Warning in Effect Now
An Extreme Heat Warning is currently in effect for several counties in Montana, including Central and Southeast Phillips County, Western Roosevelt County, Musselshell County, and Hill County. The warning became active on Wednesday, July 23, 2026, at 2:05 PM MDT and is set to expire on Friday, July 24, 2026, at 6:00 AM MDT. The alert was issued jointly by the National Weather Service offices in Glasgow, MT, Billings, MT, and Great Falls, MT, reflecting the broad geographic scope of this dangerous heat event across north-central and eastern Montana.
Residents in all four affected areas should treat this warning as an active, ongoing threat for the duration of the listed window. An Extreme Heat Warning, as opposed to a Heat Advisory or Heat Watch, represents the highest tier of heat alerting used by the National Weather Service and signals that conditions are expected to pose a significant risk to human health.
What the National Weather Service Is Telling Residents Right Now
The National Weather Service is urging residents in the affected counties to take the following steps immediately: drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. These are the specific protective actions outlined in the official alert and should be prioritized for the full duration of the warning, through the early morning hours of July 24, 2026.
Checking on relatives and neighbors is emphasized for good reason, people who are elderly, very young, or living alone may not recognize the warning signs of heat-related illness or may lack access to adequate cooling. If you are able to reach out to someone in the affected area who may be vulnerable, NWS guidance makes clear that doing so is a meaningful protective action, not a secondary one.
Additionally, the National Weather Service is issuing a specific caution to boaters using Fort Peck Lake: strong winds and rough waves associated with this weather event can overturn small craft, and boaters are advised to use extra caution. This water safety note is part of the official alert and applies for the duration of the warning period. Anyone planning to be on the lake before July 24 at 6:00 AM MDT should weigh conditions carefully before launching.
Putting This Warning in Context
Extreme Heat Warnings in Montana are relatively uncommon compared to states farther south, which can make residents less conditioned to respond with the same urgency they might apply to a winter storm or severe thunderstorm alert. USRiskRadar’s standing guidance on heat events aligns directly with what NWS Glasgow, Billings, and Great Falls are recommending here: access to a cool indoor environment is the single most effective protective measure available, and the window of a warning, in this case, roughly 16 hours, is short enough that making a plan now is entirely practical. Monitor the National Weather Service at weather.gov for any updates, extensions, or changes to this warning before the July 24, 2026, expiration.
For the fundamentals that apply beyond this specific alert, see our Power Outage Preparedness guide.
Source: National Weather Service (NWS Glasgow MT, NWS Billings MT, NWS Great Falls MT), active alert data retrieved 2026-07-23 22:01 UTC via api.weather.gov.
