National Weather ServiceMontanaRed Flag WarningArchive to October 1, 2026
Red Flag Warnings in Montana
The National Weather Service issued 17 red flag warnings for Montana in 2025 and 42 a year on average in 2008-2025; in 2021-2025 it had the 12th most of any state. 2026 through September: 48, 26% above the average of 38 for those months in 2008-2025. Dawson/McCone/Prairie/Richland/Wibaux Counties was covered most often (175 times since 2008).
How many red flag warnings does Montana get?
Every red flag warning that covered part of Montana. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 48 |
| 2025 | 17 |
| 2024 | 41 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2022 | 36 |
| 2021 | 97 |
| 2020 | 69 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2017 | 79 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2015 | 47 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2013 | 22 |
| 2012 | 112 |
| 2011 | 49 |
| 2010 | 19 |
| 2009 | 26 |
| 2008 | 48 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
When in the year does Montana get them?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
Where in Montana?
| County or forecast zone | Since 2008 | Since 2023 | Last issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson/McCone/Prairie/Richland/Wibaux Counties | 175 | 35 | September 10, 2026 |
| The Lower Missouri River Breaks including the Charles M Russell National Wildlife Refuge | 169 | 32 | August 8, 2026 |
| Southern Petroleum and Southern Garfield Counties | 167 | 34 | September 10, 2026 |
| Fort Peck Reservation and Daniels/Roosevelt/Sheridan Counties | 145 | 26 | August 1, 2026 |
| The Little Rockies | 143 | 23 | August 8, 2026 |
| Eastern Beaverhead National Forest | 140 | 25 | September 13, 2026 |
| Northern Valley and Northern Phillips Counties | 140 | 31 | August 1, 2026 |
| Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas | 132 | 8 | August 7, 2026 |
| Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty | 131 | 9 | August 1, 2026 |
| Chouteau and Fergus Counties | 125 | 6 | August 1, 2026 |
| Hill and Blaine Counties | 123 | 10 | August 1, 2026 |
| Deerlodge/Western Beaverhead National Forest | 119 | 16 | August 23, 2026 |
The NWS issues these products for counties or forecast zones; a zone can be part of a county or a mountain range.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
The latest red flag warnings for Montana in AreaZine's record
NWS MissoulaWarningSeptember 12, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Eastern Beaverhead National Forest, MT
Expired 9:00 p.m. MDT, September 13, 2026
NWS GlasgowWarningSeptember 9, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Dawson/McCone/Prairie/Richland/Wibaux Counties and Southern Petroleum and Southern Garfield Counties, MT
Expired 8:00 p.m. MDT, September 10, 2026
NWS BillingsWarningSeptember 9, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Sioux Ranger District Custer National Forest, MT and SD
Expired 8:00 p.m. MDT, September 10, 2026
NWS MissoulaWarningSeptember 9, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Eastern Beaverhead National Forest, MT
Expired 9:00 p.m. MDT, September 10, 2026
NWS RivertonWarningSeptember 7, 2026
Red Flag Warning: North Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM and South Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM, MT and WY
Expired 7:00 p.m. MDT, September 7, 2026
NWS GlasgowWarningSeptember 4, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Dawson/McCone/Prairie/Richland/Wibaux Counties, MT
Expired 9:00 p.m. MDT, September 4, 2026
NWS BillingsWarningSeptember 3, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation/Ashland Ranger District Custer Natl Forest, Custer County, Sioux Ranger District Custer National Forest and 1 more, MT and SD
Expired 9:00 p.m. MDT, September 4, 2026
NWS RivertonWarningSeptember 3, 2026
Red Flag Warning: North Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM, Cody Foothills, Natrona County/Casper BLM and 7 more, MT and WY
Expired 9:00 p.m. MDT, September 4, 2026
This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.
Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).
What is a red flag warning?
A red flag warning means critical fire weather is happening or about to happen: strong wind, very low humidity and dry fuels together, so a fire that starts can spread fast. Each office sets the criteria with its land-management partners. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property. The national record · Every warning type in Montana.