Strong cold front brings damaging winds, increased fire risk

High Wind Warning is in effect from 1:00 p.m. Friday to 3:00 a.m. Saturday for the West Glacier Region, Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains, Butte/Blackfoot Region, Potomac/Seeley Lake Region, Beaverhead, Madison and Gallatin Counties. Southwest winds 30 to 40 mph, gusts up to 60 mph possible.

High Wind Warning is in effect from 1:00 p.m. Friday to 2:00 a.m. Saturday for the Flathead/Mission Valley and Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys. Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph, gusts up to 55 mph possible.

The Red Flag Warning is in effect from 1:00 p.m. Friday through 10:00 p.m. Friday night for the Deerlodge/Beaverhead National Forest. Low humidity and gusty winds lead to critical fire weather. Southwest to west 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Local gusts over 60 mph. Minimum humidity: 10 to 15 percent.

WIND ADVISORY is in effect from 1:00 p.m. Friday to 2:00 a.m. Saturday for the Lower Clark Fork region and the Kootenai/Cabinet region. Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph are expected.

Partly to mostly sunny skies today with highs in the 70s and 80s. South-southwesterly winds will strengthen by early afternoon. A cold front will arrive in northwest Montana between 3 and 5 p.m. and move through west-central and southwest Montana between 5 and 8 p.m. The strongest winds occur along and directly behind the frontal passage. Tree damage and power outages are possible. A few showers are possible as the front moves through. Snow levels will drop to about 5,500 feet.

High pressure will build from Sunday through the middle of next week, leading to mild, dry conditions.