Routine Fire Wx Fcst (With/Without 6-10 Day Outlook)
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
819
FNUS55 KTFX 180658
FWFTFX
Fire Weather Planning Forecast for North-Central Montana
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1258 AM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.DISCUSSION...
This afternoon/evening there will be another round of showers and
thunderstorms across the districts. All thunderstorms will
produce frequent lightning, small hail, a brief heavy downpour,
and gusty, erratic winds. The strongest thunderstorms will produce
strong wind gusts. Wednesday through Friday it will be warm, dry,
and breezy with near critical minimum relative humidity values
expected each afternoon. This will lead to elevated fire weather
conditions Wednesday through Friday. Showers and thunderstorms
return this weekend with breezy conditions.
MTZ112-182230-
Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty-
1258 AM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Patchy smoke through the day.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......75-82...67-73 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......1 degree down.
* Min Humidity..........25-31 percent...33-41 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......9 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 5000 ft agl
late in the morning, then increasing to 7500-8500 ft agl early in
the afternoon increasing to 9000-9500 ft agl early in the
afternoon decreasing to 7500 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Patchy smoke in the evening.
Slight chance of showers in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......51-56.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........57-67 percent.
24 hr trend......21 percent down...13 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........5500 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.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 10000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 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. 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 upper 70s.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the upper
70s.
$$
MTZ113-182230-
Hill and Blaine Counties-
1258 AM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke in the
afternoon. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the
afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......80-85...71-76 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........25-30 percent.
24 hr trend......7 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds around 5 mph shifting to
the southwest in the afternoon.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 9000-9500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......South 10 to 15 mph shifting to the west in
the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers in
the evening. Patchy smoke through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......53-58...47-57 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........66-76 percent.
24 hr trend......20 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........7500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny.
* 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 10000-10500
ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid
80s. Northeast 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. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. 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.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower
80s.
$$
MTZ114-182230-
Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-
Rocky Mountain Front-
1258 AM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......76-82...62-72 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........23-29 percent...31-41 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......10 percent down...2 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 9000-10500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers in
the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......48-55.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........55-65 percent.
24 hr trend......12 percent down...7 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........8500 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 10500-11500
ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
upper 70s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
.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 around 80. Southwest
winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows around 50. Highs in the upper 70s.
$$
MTZ115-182230-
Chouteau and Fergus Counties-
1258 AM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke in the
afternoon. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the
afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......79-85...71-76 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........23-31 percent.
24 hr trend......5 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds around 5 mph shifting to the
west in the afternoon.
Ridges.............Southwest winds around 5 mph shifting to
the west in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 9500-10500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 10 to 15 mph shifting to the west
in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Patchy smoke in the evening.
Slight chance of showers in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......53-59.
24 hr trend......5 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........58-68 percent.
24 hr trend......15 percent down.
* 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...................10 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke in the
afternoon.
* 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.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 10500-11000
ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the mid
80s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the mid
80s. East winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SATURDAY...Partly 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.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the mid
50s. Highs in the mid 80s.
$$
MTZ116-118-182230-
Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest-
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National
Forest-
1258 AM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Chance of showers and slight
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......73-81...64-73 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......1 degree down...6 degrees down higher
elevations.
* Min Humidity..........27-37 percent.
24 hr trend......4 percent up...8 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds around 5 mph shifting to
the northwest in the afternoon.
Ridges.............West winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 2500 ft agl
late in the morning, then increasing to 4500 ft agl late in the
morning increasing to 7000 ft agl early in the afternoon
increasing to 9000-10000 ft agl decreasing to 8000 ft agl late in
the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.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......1 degree down.
* Max Humidity..........66-76 percent...55-65 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......4 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........7500 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 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 8500-9500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.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. 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 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
$$
MTZ117-182230-
Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas-
1258 AM MDT Tue Aug 18 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and slight
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......74-84...65-74 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........24-34 percent.
24 hr trend......6 percent down...1 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 9000-10500 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 then becoming partly cloudy.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......48-56.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........61-71 percent.
24 hr trend......10 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........7500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Sunny. Patchy smoke in the afternoon.
* 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 11000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
lower 80s. West winds 15 to 20 mph.
.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.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 50s. Highs around 80.
$$
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