WARNING FOR HIGH WIND in effect until 3 a.m. Saturday for the West Glacier Region, Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains Region, Butte/Blackfoot Region, Potomac/Seeley Lake Region, Beaverhead, Madison and Gallatin Counties. There will be a south-westerly wind blowing at 30 to 40 km/h, with gusts of up to 65 km/h possible.

WARNING FOR HIGH WIND in effect until 11 p.m. Friday for the Flathead/Mission Valley and Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys. There will be a southwesterly wind blowing at 20 to 30 km/h, with gusts of up to 55 km/h possible.

WIND ADVISORY in effect until 11 p.m. Friday for the Lower Clark Fork Region and Kootenai/Cabinet Region. There will be a south-westerly wind blowing at 15 to 25 km/h, with gusts of up to 50 km/h expected.

RED FLAG WARNING in effect until 10:00 PM Friday evening for the Deerlodge/Beaverhead National Forest. Low humidity and gusty winds make firefighters critical. Southwest to west 20 to 30 km/h with gusts up to 50 km/h. Local wind gusts of more than 60 km/h, especially in high terrain. Minimum humidity: 10 to 15 percent.

Ahead of a cold front, we will see temperatures in the 70s and 80s with partly cloudy skies.

The cold front will arrive in northwestern Montana between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM and move through west-central and southwestern Montana between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM. The highest winds will occur along and just behind the frontal passage. Tree damage and power outages are possible.

Critical fire conditions are expected in southwestern Montana. High wind warnings and red flag warnings are in effect.

A few showers are possible as the front passes. Snow levels will drop to about 5,500 feet.

High pressure will build from Sunday through the middle of next week, bringing mild, dry conditions. Cool overnight stays are also expected.