weather

Western Montana’s relatively tame wildfire season is suddenly ramping up in intensity, and changing weather conditions are expected to boost fire risk this week.

This summer’s weather has been a far cry from the scorching heat, bone-dry conditions and smokey air Montanans have come to expect this time of year. Meteorologists say more of this cooler, wetter weather is likely this month.

Just about one year ago, hurricane-force winds blasted through Missoula county. They caused millions of dollars in damage to homes, business and trees. Extreme weather wasn’t contained to Missoula last year. Late summer storms also blew through the Bitterroot Valley, causing severe damage along the way.

A "red flag" warning means dangerous wildfire conditions are happening or about to happen. The National Weather Service says it has an updated designation for exceptionally dangerous fire conditions.

Most Montanans have probably heard the old phrase: "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute and it will change." Montanans could get a striking demonstration of that phenomenon this week, forecasters say.

Missoula urban foresters the last 10 months clearing debris left by a powerful storm that tore through the region last July.That storm and another in August destroyed thousands of trees in western Montana. Now, volunteers and grant dollars are helping fill in that lost canopy.

Montana’s snowpack is mostly normal following soggy weather conditions last month, but more snow is needed in the mountains.

As summer heats up in Montana, so does wildfire season. This raises the question, does winter snowpack really correlate to the severity of the wildfire season? And what does a 'normal' fire season mean?

The effects of what’s being billed as ‘the most impactful winter storm of this season so far’ will continue to be felt through at least mid-day Wednesday.

Montana’s winter snowpack is growing after a lackluster start to the season, but remains below normal across most of Montana.