URGENT: SW Montana Now Under Red Flag Weather Warning

A week of extreme temperatures have delivered wildfire season to Montana. Southwest Montana is facing a Red Flag Warning as more heat, wind, and dry conditions are expected to continue through the weekend.

• For the area including Ennis, Virginia City, Sheridan, Twin Bridges, Butte, and Anaconda
• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM TO 9 PM SATURDAY
• (The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.)
• Affected area: Fire Zone 110 (Deerlodge/West Beaverhead) and Fire Zone 111 (East Beaverhead). See the Montana Fire Zone chart below.
• Impacts: The combination of gusty winds and low humidity will result in critical fire weather conditions, increasing the risk for new and existing fires to spread quickly.
• Winds: West winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts of 30 to 35 mph.
• Minimum humidity: 8 to 15 percent

• For the area that includes: Three Forks, Helena, White Sulphur Springs, Cascade, and Great Falls.
• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM SATURDAY TO MIDNIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WINDS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 118
• The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from 2 PM Saturday to midnight Saturday night.
• The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.
• AFFECTED AREA: Fire weather zone 118.
• WINDS: Westerly 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
• RELATIVE HUMIDITY: As low as 10 percent.
• IMPACTS: Any existing or new fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and be difficult to contain.
• Outdoor burning is not recommended.
• PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly.
• A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

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