“Death Valley” Heat Not Enough to Set New Montana Record

Montana may have been nearly as hot as Death Valley on Sunday. But we fell short of setting a new all-time heat record for the Treasure State.

Both Miles City and Glendive hit 115 degrees on Sunday, only 2 degrees "cooler" than the legendary desert valley.

And it turns out that an 118-degree reading in Forsyth isn't going to count.

Meteorologist Erik Johnson reported National Weather Service forecasters checked the reading yesterday, but found it came from a station that's "known to run warm" in recent years, so it won't count for the official record.

That means the 117 degrees set in Glendive in 1893, and matched in 1937 in Medicine Lake, will stay our all-time heat mark. Although Billings, Miles City, and other places did match their own records.

Fire worries grow

Fire danger remains a concern today, with gusty winds, low humidities, and some thunderstorms in the forecast.

Montana DNRC reported 9 new fires yesterday, some human-caused while the others were "undetermined."

     🔥 The Shadow Ridge fire in the far southeastern corner of the state, outside Biddle, had scorched 53 acres.

Dennis Bragg

Fire danger is now high in the Bitterroot

The Bitterroot National Forest is the latest jurisdiction to raise the fire danger level to "High" due to recent hot, dry weather and gusty winds.

Temperatures in the Bitterroot Valley have soared between 85 and 100 degrees, creating conditions where fires can start easily and spread rapidly. Forest officials warn that human-caused wildfires are a major concern.

To help prevent blazes, the Forest Service reminds the public to avoid driving or parking on dry grass, as hot exhaust can easily ignite vegetation. If you are camping, make sure your fire is "dead out"—cool to the touch—before leaving. Fireworks and pyrotechnics remain strictly prohibited on all public lands.

Ellsworth trial begins

The criminal trial for Republican State Senator Jason Ellsworth begins tomorrow in Lewis and Clark County District Court. Ellsworth faces a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct following accusations that he attempted to improperly direct a state contract worth over $170,000 to a longtime friend and former business partner. While the deal was ultimately abandoned, state auditors labeled the arrangement an illegal "waste of state resources." As reported by the Montana Free Press, Ellsworth has pleaded not guilty and maintains he is being targeted by political adversaries. If convicted, he faces up to six months in jail and a $500 fine and could be required to permanently forfeit his public office.