A good, soaking rain possible for west central and northwest Montana

National Weather Service meteorologist LeAnne Allegretto describes an incoming weather system as a potential "resetting" event; one that could - at least temporarily - give firefighters in parts of western Montana a much needed break.
       The technical term for this sort of wet, slow-moving weather event is a "cut-off low". Allegretto says thunderstorms will start to develop across central Idaho and southwest Montana.
  Those storms could spread north and become more widespread. If they do, they could drop three quarters of an inch of rain in the Missoula and Bitterroot valleys. Libby, West Glacier and Eureka could get an inch to an inch-and-a-half of rain.
    The thunderstorms may not produce as much rain in southwest Montana, which raises concerns about the aftermath of the lightning strikes.
       Allegretto says temperatures in west central and northwest Montana will drop as the system moves through.  Friday's highs may top out in the mid to upper 60s. The high country could have daytime highs from the 40s to mid 50s.
    Temperatures will gradually moderate back into the 70s by Saturday and the 80s by Sunday. Next week's temperatures should comfortably range from the low to mid 80s.