The last thing western Montana firefighters need now is more hot, dry, windy weather. And yet that’s exactly what they’re going to get tomorrow as a cold front moves into western Montana. A red flag warning is posted for the entire region from noon to 9:00 p.m.
National Weather Service meteorologist Genki Kino:
"The temperatures should be climbing into the 90s again ahead of the cold front. We’re expecting some really strong, gusty winds. 25 to 35 mile per hour wind gusts are possible for the valleys. For the mountaintops we’re expecting maybe up to 50 mile per hour wind gusts as well."
Wednesday’s temperatures will cool into the mid 70s, but will bounce back to the mid 80s to lower 90s later this week.
"I’ve been looking really far out in the extended [forecast] and I just don’t see a big rain event in the near future right now. It’s looking like it’s going to be a pretty typical August with warm and dry weather."
Fire officials today bumped Missoula’s fire danger up a notch to "very high".