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High Wind, Fire Warnings Issued This Weekend For North-Central Montana

The National Weather Service
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The National Weather Service
The National Weather services issued this PSA on their website Jan. 29.

It may be winter but fire danger around Montana could spike this weekend when a system with strong winds, dry conditions and possible record highs for parts of Montana blows in on Saturday.

The National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for Friday night through Saturday night for north-central Montana.

Strong, gusty winds, warm temperatures and dry conditions could be the perfect mix for dangerous grassland fires. Gusts up to 90 miles per hour are possible along the Rocky Mountain front.

Elsewhere the area could see southwest winds of 25 to 40 miles per hour, with gusts of 50 to 60 miles per hour. Those high winds increase fire danger in the grassland portion of the plains.

Gusty winds may blow down limbs, trees and power lines that could cause local power outages. Travel may also be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

Kay Erickson has been working in broadcasting in Billings for more than 20 years. She spent well over a decade as news assignment editor at KTVQ-TV before joining the staff at YPR. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, with a degree in broadcast journalism. Shortly after graduation she worked in Great Falls where she was one of the first female sports anchor and reporter in Montana.