Routine Fire Wx Fcst (With/Without 6-10 Day Outlook)
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
060
FNUS55 KTFX 170721
FWFTFX
Fire Weather Planning Forecast for North-Central Montana
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
121 AM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.DISCUSSION...
This afternoon/evening there will be another round of showers and
thunderstorms across the districts with isolated stronger
thunderstorms possible in Judith Basin and Fergus County. Tuesday
afternoon/evening there will be showers and thunderstorms across
the districts. All thunderstorms will produce a brief heavy
downpour, frequent lightning, and gusty, erratic winds with the
strongest thunderstorms producing strong winds. It be dry and warm
Wednesday through Friday with near critical minimum relative
humidity. Winds will also increase Wednesday through Friday and
lead to elevated fire weather conditions.
MTZ112-172245-
Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty-
121 AM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......73-80...66-71 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........32-39 percent.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 7000-8500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Slight chance of
thunderstorms in the evening. Slight chance of showers through
the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......50-56.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Max Humidity..........76-86 percent.
24 hr trend......4 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
west after midnight.
Ridges.............North winds around 5 mph shifting to the
southeast after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........6500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......North 20 to 25 mph shifting to the south
after midnight.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.TUESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......74-81...66-72 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........27-34 percent.
24 hr trend......6 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 8000-9000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph shifting to the west
in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
West winds 15 to 20 mph.
.THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
upper 70s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the lower
80s. East winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.
$$
MTZ113-172245-
Hill and Blaine Counties-
121 AM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Chance of showers and slight
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......76-81...69-74 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........33-38 percent.
24 hr trend......2 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds around 5 mph shifting to the
west in the afternoon.
Ridges.............West winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 6000-7500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 10 to 15 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......51-57.
24 hr trend......1 degree down.
* Max Humidity..........81-91 percent.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Ridges.............North winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
southeast after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........6500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......North 10 to 15 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TUESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......78-83...70-75 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........27-33 percent.
24 hr trend......5 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds around 5 mph shifting to the
southeast in the afternoon.
Ridges.............East winds around 5 mph shifting to the
southwest in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 8000-9000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......East 10 to 15 mph shifting to the southwest
in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the mid 80s.
Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid
80s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid
80s. East winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the
mid 80s.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
$$
MTZ114-172245-
Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-
Rocky Mountain Front-
121 AM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......75-81...62-72 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........26-32 percent...32-42 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......1 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 9000-9500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......49-56.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Max Humidity..........70-80 percent.
24 hr trend......5 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 5 to 10 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
southwest after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........8000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Northwest 20 to 25 mph becoming west 10 to
15 mph after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TUESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......75-81...62-72 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........24-29 percent...31-41 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.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 4000 ft agl
late in the morning, then increasing to 6500 ft agl late in the
morning increasing to 8500 ft agl early in the afternoon
increasing to 10000-11000 ft agl decreasing to 8500 ft agl late
in the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
upper 70s. West winds 15 to 20 mph.
.THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
upper 70s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower
80s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.
$$
MTZ115-172245-
Chouteau and Fergus Counties-
121 AM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......77-82...70-75 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......1 degree down.
* Min Humidity..........29-35 percent.
24 hr trend......2 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Ridges.............Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 8000-8500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25
mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of
thunderstorms in the evening. Slight chance of showers through
the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......54-59.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Max Humidity..........74-84 percent...64-74 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......3 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
south after midnight.
Ridges.............North winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
southeast after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........7000 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......North 15 to 20 mph shifting to the south
after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TUESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......77-83...69-74 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........26-34 percent.
24 hr trend......2 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds around 5 mph shifting to the
east in the afternoon.
Ridges.............South winds around 5 mph shifting to the
west in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 8500-10000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 10 to 15 mph increasing to west
20 to 25 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid
80s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the
upper 80s. East winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows around 60. Highs in the upper 80s.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
$$
MTZ116-118-172245-
Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest-
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National
Forest-
121 AM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......74-81...64-74 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Min Humidity..........27-37 percent.
24 hr trend......1 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds around 5 mph shifting to the
northwest in the afternoon.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 8500-9000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 10 to 15 mph increasing to west
20 to 25 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of
thunderstorms in the evening. Slight chance of showers through
the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......52-58.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........70-80 percent...60-70 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......13 percent down...8 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
south after midnight.
Ridges.............West winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........7500 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph becoming southwest 10 to
15 mph after midnight.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.TUESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......73-81...64-73 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......1 degree down.
* Min Humidity..........28-38 percent.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
west in the afternoon.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 8000-9500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
lower 80s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower
80s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.
$$
MTZ117-172245-
Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas-
121 AM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......75-83...66-74 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........29-36 percent.
24 hr trend......2 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds around 5 mph increasing to
northwest 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 8000-9000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph increasing to west
around 25 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of
thunderstorms in the evening. Slight chance of showers through
the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......51-57.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Max Humidity..........70-80 percent.
24 hr trend......8 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
southwest after midnight.
Ridges.............Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph becoming
southwest around 5 mph after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........7000 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......North 20 to 25 mph becoming south 10 to 15
mph after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TUESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and slight
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......74-83...65-73 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........26-36 percent.
24 hr trend......2 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 4000 ft agl
late in the morning, then increasing to 6500-8000 ft agl late in
the morning increasing to 9000-9500 ft agl in the afternoon
decreasing to 7500 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph increasing to west
around 25 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
.THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
lower 80s. West winds 15 to 20 mph.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid
80s. East winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
$$
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