MONTANA: Heat Advisories/Red Flag Warnings Everywhere on Wednesday

Literally every single county in Montana is under a Heat Advisory, a Red Flag Fire Weather Warning, or both on Wednesday. It's hot, dry and dangerous. Wildfires are already burning.

Pick a county. Any county. You're going to find scary fire conditions through at least Wednesday evening. Poor air quality is already an issue across the state from wildfire smoke from Oregon, Idaho, and here in Montana.

CHECK REAL TIME AIR QUALITY INDEX NUMBERS HERE

VERY hot temperatures and extremely gusty winds are a terrible combo right now. Wind gusts could reach 60 MPH in some locations.

According to the National Weather Service:

• RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON WEDNESDAY TO MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
• FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, AND 118 (see the fire zone map below)

WHERE...Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty, Hill and Blaine Counties, Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-Rocky Mountain Front, Chouteau and Fergus Counties, Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest, Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest.

• TEMPERATURES...In the mid-90s to lower 100s.
• WINDS...West 25 to 40 mph, with gusts near 60 mph.
• RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 7 percent.

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THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated dry thunderstorms with gusty and erratic winds possible late Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Extreme fire weather conditions are looking likely on Wednesday. Any existing fires or new fires will likely be extremely difficult or impossible to contain.

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.

• HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM WEDNESDAY
• WHAT...High temperatures ranging from 95 to 105 degrees.
• WHERE...Portions of central, north central, southwest, and west central Montana.
• WHEN...From Noon to 8 PM Wednesday.
• IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses.