Good Morning! Today is Thursday, September 17, 2026. Here is today’s forecast:
As of 4:30am, air quality in Helena is unhealthy for everyone due to smoke from the Bear Gulch prescribed burn southwest of the city along Grizzly Gulch. The 550-acre burn is designed to reduce fuel loading on federal and private lands. Conditions are expected to gradually improve throughout the day, but the air quality will still be “unhealthy for sensitive groups” at times, especially this morning.
Warmer temperatures return today, with highs reaching the 70s. In north-central Montana, it is going to be partly to mostly sunny and mainly dry today. Around Helena, it is going to be partly to mostly cloudy today and there will be some isolated showers and thunderstorms around. It will also be a bit breezy today across the eastern half of north-central Montana, with sustained winds of 10 to 20 mph.
Nice weather is expected again tomorrow in north-central Montana with partly to mostly sunny skies and mostly dry conditions, just a few isolated showers and thunderstorms around during the afternoon and evening, mainly in southern portions of north-central Montana. Around Helena, clouds will increase throughout the day tomorrow with some scattered showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon and evening. It will remain mild tomorrow with highs in the 70s in most locations.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected tomorrow night across central and southern Montana as an upper-level low approaches our area. Showers are likely Saturday, with the steadiest rainfall expected across central Montana, including around Helena and Lewistown, as this upper-level low begins to move through our region. On Sunday, there will continue to be scattered showers in eastern Montana, while drier weather returns to central and western portions of the state as the upper-level low departs our area. Skies will be mostly cloudy Saturday before becoming partly to mostly sunny Sunday.
The heaviest rainfall is expected across southern and eastern Montana, where some locations will likely receive more than an inch of rain. Around Helena, in northeastern Montana, and across southern portions of north-central Montana, rainfall totals of 0.25” to 1+” are expected. Most other areas in north-central Montana will receive less than 0.50”, with the lightest amounts expected in Glacier County and parts of the Golden Triangle.
Saturday will be a cooler day, with highs in the upper 50s, 60s and low 70s. Highs on Sunday will be in the mid to upper 60s and low to mid 70s. Winds will remain light throughout the weekend.
Beautiful early fall weather is expected early next week as an upper-level ridge builds overhead. From Monday through Wednesday, expect mostly sunny skies, mainly dry conditions, and warm temperatures, with highs in the 70s and low 80s.
Have a tremendous Thursday!
Chief Meteorologist Ryan Dennis
