What a week for Billings. It started cool and smoky. Then it became clear and cool, followed by clear and hot. For the weekend, it’s slated to be hot and smoky.
The National Weather Service announced Friday that nearly all of Montana south of the Hi-Line would be under a red flag warning through Saturday night, with hot and dry conditions leaving the entire region vulnerable to wildfires. Meanwhile, wildfires burning in the Pacific Northwest will continue to produce plumes of smoke drifting into Montana.
The sun sets as wildfire smoke continues to impact the region on Aug. 6, 2026.
LARRY MAYER Billings Gazette
As of Friday morning, according to the state’s Department of Environmental Quality, the air quality across most of the state ranged from moderate amounts of particulate matter in the air to unhealthy amounts. The smoke was thickest in the northwestern corner of the state.
For Billings, the week started off much cooler than what the city’s residents have been experiencing this summer. Highs went from the upper 90s and triple digits to the 70s. Going into this weekend, warmer highs are expected to return. On Saturday, the current forecast from NWS shows highs ranging from 95 to 100 degrees for most of south-central Montana. Highs for the area have the possibility of dipping into the lower 90s on Monday.
Over the next several days, according to DEQ, wildfire smoke will continue to drift across the state, varyingly impacting the air quality. Valleys throughout Montana, particularly in the western part of the state, can trap smoke overnight.
Although there is currently a slight chance for precipitation over Billings, most of Yellowstone County is currently experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions. So far this year, Billings has received 6.9 inches of precipitation, down nearly three inches from normal.
Last month was the fourth-hottest July since the NWS began tracking climate data in Billings in 1934. July is typically the hottest month of the year for Billings. On July 11, Billings surpassed 100 degrees for the first time this summer, reaching 104 degrees and breaking the daily climate record. The next day, amid a massive swath of the state cooking under a heat dome, the record for Billings’ all-time high was broken when the NWS recorded a high of 111 degrees.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.