
$$
MTZ114-212215-
Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-
Rocky Mountain Front-
202 AM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......81-86...70-80 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........22-29 percent...29-39 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......6 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
northeast in the afternoon.
Ridges.............West winds around 5 mph shifting to the
northeast in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 4500-5500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......North 15 to 20 mph shifting to the
northeast in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms after midnight.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......54-61.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........56-66 percent.
24 hr trend......13 percent down...9 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northeast winds around 5 mph shifting to
the north after midnight.
Ridges.............East winds around 5 mph.
* Mixing Height.........4000-4500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000
ft agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......East 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming mostly sunny.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......84-90...72-82 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........22-27 percent...27-37 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......1 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds 5 to 10 mph.
Ridges.............South winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 7500-8500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.SUNDAY...Windy. Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs around 80. Southwest
winds around 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Windy. Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in
the mid 70s. West winds around 30 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows around 50. Highs in the upper 70s.
Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.
$$
MTZ115-212215-
Chouteau and Fergus Counties-
202 AM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......84-89...75-82 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........22-29 percent.
24 hr trend......6 percent up...12 percent up higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
northeast in the afternoon.
Ridges.............Northwest winds around 5 mph shifting to
the northeast in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 6500 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......North 15 to 20 mph shifting to the
northeast in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......58-63.
24 hr trend......6 degrees up...unchanged higher elevations.
* Max Humidity..........53-63 percent.
24 hr trend......3 percent down...2 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............East winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........4500-6000 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000
ft agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......East 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......86-92...78-85 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........23-28 percent.
24 hr trend......1 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 5500-7000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southeast around 25 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.SUNDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Highs in the lower 90s.
Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
.MONDAY...Not as warm. Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers.
Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the lower 80s. West winds 20 to
25 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower
80s. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid
80s.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
$$
MTZ116-118-212215-
Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest-
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National
Forest-
202 AM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......83-91...74-84 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Min Humidity..........20-30 percent.
24 hr trend......4 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds around 5 mph.
Ridges.............North winds around 5 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 5000-6500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Northwest 10 to 15 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms after midnight.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......56-62.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........53-63 percent.
24 hr trend......9 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the southeast after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........5500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......East 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming mostly sunny.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......82-89...72-82 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........24-34 percent.
24 hr trend......4 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds 5 to 10 mph.
Ridges.............South winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 6500-8000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......South 15 to 20 mph shifting to the
southwest in the afternoon.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.SUNDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Lows in the mid 50s. Highs around 80. Southwest winds 15 to
20 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 50s. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds 20 to 25 mph.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
upper 70s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
upper 70s.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.
$$
MTZ117-212215-
Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas-
202 AM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......83-88...74-83 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........21-31 percent.
24 hr trend......6 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the north in the afternoon.
Ridges.............Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 6500-8000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Northwest 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight.
* Chance Lightning.......10 percent.
* Min Temperature.......54-61.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........54-64 percent.
24 hr trend......6 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............East winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
southeast after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........4000-5500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000
ft agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......East 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......83-91...74-83 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........23-33 percent.
24 hr trend......1 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............South winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 6000-7500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......South 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.SUNDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the mid 80s. Southwest winds
20 to 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the mid
50s. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds 20 to 25 mph.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
upper 70s. East winds 10 to 15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
$$
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