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National Weather ServiceMontanaRed Flag WarningArchive to October 16, 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?

17 red flag warnings for Montana in 2025
501001502008: 4820082009: 2620092010: 1920102011: 4920112012: 11220122013: 2220132014: 1120142015: 4720152016: 2220162017: 7920172018: 2520182019: 2020192020: 6920202021: 9720212022: 3620222023: 2020232024: 4120242025: 1720252026: 5120262008-2025 average 422026 through September: 51501001502008: 4820082009: 262010: 1920102011: 492012: 11220122013: 222014: 1120142015: 472016: 2220162017: 792018: 2520182019: 202020: 6920202021: 972022: 3620222023: 202024: 4120242025: 172026: 5120262008-2025 average 422026 through September: 51501001502008: 4820082009: 262010: 1920102011: 492012: 11220122013: 222014: 1120142015: 472016: 2220162017: 792018: 2520182019: 202020: 6920202021: 972022: 3620222023: 202024: 4120242025: 172026: 5120262008-2025 average 422026 through September: 51501001502008: 4820082009: 262010: 192011: 492012: 1122013: 222014: 112015: 4720152016: 222017: 792018: 252019: 202020: 6920202021: 972022: 362023: 202024: 412025: 172026: 5120262008-2025 average 422026 through September: 51

Every red flag warning that covered part of Montana. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.

The numbers
YearCount
2026 (through September)51
202517
202441
202320
202236
202197
202069
201920
201825
201779
201622
201547
201411
201322
2012112
201149
201019
200926
200848

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 2026.

When in the year does Montana get them?

Montana's red flag warnings by month, 2008-2025
100200300Jan: 1JanFeb: 3FebMar: 38MarApr: 57AprMay: 15MayJun: 31JunJul: 143JulAug: 231AugSep: 166SepOct: 61OctNov: 11NovDec: 3Dec231100200300Jan: 1JanFeb: 3FebMar: 38MarApr: 57AprMay: 15MayJun: 31JunJul: 143JulAug: 231AugSep: 166SepOct: 61OctNov: 11NovDec: 3Dec231100200300Jan: 1JanFeb: 3FebMar: 38MarApr: 57AprMay: 15MayJun: 31JunJul: 143JulAug: 231AugSep: 166SepOct: 61OctNov: 11NovDec: 3Dec231100200300Jan: 1JFeb: 3FMar: 38MApr: 57AMay: 15MJun: 31JJul: 143JAug: 231ASep: 166SOct: 61ONov: 11NDec: 3D231

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 16, 2026.

Where in Montana?

County or forecast zoneSince 2008Since 2023Last issued
Dawson/McCone/Prairie/Richland/Wibaux Counties17535September 10, 2026
The Lower Missouri River Breaks including the Charles M Russell National Wildlife Refuge16932August 8, 2026
Southern Petroleum and Southern Garfield Counties16734September 10, 2026
Fort Peck Reservation and Daniels/Roosevelt/Sheridan Counties14526August 1, 2026
The Little Rockies14323August 8, 2026
Eastern Beaverhead National Forest14025September 13, 2026
Northern Valley and Northern Phillips Counties14031August 1, 2026
Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas1339October 9, 2026
Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty1319August 1, 2026
Chouteau and Fergus Counties1256August 1, 2026
Hill and Blaine Counties12310August 1, 2026
Deerlodge/Western Beaverhead National Forest11916August 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 16, 2026.

The latest red flag warnings for Montana in AreaZine's record

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).

Every red flag warning for Montana in AreaZine's record

81 notices in AreaZine's record; the latest first below. Every one, oldest first: April 21, 2026 to October 9, 2026.

  1. Red Flag Warning: Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest, MT Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest expired
  2. Red Flag Warning: North Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM, Cody Foothills, Sweetwater County/Rock Springs BLM/Flaming Gorge NRA and 6 more, MT and WY North Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM, Cody Foothills, Sweetwater County/Rock Springs BLM/Flaming Gorge NRA and 6 more expired
  3. Red Flag Warning: Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest, MT Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest expired
  4. Red Flag Warning: Gallatin National Forest, Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County, Beartooth Ranger District Custer National Forest and 2 more, MT and WY Gallatin National Forest, Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County, Beartooth Ranger District Custer National Forest and 2 more expired
  5. Red Flag Warning: North Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM, Cody Foothills, South Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM and 2 more, MT and WY North Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM, Cody Foothills, South Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM and 2 more expired
  6. Red Flag Warning: North Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM, Cody Foothills, South Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM and 2 more, MT and WY North Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM, Cody Foothills, South Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM and 2 more expired
  7. Red Flag Warning: Gallatin National Forest, Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County, Beartooth Ranger District Custer National Forest and 2 more, MT and WY Gallatin National Forest, Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County, Beartooth Ranger District Custer National Forest and 2 more expired
  8. Red Flag Warning: Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest, MT Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest expired
  9. Red Flag Warning: Gallatin National Forest, Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County, Beartooth Ranger District Custer National Forest and 2 more, MT and WY Gallatin National Forest, Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County, Beartooth Ranger District Custer National Forest and 2 more expired
  10. Red Flag Warning: Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest, MT Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest expired
  11. Red Flag Warning: Gallatin National Forest and Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County, MT Gallatin National Forest and Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County expired
  12. Red Flag Warning: Gallatin National Forest and Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County, MT Gallatin National Forest and Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County expired
  13. Red Flag Warning: Gallatin National Forest and Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County, MT Gallatin National Forest and Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County expired
  14. Red Flag Warning: Eastern Beaverhead National Forest, MT Eastern Beaverhead National Forest expired
  15. Red Flag Warning: Dawson/McCone/Prairie/Richland/Wibaux Counties and Southern Petroleum and Southern Garfield Counties, MT Dawson/McCone/Prairie/Richland/Wibaux Counties and Southern Petroleum and Southern Garfield Counties expired
  16. Red Flag Warning: Sioux Ranger District Custer National Forest, MT and SD Sioux Ranger District Custer National Forest expired
  17. Red Flag Warning: Gallatin National Forest, Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County and Golden Valley County/Musselshell County, MT Gallatin National Forest, Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County and Golden Valley County/Musselshell County expired
  18. Red Flag Warning: Eastern Beaverhead National Forest, MT Eastern Beaverhead National Forest expired
  19. Red Flag Warning: North Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM and South Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM, MT and WY North Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM and South Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM expired
  20. Red Flag Warning: Dawson/McCone/Prairie/Richland/Wibaux Counties, MT Dawson/McCone/Prairie/Richland/Wibaux Counties expired

Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov). A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.

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.

How does Montana compare with its neighbours?

Wyoming gets the most on Montana's border: 61 a year in 2021-2025.

StateA year, 2021-2025A year, 2008-2025Rank of all states
Wyoming61617th
South Dakota503110th
Montana424212th
Idaho403713th
North Dakota181720th

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 2026.

More records for Montana