MISSOULA — Over all its shaping up to be a very nice 4th of July Weekend.
The warmest day of the weekend will come Friday as highs warm into the upper 70's to middle 80's. For the most part conditions will stay dry with the exception being far southwest Montana from Darby and Sula, east to the Divide. These locations could see an afternoon or evening thunderstorm develop.
A weak disturbance does look to move into southwest Montana for the 4th of July. Expect sunny skies during the morning with scattered thunderstorms developing over west-central but especially southwest Montana by the afternoon and evening. Some storms could be strong with gusty winds, heavy rain and small hail possible. Northwest Montana on the other hand will stay dry with sunny skies and highs in the middle to upper 70's.
A pattern of southwest flow lingers over the northern Rockies Sunday and continues well into next week. This pattern will keep sunny skies, nice temperatures in the 70's to low 80's and isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms for southwest Montana in the forecast through at least next Wednesday.
