Routine Fire Wx Fcst (With/Without 6-10 Day Outlook)
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
185
FNUS55 KTFX 181922
FWFTFX
Fire Weather Planning Forecast for North-Central Montana
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
122 PM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.DISCUSSION...
Scattered showers and thunderstorms develop this afternoon across
all fire zones. The main hazards with thunderstorms are lightning,
gusty winds, and hail. Warm, dry, and seasonably breezy conditons
set up Wednesday and Thursday. A ridge breakdown Saturday and
Sunday will bring an increase in winds and returning chances for
showers and thunderstorms. -Wilson
MTZ112-191045-
Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty-
122 PM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers in
the evening. Patchy smoke through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......51-56.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........57-67 percent.
24 hr trend......25 percent down...38 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........6000 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......77-86...69-75 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........21-29 percent.
24 hr trend......5 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 7500-9000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......51-57.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Max Humidity..........62-72 percent.
24 hr trend......2 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............North winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
southeast after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........8500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Northwest 20 to 25 mph shifting to the
southwest after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......74-83...67-72 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........29-39 percent.
24 hr trend......10 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............North winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 7000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Northwest 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the lower
80s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid 70s. West
winds 20 to 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the upper
70s.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
lower 80s.
$$
MTZ113-191045-
Hill and Blaine Counties-
122 PM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy
smoke through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......53-58...47-57 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........66-76 percent.
24 hr trend......30 percent down...14 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........8000 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke in the morning.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......82-87...73-78 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........21-26 percent.
24 hr trend......4 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 9000-9500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......55-60...49-59 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Max Humidity..........59-69 percent.
24 hr trend......3 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the east after midnight.
Ridges.............Northwest winds around 5 mph shifting to
the east after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........8500 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......North 20 to 25 mph shifting to the east
after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......81-87...74-79 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........26-32 percent.
24 hr trend......5 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Ridges.............South winds around 5 mph shifting to the
northwest in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 8000-9500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......East 10 to 15 mph shifting to the southwest
in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid
80s. East winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows around
60. Highs in the mid 80s. Southeast winds 20 to 25 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
Southwest winds 20 to 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower
80s.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid
80s.
$$
MTZ114-191045-
Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-
Rocky Mountain Front-
122 PM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers in
the evening. Patchy smoke after midnight.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......48-55.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Max Humidity..........55-65 percent.
24 hr trend......25 percent down...12 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........8000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......79-86...65-75 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........17-24 percent...24-34 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......4 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 8500-10000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly clear. Patchy smoke.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......48-54.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Max Humidity..........51-61 percent.
24 hr trend......8 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 5 to 10 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........9500 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......78-84...67-77 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........22-32 percent.
24 hr trend......8 percent up...2 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
north in the afternoon.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 8000-9000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25
mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs around 80.
North winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY...Windy. Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight
chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the mid
70s. West winds around 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows around 50. Highs in the upper 70s.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs around 80.
$$
MTZ115-191045-
Chouteau and Fergus Counties-
122 PM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy smoke through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......53-59.
24 hr trend......4 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........58-68 percent.
24 hr trend......20 percent down...4 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........8500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......82-88...74-80 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........18-23 percent.
24 hr trend......5 percent down...11 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 8500-10000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......54-60.
24 hr trend......1 degree down.
* Max Humidity..........51-61 percent.
24 hr trend......10 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the south after midnight.
Ridges.............Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the south after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........9000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......North 20 to 25 mph shifting to the
southeast after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......83-89...76-83 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........20-27 percent.
24 hr trend......1 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the northwest in the afternoon.
Ridges.............Southwest winds around 5 mph shifting to
the northwest in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 8000-8500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 10 to 15 mph shifting to the west
in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the mid
80s. East winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Highs in the upper 80s.
Southeast winds 20 to 25 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the mid 80s.
Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower
80s.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the
upper 80s.
$$
MTZ116-118-191045-
Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest-
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National
Forest-
122 PM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Slight chance of showers in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......48-55.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Max Humidity..........66-76 percent...55-65 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......7 percent down...1 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........7000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......77-85...67-77 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........16-24 percent.
24 hr trend......10 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 8000-9000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly clear.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......50-56.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Max Humidity..........51-61 percent...41-51 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......19 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the south after midnight.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........8000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Northwest 20 to 25 mph becoming southwest
10 to 15 mph after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......81-90...71-81 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......6 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........18-25 percent.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds around 5 mph shifting to the
west in the afternoon.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 9000-10000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower
80s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs around 80. South
winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.
Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the upper
70s.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
$$
MTZ117-191045-
Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas-
122 PM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......48-56.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Max Humidity..........61-71 percent.
24 hr trend......21 percent down...11 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........6500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......77-87...69-78 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........18-24 percent.
24 hr trend......4 percent down...12 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 10000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly clear. Patchy smoke.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......50-57.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Max Humidity..........45-55 percent.
24 hr trend......11 percent down...17 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 15 to 20 mph becoming south
around 5 mph after midnight.
Ridges.............West winds 15 to 20 mph shifting to the
southwest after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........9500 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph shifting to the southwest
after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......81-86...72-82 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......7 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........18-24 percent.
24 hr trend......1 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the northwest in the afternoon.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 9000-9500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower
80s. East winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
South winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
Southwest winds 20 to 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the upper
70s.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
$$
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