Elevated fire conditions turning to rain by weekend

After days of dry, hot weather, the weather for the weekend may be drowning some outdoor plans.

National Weather Service had elevated fire conditions warning out for north-central Montana Monday and today, centered from Havre to Harlem Monday and from Cut Bank to Havre today, due to winds, high temperatures and low humidity.

People are advised to use extreme caution to avoid causing sparks in the regions, as finer fuels such as grasses have dried up and could catch fire easily today, the warning said.

The warning for Monday warned of the conditions including gusty winds that day making fires difficult to contain.

But Weather Service says a strong cold front is pushing across the region Thursday, bringing a chance for strong to severe thunderstorm and the chance of heavy rainfall through the weekend and a chance of snow in higher elevations Friday and Saturday.

Another weaker disturbance may bring additional showers Sunday as the primary storm moves away from the region, Weather Service reports.

Highs are expected to be around 80 again today through Thursday, with a chance of rains and thunderstorms by Thursday afternoon.

Showers are likely along with the possibility of thunderstorms Thursday night, with a chance of rain after midnight and a prediction that some storms could be severe.

Temperatures will drop by the weekend, with the high Friday predicted at 69 and the high Saturday 49. Temperatures are expected to be in the 60s Sunday and Monday.

Friday has a 20 percent chance of rain, with rain likely Friday night and Saturday and a chance of rain Sunday.