Routine Fire Wx Fcst (With/Without 6-10 Day Outlook)
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
241
FNUS55 KTFX 211941
FWFTFX
Fire Weather Planning Forecast for North-Central Montana
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
141 PM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.DISCUSSION...
Upper level ridging will shift away from the region tonight,
transitioning flow aloft to be more southwesterly in nature.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms return Saturday afternoon and
evening, capable of gusty winds, lightning, and briefly heavy rain.
A few showers and thunderstorms will linger through the overnight.
Another round of showers and thunderstorms develops Sunday ahead of
a cold front. Behind the front gusty winds look to develop in most
areas, with relative humidity approaching 20% by late afternoon.
Conditions look to be more elevated than critical at this time, but
trends will continue to be monitored. Nonetheless, lightning that
occurs Saturday or Sunday may result in holdover fire starts late
Sunday or early next week.
Additional rounds of widely scattered showers and thunderstorms will
be around most afternoons and evenings next week, with temperatures
slightly above seasonal averages. -AM
MTZ112-221015-
Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty-
141 PM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......55-61.
24 hr trend......6 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........57-67 percent.
24 hr trend......22 percent down...16 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........4500-6000 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000
ft agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......Southeast 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming mostly sunny.
Slight chance of showers in the morning.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......83-90...76-81 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........25-30 percent.
24 hr trend......1 percent down...6 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 5500-7000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......South 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
* Chance Lightning.......10 percent.
* Min Temperature.......57-62.
24 hr trend......1 degree down.
* Max Humidity..........60-70 percent.
24 hr trend......7 percent up...2 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............South winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........6000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SUNDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly 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.......78-88...68-78 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......1 degree down...8 degrees down higher
elevations.
* Min Humidity..........19-24 percent...26-36 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......5 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to
25 mph in the afternoon.
Ridges.............Windy. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph
increasing to around 25 mph in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 9500-10000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph increasing to southwest
around 35 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.MONDAY...Windy. Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in
the upper 70s. West winds around 25 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
lower 80s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
mid 50s. Highs in the mid 80s. Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
mid 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
$$
MTZ113-221015-
Hill and Blaine Counties-
141 PM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......58-63...52-61 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........56-66 percent.
24 hr trend......13 percent down...3 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........5500-7000 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000
ft agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......Southeast 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......86-92...78-83 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........24-29 percent.
24 hr trend......1 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 5500-6000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southeast around 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......61-66...55-65 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........61-71 percent.
24 hr trend......7 percent up...1 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........3500-5000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1500 ft
agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......Southeast 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SUNDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......89-94...80-85 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........19-25 percent.
24 hr trend......5 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 2500-4000 ft
agl late in the morning, then increasing to 5500 ft agl early in
the afternoon increasing to 7500 ft agl early in the afternoon
increasing to 9500-10500 ft agl decreasing to 8500 ft agl late in
the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph increasing to west
around 25 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.MONDAY...Not as warm. Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs around 80. West winds
20 to 25 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
lower 80s. North winds 15 to 20 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the
upper 80s. East winds 15 to 20 mph.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
upper 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
mid 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
$$
MTZ114-221015-
Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-
Rocky Mountain Front-
141 PM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers
after midnight.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......55-63.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........55-65 percent.
24 hr trend......15 percent down...6 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the northwest after midnight.
Ridges.............East winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........4500-5500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000
ft agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......East 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers
through the day. Slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......85-91...72-82 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......5 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........23-32 percent.
24 hr trend......2 percent down.
* 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 6500-7500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 10 to 15 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......53-61.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Max Humidity..........62-72 percent.
24 hr trend......9 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........5000 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.SUNDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......10 percent.
* Max Temperature.......80-89...65-75 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........19-25 percent...29-39 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......5 percent down...5 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph increasing to
20 to 25 mph in the afternoon.
Ridges.............Windy. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph
increasing to around 25 mph in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 10000-11000
ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 20 to 25 mph increasing to around
30 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.MONDAY...Windy. Mostly clear. Lows around 50. Highs in the upper
70s. West winds around 25 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs around 80.
Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows around 50. Highs in the mid 70s.
$$
MTZ115-221015-
Chouteau and Fergus Counties-
141 PM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......59-64.
24 hr trend......7 degrees up...1 degree up higher elevations.
* Max Humidity..........52-62 percent.
24 hr trend......5 percent down...4 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........4500-5500 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft
agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......East 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers in
the morning.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......87-93...78-85 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........23-29 percent.
24 hr trend......1 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 5000-6500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southeast around 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......10 percent.
* Min Temperature.......61-67.
24 hr trend......1 degree down.
* Max Humidity..........60-70 percent...51-61 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......8 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............South winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........3500-5000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft
agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......South 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SUNDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......89-95...81-88 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........18-24 percent.
24 hr trend......6 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 11000-12500
ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph increasing to around 30
mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.MONDAY...Not as warm. Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
West winds 15 to 20 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid
80s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the
upper 80s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the mid 80s.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
mid 50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
$$
MTZ116-118-221015-
Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest-
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National
Forest-
141 PM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers
after midnight.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......57-63.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........53-63 percent.
24 hr trend......9 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds 20 to 25 mph.
Ridges.............Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the southeast after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........6000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......East around 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers
through the day. Slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......82-89...73-83 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........24-32 percent.
24 hr trend......6 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............South winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 5500-6500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......South 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight
chance of thunderstorms in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......54-60.
24 hr trend......3 degrees down.
* Max Humidity..........75-85 percent...65-75 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......22 percent up...15 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............South winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........2500-4000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft
agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......South 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.SUNDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and slight
chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......79-87...70-80 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......1 degree down.
* Min Humidity..........22-32 percent.
24 hr trend......3 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 9500-11000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph increasing to around
30 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 50s. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds 20 to 25 mph.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs around 80. Northwest
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs around 80. South winds
10 to 15 mph.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.
$$
MTZ117-221015-
Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas-
141 PM MDT Fri Aug 21 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......55-63.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........53-63 percent.
24 hr trend......7 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........6000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......East 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.SATURDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of showers
through the day. Slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......83-93...74-84 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......5 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........23-32 percent.
24 hr trend......1 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............South winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 5000-6500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......South 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight
chance of thunderstorms in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......54-63.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........64-74 percent.
24 hr trend......1 percent down...11 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........4500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.SUNDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......82-91...74-84 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........19-28 percent.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 10500-11500
ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 20 to 25 mph increasing to west
around 30 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the mid
50s. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds 20 to 25 mph.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs around 80. East winds
10 to 15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower 80s. South
winds 15 to 20 mph.
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
$$
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