718
FXUS65 KTFX 232328
AFDTFX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
528 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2026

Aviation Section Updated.

.KEY MESSAGES...

 - Impactful heat through the weekend, with little overnight relief
   in some areas.

 - Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms most days through the
   weekend, mostly in Southwest and Central MT.

 - Increased fire weather concerns Friday and Saturday as hot
   temperatures combine with low relative humidity and breezy
   winds.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
A building upper level ridge with axis across the central CONUS
will largely remain in place over the upcoming week, resulting in
an extended stretch of hot temperatures. Flow aloft initially will
be more zonal before transitioning more southwesterly as the
ridge nudges back westward ever so slightly toward the weekend.
Monsoonal moisture is decreasing, but remains across the region
today, highest across Southwest Montana. Although upper level
support isn`t particularly great, widely scattered showers and
thunderstorms look to develop through the afternoon and evening,
with a few persisting into the overnight.

Monsoonal moisture decreases further Friday as a drier zonal flow
aloft remains for another day. That said, lingering moisture still
looks to result in isolated showers and thunderstorms, mostly across
Southwest Montana. Breezy west winds and hot temperatures will
result in increased fire weather concerns over the plains Friday,
particularly near the Canadian border where precipitation recently
has been minimal.

The southwesterly flow aloft works back in this weekend as
temperatures peak across most areas. Additional round of primarily
afternoon and evening widely scattered showers and thunderstorms
will be around, mostly across Southwest MT and vicinity.

That story more or less persists into next week. Hot temperatures
remain with opportunities for widely scattered showers and
thunderstorms most afternoons, primarily across Southwest MT and
vicinity. Areas further north on the plains look to remain hot and
dry over this timeframe. Anyone that has to be outside for any
extended stretch over the upcoming week should prepare for plenty of
hydration breaks in the shade. -AM

&&

.AVIATION...
24/00Z TAF Period

A few isolated thunderstorms will affect mostly the southern
portions of the CWA through about 03z Fri before diminishing.
After a quiet rest of tonight, expect increasing surface winds on
Friday morning, with a few isolated thunderstorms developing
after 21z on Fri along the MT/ID border, including the West
Yellowstone area. Brusda

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Because of the combination of low humidity, gusty winds and hot
temperatures, a Red Flag Warning was issued for Friday and
Saturday for portions of North Central MT. The winds look to be
stronger on Friday, while temperatures look to be hotter on
Saturday. There is the potential that additional fire weather
statements might be needed for portions of the area on Sunday.
Overall, expect very warm temperatures to continue for much of
next week as well. Brusda

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF  64  98  63 102 /  20   0   0  10
CTB  61  91  58  97 /  20   0   0   0
HLN  63  97  63  99 /  20  20   0  20
BZN  60  97  60  97 /  20  20  20  30
WYS  50  87  51  87 /  30  20  20  40
DLN  57  93  57  92 /  20  20  20  20
HVR  64 101  62 107 /  20   0   0   0
LWT  61  94  61 100 /  20   0  20  30

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning from 10 AM Friday to 9 PM MDT Saturday for
Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas-
Chouteau and Fergus Counties-Eastern
Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty-Hill and Blaine
Counties-Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-
Rocky Mountain Front.

Heat Advisory from noon Friday to 9 PM MDT Sunday for Beaverhead
and Western Madison below 6000ft-Canyon Ferry Area-Eastern
Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera-Eastern Pondera and
Eastern Teton-Eastern Toole and Liberty-Gallatin Valley-Gates of
the Mountains-Helena Valley-Madison River Valley-Meagher County
Valleys-Missouri Headwaters.

Heat Advisory from noon Friday to noon MDT Saturday for Bears
Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine-Cascade County below 5000ft-
Fergus County below 4500ft-Hill County-Judith Basin County and
Judith Gap-Northern Blaine County-Western and Central Chouteau
County.

Heat Advisory from 9 PM Saturday to 9 PM MDT Sunday for Bears
Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine-Cascade County below 5000ft-
Fergus County below 4500ft-Hill County-Judith Basin County and
Judith Gap-Northern Blaine County-Western and Central Chouteau
County.

Extreme Heat Warning from noon to 9 PM MDT Saturday for Bears
Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine-Cascade County below 5000ft-
Fergus County below 4500ft-Hill County-Judith Basin County and
Judith Gap-Northern Blaine County-Western and Central Chouteau
County.

&&

$$
http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls