Red Flag Warning for Bozeman Area Today

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Bozeman area Wednesday. 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.

The warning is in effect until 9 p.m. tonight. The NWS warns that fires can ignite quickly and easily and spread rapidly under these conditions with the increase in lightning
preceded by very warm and dry conditions.

The weather forecast for today in the Bozeman area calls for sunshine early but thunderstorms are expected for this afternoon. These storms are expected to bring with them strong gusty winds and lightning. Some gusts could be as strong as 40 mph. The storms should begin pushing out of the area around 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Official Forecast for Wednesday, August 19, 2020 from the National Weather Service

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR INCREASING THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 114,
116, 117, AND 118...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 114, 116, 117 and 118.

* TIMING...Through 9 PM MDT this evening.

* WINDS...Southwest 5 to 10 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...In the lower 70s.

* LIGHTNING...Widely scattered thunderstorms and isolated dry
thunderstorms continue through this evening.

* IMPACTS...Fires can ignite quickly and easily and spread
rapidly under these conditions with the increase in lightning
preceded by very warm and dry conditions.

* OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusty and erratic outflow winds up to 40 mph
possible