Routine Fire Wx Fcst (With/Without 6-10 Day Outlook)
Issued by NWS Missoula, MT
Issued by NWS Missoula, MT
242
FNUS55 KMSO 212002
FWFMSO
Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Montana and N Cntrl Idaho
National Weather Service Missoula MT
202 PM MDT Thu Aug 21 2025
.DISCUSSION...
Idaho (Zones 102 and 103): High pressure will build over the Northern
Rockies through this weekend. Light, terrain-driven winds this afternoon
will transition to northerly winds tonight. Smoke from local wildfires will
create degraded air quality in the afternoons when fire activity
intensifies. A weak cold front moving from east to west over the
Continental Divide will bring easterly or northeasterly winds on Friday.
Hot, dry conditions will persist through the weekend.
Northwest MT (Zones 104 and 105): High pressure will build over the Northern
Rockies through this weekend. Light, terrain-driven winds this afternoon
will transition to northerly winds tonight. A weak cold front moving
from east to west over the Continental Divide will bring easterly or
northeasterly winds on Friday. The strongest winds will be on Friday
morning on the Flathead NF, as easterly gusts of 25-30 mph on the
ridgetops of the Flathead and Swan ranges will be commonplace. Hot, dry
conditions will persist through the weekend.
West Central MT (Zones 106, 107 and 108): High pressure will build over
the Northern Rockies through this weekend. Light, terrain-driven winds
this afternoon will transition to northerly winds tonight. A weak cold
front moving from east to west over the Continental Divide will bring
easterly or northeasterly winds on Friday. The strongest winds will be
on Friday morning, and again in the evening, on the east Lolo NF. Areas
normally prone to east winds, such as Helmville and Hellgate Canyon
east of Missoula will see gusts of 25-30 mph. Hot, dry conditions will
persist through the weekend.
Southwest MT (Zones 109, 110 and 111): High pressure will build over
the Northern Rockies through this weekend. Light, terrain-driven winds
this afternoon will transition to northerly winds tonight. A weak cold
front moving from east to west over the Continental Divide will bring
northeasterly winds on Friday. Hot, dry conditions will persist through
the weekend.
View Weather Briefing videos on our YouTube channel
at https://www.youtube.com/NWSMissoula
IDZ102-103-222015-
Palouse/Hells Canyon-Clearwater/Nez Perce-
102 PM PDT Thu Aug 21 2025
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear.
* Min Temperature.....50-60.
* Max Humidity........44-54 percent valleys and 34-44 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Northwest 5-10 mph in the evening becoming
downslope/downvalley 2-5 mph.
* Ridge Top............North 5-10 mph becoming northeast after
midnight.
* Mixing Height.......6 kft agl until 2000, then below 500 ft to 1
kft agl.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny. Haze and areas of smoke.
* Max Temperature.....90-100 valleys and 75-85 ridges.
* Min Humidity........9-19 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to becoming upslope/upvalley 4-8 mph in
the afternoon.
* Ridge Top............East 5-10 mph becoming northeast in the
afternoon.
* Mixing Height.......2 kft agl until 1100. 8 kft agl after 1600.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph until 1700.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear. Haze and areas of smoke.
* Min Temperature.....50-60.
* Max Humidity........43-53 percent valleys and 34-44 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Northeast 5-10 mph.
* Ridge Top............North 5-10 mph becoming east after midnight.
* Mixing Height.......8 kft agl until 1900. Below 500 ft to 1 kft
agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....Northeast 10 mph until 2300. East 10 mph
after 2400.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny.
* Max Temperature.....98-108 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.......2 kft agl until 1100. 9 kft agl after 1500.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph until 1600.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 60-70. Highs 90-100. Min humidities
15-25 percent. Northeast winds 5-10 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 60-70. Highs 85-95. Min humidities
15-25 percent. North winds 5-10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 60-70. Highs 85-95. Northeast winds
5-10 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 60-70. Highs 85-95.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy with slight chance of rain. Chance of rain
20 percent. Lows 60-70.
$$
MTZ104-105-222015-
Kootenai-Flathead/Glacier Park-
202 PM MDT Thu Aug 21 2025
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Partly cloudy.
* Min Temperature.....45-55.
* Max Humidity........66-76 percent valleys and 56-66 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......North 10-15 mph.
* Ridge Top............North 5-15 mph becoming northeast 10-20 mph
after midnight.
* Mixing Height.......8 kft agl until 1900. Below 500 ft to 1 kft
agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....Northwest 10 mph until 2100, then northeast
10 mph until 0500, then 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...
* Sky/Weather.........Partly cloudy.
* Max Temperature.....80-90 valleys and 65-75 ridges.
* Min Humidity........17-27 percent valleys and 31-41 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......East 10-20 mph.
* Ridge Top............East 10-20 mph.
* Mixing Height.......3 kft agl until 1000. 7 kft agl after 1500.
* Transport Winds.....East 15 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear.
* Min Temperature.....45-55.
* Max Humidity........74-84 percent valleys and 56-66 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......East 10-15 mph.
* Ridge Top............East 10-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......7 kft agl until 1900. Below 500 ft to 1 kft
agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....East 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny.
* Max Temperature.....85-95 valleys and 70-80 ridges.
* Min Humidity........11-21 percent valleys and 24-34 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to becoming upslope/upvalley 4-8 mph in
the afternoon.
* Ridge Top............East 5-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......3 kft agl until 1100. 8 kft agl after 1600.
* Transport Winds.....East 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 50-60. Highs 80-90. Min humidities
10-20 percent. East winds 10-15 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 55-65. Highs 80-90. Min humidities
10-20 percent. Northeast winds 5-10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 55-65. Highs 80-90. East winds
10-15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 55-65. Highs 80-90.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 55-65. Highs 80-90.
$$
MTZ106-108-222015-
West Lolo-East Lolo-
202 PM MDT Thu Aug 21 2025
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear.
* Min Temperature.....45-55.
* Max Humidity........53-63 percent valleys and 45-55 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......North 5-10 mph.
* Ridge Top............North 10-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......7 kft agl until 2000, then below 500 ft to 1
kft agl.
* Transport Winds.....North 10 mph until 2200, then northeast 10
mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny.
* Max Temperature.....80-90 valleys and 73-83 ridges.
* Min Humidity........13-23 percent valleys and 20-30 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......East 5-15 mph.
* Ridge Top............East 5-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......3 kft agl until 1000. 7 kft agl after 1500.
* Transport Winds.....East 15 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear. Haze.
* Min Temperature.....45-55.
* Max Humidity........59-69 percent valleys and 53-63 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......East 5-15 mph.
* Ridge Top............East 5-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......7 kft agl until 1900. Below 500 ft to 1 kft
agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....East 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny.
* Max Temperature.....85-95 valleys and 78-88 ridges.
* Min Humidity........12-22 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to variable less than 7 mph.
* Ridge Top............East 5-10 mph.
* Mixing Height.......3 kft agl until 1100. 8 kft agl after 1500.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 55-65. Highs 85-95. Min humidities
10-20 percent. East winds 5-10 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 55-65. Highs 80-90. Min humidities
10-20 percent. East winds 5-10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 55-65. Highs 80-90. East winds 5-10 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 55-65. Highs 80-90.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy with slight chance of rain. Chance of rain
20 percent. Lows 55-65. Highs 80-90.
$$
MTZ107-222015-
Flathead Reservation-
202 PM MDT Thu Aug 21 2025
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear.
* Min Temperature.....50-55.
* Max Humidity........47-57 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......North 10-15 mph.
* Ridge Top............Northeast 10-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......9 kft agl until 1900. Below 500 ft to 1 kft
agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....North 10 mph until 0200, then northeast 10
mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny.
* Max Temperature.....85-90 valleys and 65-70 ridges.
* Min Humidity........14-24 percent valleys and 24-34 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Northeast 5-15 mph.
* Ridge Top............Northeast 5-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......2 kft agl until 1000. 7 kft agl after 1500.
* Transport Winds.....East 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear.
* Min Temperature.....50-55.
* Max Humidity........63-73 percent valleys and 53-63 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Northeast 5-15 mph.
* Ridge Top............Northeast 10-20 mph.
* Mixing Height.......7 kft agl until 1900. Below 500 ft to 1 kft
agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....East 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny.
* Max Temperature.....90-95 valleys and 70-75 ridges.
* Min Humidity........11-21 percent valleys and 20-30 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to variable less than 7 mph.
* Ridge Top............East 10-20 mph becoming northeast 5-10 mph
in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.......2 kft agl until 1100. 7 kft agl after 1600.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 55-65. Highs 85-95. Min humidities
10-20 percent. Northeast winds 10-15 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 55-65. Highs 85-95. Min humidities
10-20 percent. Northeast winds 5-10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 60-70. Highs 85-95. Northeast winds
10-15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 60-70. Highs 85-95.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 55-65. Highs 85-95.
$$
MTZ109-222015-
Bitterroot-
202 PM MDT Thu Aug 21 2025
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear. Areas of smoke.
* Min Temperature.....45-55.
* Max Humidity........61-71 percent valleys and 42-52 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......North 5-10 mph.
* Ridge Top............North 5-10 mph.
* Mixing Height.......8 kft agl until 1900. 1-2 kft agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....North 10 mph until 0100, then variable less
than 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny. Haze.
* Max Temperature.....85-90 valleys and 75-80 ridges.
* Min Humidity........14-24 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......North 10-15 mph becoming 5-15 mph in the
afternoon.
* Ridge Top............Northeast 5-10 mph.
* Mixing Height.......3 kft agl until 1100. 9 kft agl after 1500.
* Transport Winds.....East 10 mph until 1400, then north 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly clear. Haze and areas of smoke.
* Min Temperature.....45-55.
* Max Humidity........71-81 percent valleys and 54-64 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......North 5-15 mph in the evening becoming
downslope/downvalley 2-5 mph.
* Ridge Top............Northeast 5-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......7 kft agl until 1900. 1-2 kft agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....Northeast 10 mph until 2300, then east 10
mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny.
* Max Temperature.....90-95 valleys and 80-85 ridges.
* Min Humidity........10-20 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to becoming upslope/upvalley 4-8 mph in
the afternoon.
* Ridge Top............Southeast 5-10 mph becoming west in the
afternoon.
* Mixing Height.......3 kft agl until 1100. 9 kft agl after 1500.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph until 1400, then
northwest 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 55-65. Highs 80-90. Min humidities
10-20 percent. Northeast winds 5-10 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. Lows 55-65. Highs 75-85. Min humidities
15-25 percent. North winds 5-10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers and
thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 20 percent. Lows 55-65. Highs
75-85. Northeast winds 5-10 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy with slight chance of rain. Chance of rain
20 percent. Lows 55-65. Highs 75-85.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 55-65. Highs
75-85.
$$
MTZ110-111-222015-
Deerlodge/West Beaverhead-East Beaverhead-
202 PM MDT Thu Aug 21 2025
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Partly cloudy. Haze.
* Min Temperature.....38-48 valleys and 45-50 ridges.
* Max Humidity........72-82 percent valleys and 54-64 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......North 5-10 mph.
* Ridge Top............North 5-10 mph.
* Mixing Height.......10 kft agl until 1900. Below 500 ft to 1 kft
agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....Northwest 10 mph until 2000, then northeast
10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny. Haze in the morning.
* Max Temperature.....75-85 valleys and 65-75 ridges.
* Min Humidity........18-28 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Northeast 5-15 mph.
* Ridge Top............Northeast 5-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......2 kft agl until 1000. 9 kft agl after 1400.
* Transport Winds.....Northeast 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent in the Deerlodge/West
Beaverhead...and 0 percent in the East Beaverhead.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather.........Partly cloudy. Haze in the evening.
* Min Temperature.....45-50.
* Max Humidity........82-92 percent valleys and 64-74 percent
ridges.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Northeast 5-15 mph.
* Ridge Top............Northeast 5-15 mph.
* Mixing Height.......8 kft agl until 1900. Below 500 ft to 1 kft
agl after 2000.
* Transport Winds.....Northeast 15 mph until 0300, then variable
less than 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather.........Mostly sunny.
* Max Temperature.....80-85 valleys and 70-80 ridges.
* Min Humidity........10-20 percent.
* 20-Foot Winds.......
* Lower Elevation......Calm to becoming upslope/upvalley 4-8 mph in
the afternoon.
* Ridge Top............East 5-10 mph becoming north in the
afternoon.
* Mixing Height.......3 kft agl until 1100. 11 kft agl after 1500.
* Transport Winds.....Variable less than 10 mph until 1100, then
west 10 mph until 1700, then northwest 10 mph.
* Chance Lightning....Near 0 percent.
* CWR (> 0.10 Inch)...0 percent.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 50-60. Highs 75-85. Min humidities
10-20 percent. Northeast winds 10-15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers and
thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 20 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
75-85. Min humidities 15-25 percent. Northeast winds 5-10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers and
thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 20 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
75-85. Northeast winds 5-10 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers and
thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 20 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
75-85.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance
of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Lows 50-60. Highs
70-80.
$$