Routine Fire Wx Fcst (With/Without 6-10 Day Outlook)
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
Issued by NWS Great Falls, MT
324
FNUS55 KTFX 172121
FWFTFX
Fire Weather Planning Forecast for North-Central Montana
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
321 PM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.DISCUSSION...
A passing shortwave disturbance will maintain scattered shower
and thunderstorm activity for the next couple of days. While most
of this activity will occur during the afternoon and evening
hours, isolated showers or storms may develop at anytime of the
day, including overnights and mornings. Some storms will be
capable of producing localized strong, gusty winds, brief heavy
downpours, and hail in addition to cloud to ground lightning.
Despite the convective activity, minimum relative humidity will
fall to near critical levels with moderate to good overnight
recovery. A strengthening ridge aloft will further warm and dry
the surface boundary layer for the second half of the workweek
while diurnal mixing maintains seasonably breezy conditions. An
approaching Pacific trough then brings shower and thunderstorm
activity, breezy to windy conditions, and elevated fire weather
concerns this weekend.
MTZ112-181015-
Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty-
321 PM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy
smoke through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......48-53.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Max Humidity..........75-85 percent.
24 hr trend......10 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
west after midnight.
Ridges.............North winds around 5 mph shifting to the
south after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........6500 ft agl decreasing to BELOW 1000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......North 20 to 25 mph shifting to the south
after midnight.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.TUESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Patchy smoke through the day.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......75-81...67-72 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........27-35 percent...36-42 percent higher
elevations.
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.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 9500-10000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy smoke through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......50-56.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Max Humidity..........57-67 percent.
24 hr trend......23 percent down...16 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 in the morning.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......77-86...68-75 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........23-31 percent...32-38 percent higher
elevations.
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 10000-10500
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. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs around 80.
East winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. 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 mid 70s.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the mid
70s.
$$
MTZ113-181015-
Hill and Blaine Counties-
321 PM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Patchy smoke through the night. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......49-55.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Max Humidity..........78-88 percent.
24 hr trend......11 percent down...6 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds around 5 mph.
Ridges.............North winds around 5 mph shifting to the
southwest after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........5000-6500 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft
agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......North 15 to 20 mph shifting to the
southeast after midnight.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.TUESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning.
Patchy smoke through the day. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......79-84...71-76 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........29-34 percent.
24 hr trend......2 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...East winds around 5 mph shifting to the
southwest in the afternoon.
Ridges.............West winds around 5 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 8500-9500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......East 10 to 15 mph shifting to the west in
the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy smoke through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......52-58.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........65-75 percent.
24 hr trend......32 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 5 to 10 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...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke in the morning.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......82-87...73-78 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........23-29 percent.
24 hr trend......5 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...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower
80s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower
80s. East winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. 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. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the mid
50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
$$
MTZ114-181015-
Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-
Rocky Mountain Front-
321 PM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy
smoke through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......47-54.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Max Humidity..........68-78 percent.
24 hr trend......8 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the west after midnight.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........8000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Northwest 20 to 25 mph shifting to the
southwest after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TUESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke through the day.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......76-82...63-73 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Min Humidity..........24-31 percent...32-42 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......7 percent down...2 percent up 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 10000-11500
ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Patchy smoke through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......47-54.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........54-64 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.........9500 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......78-85...65-75 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........19-26 percent...27-37 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 10500-11000
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
upper 70s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the
upper 70s. North 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 lower 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows around 50. Highs in the mid 70s.
$$
MTZ115-181015-
Chouteau and Fergus Counties-
321 PM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Patchy smoke through the
night. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms through the
night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......51-57.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Max Humidity..........71-81 percent...63-71 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......6 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the
southwest after midnight.
Ridges.............Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the southwest after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........5500-7000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft
agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......North 15 to 20 mph shifting to the south
after midnight.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.TUESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke through the day.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......78-84...71-76 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Min Humidity..........25-34 percent...35-40 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......1 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds around 5 mph shifting to
the northwest in the afternoon.
Ridges.............South winds around 5 mph shifting to the
northwest in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 9500-10500 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 10 to 15 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy
smoke through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......52-58.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........58-68 percent.
24 hr trend......12 percent down...6 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........8000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......82-88...74-80 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........19-26 percent.
24 hr trend......8 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 10500-11000
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...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 60s. 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. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the mid
50s. Highs in the lower 80s.
$$
MTZ116-118-181015-
Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest-
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National
Forest-
321 PM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......50-57.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up.
* Max Humidity..........67-77 percent...57-67 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......13 percent down...8 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the southwest after midnight.
Ridges.............West winds 5 to 10 mph.
* Mixing Height.........8000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Northwest 20 to 25 mph becoming southwest
10 to 15 mph after midnight.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.TUESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......74-82...65-74 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........28-38 percent.
24 hr trend......7 percent up...5 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds around 5 mph shifting to the
northwest in the afternoon.
Ridges.............West winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 8000-9000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......48-55.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Max Humidity..........66-76 percent...54-64 percent higher
elevations.
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.........5000-6500 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft
agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......77-85...67-77 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......4 degrees up.
* Min Humidity..........20-30 percent.
24 hr trend......8 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to
the west in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 9000-9500 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. North winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs around 80. Southeast
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.
$$
MTZ117-181015-
Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas-
321 PM MDT Mon Aug 17 2026
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy smoke after midnight.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......48-55.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Max Humidity..........68-78 percent.
24 hr trend......4 percent down...9 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...North winds 15 to 20 mph becoming southwest
around 5 mph after midnight.
Ridges.............Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph shifting to
the southwest after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........5500-7000 ft agl decreasing to 500-1000 ft
agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......North 20 to 25 mph becoming south 10 to 15
mph after midnight.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.TUESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy smoke through the day.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Max Temperature.......75-84...66-75 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........25-35 percent.
24 hr trend......1 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 7000-8500 ft agl late in
the morning increasing to 9500-10500 ft agl in the afternoon
decreasing to 8500 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 15 to 20 mph increasing to west
around 25 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy
smoke through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......20 percent.
* Min Temperature.......47-56.
24 hr trend......2 degrees up...3 degrees down higher
elevations.
* Max Humidity..........58-68 percent.
24 hr trend......6 percent down...12 percent down higher
elevations.
* 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...........Mostly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......78-87...69-78 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......7 degrees up...2 degrees up higher elevations.
* Min Humidity..........19-26 percent.
24 hr trend......7 percent down...14 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...West winds 15 to 20 mph.
Ridges.............West winds 15 to 20 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1500 ft agl increasing to 10500 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 lower
80s. West winds 15 to 20 mph.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the lower
80s. East winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of
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. Slight chance of showers. Lows in the
lower 50s. Highs in the upper 70s.
$$
weather.gov/greatfalls