Environmental

Very unhealthy air is blowing into Montana from Canada, with Dense Smoke Advisories being issued on Wednesday for several counties in northeast Montana.

"Aggressive river rise" due to several inches of rain is in store for counties in eastern Montana, with possible flooding through Friday night. Creeks, streams, and rivers are all at risk and residents should keep a close eye on powerful weather cells.

Your favorite fruit trees are going to die soon in Montana if you see any damage similar to these pictures. A long winter with deep snowbanks made for the perfect "storm" of destruction by a hated rodent - the vole.

Ah, spring in Montana. Heavy, wet snow is expected all day Thursday north of White Sulphur Springs in the Lewis and Clark National Forest. Very gusty winds are expected with the snow, making travel on Highway 89 difficult at times.

Storm Warnings and Weather Advisories are covering southwest Montana through Tuesday morning. Valleys may only see a couple of inches of fresh snow, while higher elevations may get up to 10 inches - making travel difficult at times.

Flooding due to snowmelt is nothing new in the spring, but flooding in very rural areas is extra dangerous. Having less traffic and fewer people around means less help if you find yourself in a jam on a flooded roadway. Even minor flooding can become an emergency if your vehicle becomes stuck or disabled.

The decades old battle in Montana about fireworks on appropriate holidays continues. Some folks look forward to lighting fireworks for months, while others prepare with dread for the noise and disruption it causes. Patriotic? Sure. A real pain for some? Also sure.

The falling snow isn't supposed to last that long and the concern is mainly for higher elevations. But Tuesday night could get very messy with up to 5" of fresh snow and 45 MPH winds showing up for about 12 hours.

Damaging winds are forecasted for several Montana counties east of Glacier National Park with gusts up to 70 MPH. Travel could be impacted especially for taller vehicles, big trucks, and any towing units. Wide open roads may have debris flying across the road at times.

Even if you've heard of this eastern Montana gem, I bet there are dozens of incredible things you may not know about Makoshika State Park. Although it's vastly different than more popular National and State parks, as Montana's largest state park - there are plenty of attractions and WAY FEWER PEOPLE.

The Tobacco Root, Elkhorn, and Boulder Mountains are just a few ranges that could get absolutely pummeled with fresh snow by Thursday night. Other Montana mountains may only see 6" to 12" of fresh snow. This next storm is classic 'snow roulette'.

Tuesday may be dangerously windy for dozens of counties with gusts of 60+ MPH. Some counties have Watches in effect for wind through Wednesday morning. Flood Watches are also a serious issue with warmer temperatures and melting snowpack.