Precipitation forecast and wildfire updates

Northwest Montana was expected to receive its first wetting rain in more than three weeks with the arrival of a cold front on Tuesday, July 30.

Rainfall amounts of up to half and inch were possible for valley locations during the day. The weather station at Glacier Park International Airport had not recorded measurable precipitation since July 6. 

Daytime highs for the Flathead Valley were set to reach the low 70s on Tuesday, then back to sunny weather in the 80s by Wednesday and carrying throughout the week. The cool down abruptly ends by the weekend as a high pressure rebuilds over the West. Temperatures will flirt with triple digits in the lower valleys of Lincoln County, while Kalispell will climb into the upper 90s. 

A lightning-caused fire in southern Glacier National Park showed no growth over the weekend. 

The Muir Creek Fire was sized at 30 acres on Monday. It is burning near Mount St. Nicholas and Coal Creek north of U.S. 2. 

Fire crews were monitoring the blaze from the ground, while packers brought structure protection gear to nearby Park Service patrol cabins and the Scalplock fire lookout in case the blaze takes off. 

Seven firefighters from Saguaro National Park in Arizona were ready to assist with the incident. 

A handful of small fires remained active on the Flathead Reservation. 

The Haymaker Fire south of Polson on the Mission Mountains was sized at 18 acres with 10% containment. 

The Mill Pocket Fire west of Elmo was 153 acres with 10% containment, and the Sullivan Fire northeast of Hot Springs was 105 acres with 40% containment.  

No structures were threatened on any of the fires. 

Fire danger on the reservation remained at extreme. 

Last week the Wilkes Creek Fire cropped up about 8 miles southwest of Thompson Falls. Crews responded quickly and were able to full contain the fire at less than 1 acre. Helicopter rappelers from the Kootenai Forest were able to assist on the incident. 

Firefighters on the Miller Peak Fire south of Missoula were able to expand containment to 65% as of Monday. It was sized at 2,724 acres and more than 500 firefighters remained assigned to the incident. It was the largest active fire in the state.