Routine Fire Wx Fcst (With/Without 6-10 Day Outlook)
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
346
FNUS55 KTFX 171048
FWFTFX
Fire Weather Planning Forecast for North-Central Montana
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
448 AM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
.DISCUSSION...
Showers and thunderstorms look to develop today, mainly in far
southern areas. This activity spreads further north Friday and
Saturday before the region looks to dry out Sunday and Monday. Any
shower or thunderstorm will be capable of producing gusty and
erratic winds in addition to small hail, lightning, and briefly
heavy rain. -AM
MTZ112-172300-
Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty-
448 AM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......68-73...62-67 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......9 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........43-49 percent.
24 hr trend......7 percent down...14 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 2500-3000 ft
agl in the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......Southeast 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy.
Slight chance of showers after midnight.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......46-51.
24 hr trend......7 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........82-92 percent.
24 hr trend......Unchanged...11 percent down higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds around 5 mph shifting to the
northwest after midnight.
Ridges.............Southeast winds around 5 mph shifting to
the northwest after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........3000 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......East 15 to 20 mph shifting to the northwest
after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FRIDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......66-73...60-65 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........46-56 percent.
24 hr trend......3 percent up...13 percent up higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds 5 to 10 mph.
Ridges.............North winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 4500 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......North 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain. Lows in the
upper 40s. Highs in the upper 60s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Highs in the lower
70s. South winds 15 to 20 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the mid
70s. South winds 15 to 20 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the
lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the
lower 70s.
$$
MTZ113-172300-
Hill and Blaine Counties-
448 AM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......70-76...64-69 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......12 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........41-51 percent.
24 hr trend......4 percent down...1 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 2500-4000 ft
agl in the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......Southeast 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......48-53.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........85-95 percent.
24 hr trend......7 percent up...6 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the south after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........3000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......East 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FRIDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......73-78...64-70 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........43-50 percent...51-59 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds 5 to 10 mph.
Ridges.............North winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 4500-5000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......North 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain. Lows in the upper 40s.
Highs in the upper 60s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of rain. Lows in the upper 40s.
Highs in the lower 70s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the mid
70s. Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the
upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the
upper 70s.
$$
MTZ114-172300-
Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-
Rocky Mountain Front-
448 AM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......70-75...61-71 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......12 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........38-48 percent.
24 hr trend......6 percent down...18 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds around 5 mph shifting to the
east in the afternoon.
Ridges.............South winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 3000-4500 ft
agl in the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......South 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy.
Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the
evening. Slight chance of showers after midnight.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......44-51.
24 hr trend......7 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........83-93 percent.
24 hr trend......Unchanged...11 percent down higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the west after midnight.
Ridges.............Southeast winds around 5 mph shifting to
the west after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........1000-2500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000
ft agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......East 15 to 20 mph shifting to the west
after midnight.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.FRIDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Chance of showers and slight
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......68-73...56-66 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........46-55 percent...57-67 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......5 percent up...15 percent up higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northwest winds around 5 mph shifting to
the north in the afternoon.
Ridges.............West winds around 5 mph shifting to the
northeast in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 2500-3500 ft
agl late in the morning, then increasing to 4500-6000 ft agl in
the afternoon decreasing to 4000 ft agl late in the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......Northwest 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the mid 60s. North
winds around 5 mph.
.SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Highs around 70.
Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the lower
70s. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the
lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the
lower 70s.
$$
MTZ115-172300-
Chouteau and Fergus Counties-
448 AM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......73-78...67-76 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......13 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........36-45 percent.
24 hr trend......13 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 2500-4000 ft
agl in the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......Southeast 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......49-55.
24 hr trend......6 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........77-87 percent...66-75 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......5 percent down...19 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
southwest after midnight.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the southwest after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........3000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southeast 20 to 25 mph shifting to the
southwest after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FRIDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......73-78...65-73 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........40-50 percent.
24 hr trend......10 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 4500-5000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Northwest 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy with showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the upper 60s.
North winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Showers likely and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the lower 70s.
East winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the upper
70s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows around 50. Highs in the upper 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows around 50. Highs in the upper
70s.
$$
MTZ116-118-172300-
Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest-
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National
Forest-
448 AM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......72-79...64-72 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......9 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........38-48 percent.
24 hr trend......1 percent up...11 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............South winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 4000-5000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......South 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......30 percent.
* Min Temperature.......45-52.
24 hr trend......7 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........81-91 percent.
24 hr trend......4 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............South winds around 5 mph shifting to the
southwest after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........1000-2500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000
ft agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......South 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.FRIDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers in
the morning. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms
in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......68-75...59-68 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......5 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........53-63 percent.
24 hr trend......12 percent up...22 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds around 5 mph shifting to
the northwest in the afternoon.
Ridges.............West winds around 5 mph shifting to the
north in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 2500-3500 ft
agl late in the morning, then increasing to 5000-6000 ft agl in
the afternoon decreasing to 3000 ft agl late in the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......South 10 to 15 mph increasing to northeast
20 to 25 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................20 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.SATURDAY...Showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in
the upper 40s. Highs in the lower 60s. Northwest winds 10 to
15 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of rain. Lows in the mid
40s. Highs in the upper 60s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Highs in the lower 70s.
Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the
lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Highs in the
lower 70s.
$$
MTZ117-172300-
Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas-
448 AM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
.TODAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......73-78...65-74 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......12 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........36-44 percent.
24 hr trend......7 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 3500-5000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......South 20 to 25 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.......46-52.
24 hr trend......6 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........75-85 percent.
24 hr trend......7 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph shifting to
the southwest after midnight.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......South 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FRIDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Chance of showers and slight
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......69-75...62-70 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........46-56 percent.
24 hr trend......10 percent up.
* 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 shifting to the
north in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 3500-5000 ft
agl late in the morning, then increasing to 5500-7000 ft agl
early in the afternoon decreasing to 4500-5000 ft agl late in the
afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph shifting to the north in
the afternoon.
* CWR...................20 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.SATURDAY...Showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in
the upper 40s. Highs in the lower 60s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of rain. Lows in the mid
40s. Highs in the upper 60s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Highs in the lower
70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the
lower 70s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the
mid 70s.
$$
weather.gov/greatfalls