FNUS55 KTFX 162229
FWFTFX
Fire Weather Planning Forecast for North-Central Montana
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
329 PM MST Tue Dec 16 2025
.DISCUSSION...
Intense winds are expected across North Central and Central
Montana on Wednesday as a powerful weather system rolls through
the area. While traditional critical fire weather conditions are
not expected to exist thanks to a few rain showers and RH values
only dipping into the 30s and 40s, the strong winds in excess of
60-80 mph could still cause any fires that manage to take hold to
exhibit very erratic growth and behavior. Ludwig
MTZ112-171115-
Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty-
329 PM MST Tue Dec 16 2025
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy then becoming mostly cloudy.
Patchy blowing snow in the evening. Blowing snow after midnight.
Chance of rain through the night.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......30-36.
24 hr trend......12 degrees down.
* Max Humidity..........72-82 percent.
24 hr trend......16 percent up...10 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Very windy. Southwest winds 35 to 45 mph.
Ridges.............Strong winds. Southwest winds 35 to 45 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 50 to 55 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy blowing dust and areas
of blowing snow through the day. Chance of rain and snow in the
morning. Slight chance of snow in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......41-47...36-41 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......1 degree down.
* Min Humidity..........45-55 percent...54-64 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......7 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Strong winds. West winds 55 to 60 mph.
Ridges.............Strong winds. West winds 50 to 60 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl increasing to 2500-4000 ft
agl late in the morning, then increasing to 3500-5000 ft agl late
in the morning decreasing to 3000 ft agl late in the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......West around 75 mph.
* CWR...................20 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Patchy blowing snow and
blowing dust in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......14-24.
24 hr trend......20 degrees down...5 degrees down higher
elevations.
* Max Humidity..........64-74 percent.
24 hr trend......16 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Strong winds. Northwest winds around 45 mph
becoming west around 35 mph after midnight.
Ridges.............Very windy. Northwest winds around 40 mph
becoming west around 30 mph after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........2000-3500 ft agl decreasing to 1000-1500 ft
agl in the late evening and overnight.
* Transport Winds.......Northwest around 65 mph becoming west and
decreasing to around 50 mph after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Chance of snow in the
afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......35-42.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........52-62 percent...61-71 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......10 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Windy. Southwest winds around 30 mph
decreasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.
Ridges.............Windy. Southwest winds around 30 mph
decreasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........1000-2500 ft agl increasing to 1500-3000 ft
agl in the afternoon, then decreasing to 1000 ft agl late in the
afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 35 to 40 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.FRIDAY...Very windy. Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain and
snow. Lows in the upper 20s. Highs around 40. West winds around
35 mph.
.SATURDAY...Windy. Partly cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows around 13.
Highs in the mid 30s. West winds around 25 mph.
.SUNDAY...Windy. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of snow. Lows
around 17. Highs in the lower 30s. Southwest winds around 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of snow. Lows around 16.
Highs in the mid 30s.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of snow. Lows around 17.
Highs in the mid 30s.
$$
MTZ113-171115-
Hill and Blaine Counties-
329 PM MST Tue Dec 16 2025
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain in the
evening. Chance of rain after midnight.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......27-35.
24 hr trend......8 degrees down.
* Max Humidity..........77-87 percent...70-77 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......13 percent up...1 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Windy. South winds around 25 mph.
Ridges.............Windy. Southwest winds around 25 mph.
* Mixing Height.........BELOW 1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest around 30 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Patchy blowing dust through
the day. Slight chance of rain in the morning. Chance of snow in
the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......42-47.
24 hr trend......1 degree up.
* Min Humidity..........53-63 percent.
24 hr trend......13 percent down...7 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Very windy. West winds 40 to 45 mph.
Ridges.............Very windy. West winds 40 to 45 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl increasing to 3000-4000 ft
agl late in the morning.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest around 60 mph becoming west and
increasing to around 70 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Areas of blowing snow and patchy blowing dust in the evening.
Slight chance of snow in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......5-15.
24 hr trend......19 degrees down.
* Max Humidity..........72-82 percent.
24 hr trend......7 percent down...3 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Very windy. Northwest winds 35 to 40 mph.
Ridges.............Very windy. Northwest winds around 40 mph
decreasing to around 30 mph after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........2000-3500 ft agl decreasing to 1000-1500 ft
agl early in the morning.
* Transport Winds.......Northwest around 65 mph becoming west and
decreasing to around 50 mph after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Chance of snow in the
afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......31-37.
24 hr trend......10 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........61-71 percent.
24 hr trend......16 percent up...5 percent up higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Ridges.............South winds 10 to 15 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......South 20 to 25 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.FRIDAY...Windy. Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow and rain. Lows in
the mid 20s. Highs in the lower 40s. Southwest winds around
30 mph.
.SATURDAY...Colder. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of snow. Lows
around 9. Highs in the upper 20s. West winds 15 to 20 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows around 13. Highs in the upper 20s.
Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of snow. Lows around 13.
Highs in the lower 30s.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy. Lows around 12. Highs in the lower 30s.
$$
MTZ114-171115-
Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-
Rocky Mountain Front-
329 PM MST Tue Dec 16 2025
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Patchy blowing snow in the
evening. Blowing snow after midnight. Chance of snow in the
evening. Snow and chance of rain after midnight.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......31-38...18-28 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......8 degrees down.
* Max Humidity..........65-75 percent...82-92 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......11 percent up...unchanged higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Very windy. Southwest winds 35 to 45 mph.
Ridges.............Strong winds. Southwest winds 35 to 45 mph.
* Mixing Height.........1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest around 60 mph.
* CWR...................30 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Blowing snow and patchy
blowing dust through the day. Chance of rain in the morning.
Chance of snow through the day.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......43-48...32-40 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees down...2 degrees up higher
elevations.
* Min Humidity..........41-51 percent...65-75 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......5 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Strong winds. West winds 50 to 60 mph.
Ridges.............Strong winds. West winds 50 to 60 mph.
* Mixing Height.........1000-1500 ft agl increasing to 3500 ft agl
late in the morning, then increasing to 5500-6000 ft agl in the
late morning and early afternoon decreasing to 3000-4000 ft agl
late in the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......West around 75 mph.
* CWR...................40 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly cloudy. Blowing snow and patchy
blowing dust in the evening. Chance of snow in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......22-28...16-23 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......10 degrees down...3 degrees down higher
elevations.
* Max Humidity..........55-63 percent...71-81 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......11 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Strong winds. West winds around 50 mph
decreasing to around 40 mph after midnight.
Ridges.............Strong winds. West winds around 60 mph
decreasing to around 50 mph after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........2000-3500 ft agl decreasing to 1000-1500 ft
agl late in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......West around 75 mph decreasing to around 65
mph after midnight.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of snow in the
morning. Chance of snow in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......41-46...30-38 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......2 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........47-57 percent...69-79 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......6 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Windy. Southwest winds around 30 mph
decreasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.
Ridges.............Very windy. Southwest winds around 35 mph
decreasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........1000-2500 ft agl increasing to 1500-3000 ft
agl in the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest around 45 mph decreasing to
around 35 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.FRIDAY...Very windy. Snow with rain likely. Lows in the lower
30s. Highs around 40. Southwest winds around 40 mph.
.SATURDAY...Windy. Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows in the
lower 20s. Highs in the lower 30s. West winds around 30 mph.
.SUNDAY...Windy. Partly cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows in the lower
20s. Highs in the mid 30s. Southwest winds around 30 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows in the mid 20s.
Highs around 40.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow and slight chance of
rain. Lows in the mid 20s. Highs in the upper 30s.
$$
MTZ115-171115-
Chouteau and Fergus Counties-
329 PM MST Tue Dec 16 2025
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......33-38.
24 hr trend......10 degrees down.
* Max Humidity..........62-72 percent.
24 hr trend......18 percent up...2 percent up higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Windy. Southwest winds around 30 mph.
Ridges.............Windy. Southwest winds around 30 mph.
* Mixing Height.........500-1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 35 to 40 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly sunny. Patchy blowing dust through
the day. Chance of rain in the morning. Slight chance of snow in
the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......46-51.
24 hr trend......Unchanged.
* Min Humidity..........39-49 percent.
24 hr trend......7 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Strong winds. West winds around 45 mph.
Ridges.............Strong winds. West winds around 45 mph.
* Mixing Height.........1000-2000 ft agl increasing to 4500-6000 ft
agl.
* Transport Winds.......West around 75 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Patchy blowing snow and blowing dust in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......15-23.
24 hr trend......16 degrees down.
* Max Humidity..........62-72 percent.
24 hr trend......2 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Strong winds. West winds around 45 mph
becoming northwest around 35 mph after midnight.
Ridges.............Strong winds. West winds around 50 mph
becoming northwest and decreasing to around 40 mph after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........3000-4500 ft agl decreasing to 1000-2500 ft
agl early in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......West 60 to 65 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......37-46.
24 hr trend......8 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........48-58 percent.
24 hr trend......5 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Windy. Southwest winds around 25 mph
becoming south 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.
Ridges.............Windy. Southwest winds around 25 mph
decreasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........500-2000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest around 35 mph becoming south
around 25 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.FRIDAY...Very windy. Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow and slight
chance of rain. Lows in the lower 30s. Highs in the upper 40s.
Southwest winds around 35 mph.
.SATURDAY...Colder. Partly cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows around
18. Highs in the mid 30s. West winds 20 to 25 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s. Highs in the
upper 30s. Southwest winds 20 to 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain and snow. Lows in
the lower 20s. Highs around 40.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s. Highs in the
upper 30s.
$$
MTZ116-118-171115-
Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest-
Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National
Forest-
329 PM MST Tue Dec 16 2025
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Patchy blowing snow through
the night. Slight chance of rain and snow after midnight.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......31-39...23-33 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......5 degrees down.
* Max Humidity..........69-79 percent...78-88 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......2 percent up...7 percent up higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Very windy. Southwest winds around 30 mph
increasing to south around 40 mph after midnight.
Ridges.............Strong winds. Southwest winds 40 to 45 mph.
* Mixing Height.........1000-1500 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest 50 to 55 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Blowing snow and patchy
blowing dust through the day. Rain in the morning. Slight chance
of snow through the day.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......41-50...34-42 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......6 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........44-54 percent...56-66 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......8 percent down...1 percent up higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Very windy. West winds 40 to 50 mph.
Ridges.............Strong winds. West winds 40 to 50 mph.
* Mixing Height.........1000-2000 ft agl increasing to 3500-5000 ft
agl late in the morning, then increasing to 6000-7500 ft agl late
in the morning decreasing to 5000 ft agl late in the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......West around 65 mph.
* CWR...................30 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Blowing snow and patchy
blowing dust in the evening. Slight chance of snow in the
evening.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......20-26.
24 hr trend......13 degrees down...5 degrees down higher
elevations.
* Max Humidity..........61-71 percent.
24 hr trend......11 percent down...20 percent down higher
elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Very windy. West winds 40 to 50 mph.
Ridges.............Strong winds. West winds 40 to 50 mph.
* Mixing Height.........3500-5000 ft agl decreasing to 1500-3000 ft
agl late in the evening.
* Transport Winds.......West 55 to 60 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of snow in the
morning, then chance of snow in the afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......37-43...31-37 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......10 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........54-64 percent.
24 hr trend......13 percent up...unchanged higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph.
Ridges.............Windy. Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph.
* Mixing Height.........1500-3000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest around 35 mph.
* CWR...................10 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.FRIDAY...Very windy. Snow with rain likely. Lows in the lower
30s. Highs in the lower 40s. Southwest winds around 35 mph.
.SATURDAY...Windy. Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows in the mid
20s. Highs in the lower 30s. West winds around 25 mph.
.SUNDAY...Windy. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of snow. Lows in
the lower 20s. Highs in the mid 30s. Southwest winds around
25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow and rain. Lows in the
upper 20s. Highs around 40.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain and snow. Lows in
the upper 20s. Highs in the lower 40s.
$$
MTZ117-171115-
Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas-
329 PM MST Tue Dec 16 2025
.TONIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain after
midnight.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......33-41...26-36 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......12 degrees down.
* Max Humidity..........65-75 percent.
24 hr trend......10 percent up...5 percent up higher elevations.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Very windy. Southwest winds 35 to 40 mph.
Ridges.............Strong winds. Southwest winds around 40 mph
increasing to around 50 mph after midnight.
* Mixing Height.........1000 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest around 50 mph increasing to
around 60 mph after midnight.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.WEDNESDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Patchy blowing snow in the
morning. Patchy blowing dust through the day. Blowing snow in the
afternoon. Chance of rain in the morning. Slight chance of snow
through the day.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......42-51...35-45 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......3 degrees down...2 degrees up higher
elevations.
* Min Humidity..........41-51 percent...50-60 percent higher
elevations.
24 hr trend......7 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Strong winds. West winds 50 to 55 mph.
Ridges.............Strong winds. West winds 50 to 55 mph.
* Mixing Height.........1000-2500 ft agl increasing to 5500-7000 ft
agl in the late morning and afternoon, then decreasing to 5000 ft
agl late in the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......West 70 to 75 mph.
* CWR...................30 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
* Sky/Weather...........Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy.
Blowing snow and patchy blowing dust in the evening.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Min Temperature.......18-27.
24 hr trend......13 degrees down.
* Max Humidity..........57-67 percent.
24 hr trend......8 percent down.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Strong winds. West winds 50 to 60 mph.
Ridges.............Strong winds. West winds 50 to 60 mph.
* Mixing Height.........4000-5500 ft agl decreasing to 1500 ft agl.
* Transport Winds.......West 70 to 75 mph.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.THURSDAY...
* Sky/Weather...........Partly sunny. Slight chance of snow in the
afternoon.
* Chance Lightning.......0 percent.
* Max Temperature.......37-47...31-41 higher elevations.
24 hr trend......5 degrees down.
* Min Humidity..........47-57 percent.
24 hr trend......6 percent up.
* Wind (20 FT).
Lower Elevations...Windy. Southwest winds around 30 mph
decreasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon.
Ridges.............Very windy. Southwest winds around 40 mph
decreasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon.
* Mixing Height.........1000-2500 ft agl increasing to 2000-3000 ft
agl in the afternoon.
* Transport Winds.......Southwest around 45 mph decreasing to
around 30 mph in the afternoon.
* CWR...................0 percent.
.FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7......
.FRIDAY...Strong winds. Mostly cloudy with chance of snow and
rain. Lows in the lower 30s. Highs in the lower 40s. Southwest
winds around 45 mph.
.SATURDAY...Windy. Partly cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows in the
lower 20s. Highs in the mid 30s. West winds around 30 mph.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s. Highs in the
upper 30s. Southwest winds 20 to 25 mph.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow and rain. Lows in the mid
20s. Highs in the lower 40s.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain and snow. Lows in
the upper 20s. Highs in the lower 40s.
$$
weather.gov/greatfalls