Warm weather moving in...possible increased fire danger?

We are looking to have some nice warm temperatures move in, over the coming days. High pressure will move across our area today and tomorrow with many of us running 10-15 degrees warmer than seasonal levels tomorrow afternoon. Though we will unseasonably warm, we will not be anywhere near record highs for the date. To show you comparison, here are some forecast highs tomorrow (Friday) and the corresponding record highs and years.

City Forecast Record Record
High High Year

Bozeman 94 103 2007

Butte 87 98 1936

Helena 93 100 2007

Dillon 88 94 2005

Livingston 95 101 2007

Anaconda 85 95 2004

Ennis 92 97 2007

So warm yes, but not record warm for our area, as many of us have records reaching into the 100's for Friday. A slight cool down is expected during the weekend into early next week, but sunshine will still be dominant and dry weather will also prevail.

These warm and dry conditions could increase our fire danger, as we are already in the 2010 wildfire season across the inter-mountain west. One fire burning north of Helena has grown to more than 300 acres, and was only 10 percent contained as of last night.

Further to the south, there is a much larger fire burning near the Idaho Nuclear Lab facility in the central part of the state. The latest numbers from late last night was that the fire has burned 109,000 acres, roughly 170 square miles. That's equal to about 7-9% of either Gallatin or Silver Bow Counties, so a fairly large area.

With southwesterly winds, and this fire to our southwest, we may get some smoke from this fire to drift into our area by as early as this weekend into early next week. The latest numbers on containment was that the fire was 60% contained.