Red Flag Warning for Kootenai and West Lolo: Lightning and Gusty Winds Could Rapidly Spread Wildfires
The National Weather Service warns that lightning strikes and gusty outflow winds may start new fires and cause rapid spread of existing ones in Kootenai and West Lolo.
2 reports on this incident · first at Aug 22, 2026, 11:11 a.m. ET
Hazard products are revised and cancelled as conditions change. Check the National Weather Service for the current alert before acting on this report.
We last searched for new coverage of this at Aug 22, 2026, 11:39 a.m. ET — checked 1h ago.
Earlier reports
Aug 22, 2026, 11:11 a.m. ETFirst report
Red Flag Warning Issued for Kootenai and West Lolo Zones
The National Weather Service in Missoula, Montana, has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Kootenai and West Lolo zones, effective from 5:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on August 22, 2026, through 6:00 a.m. on August 23, 2026. The warning was issued at 9:08 a.m. on August 22.
The warning states that lightning strikes will have the potential to start new fires, and gusty outflow winds could cause rapid spread of new and existing wildfires. The National Weather Service advises that a Red Flag Warning is issued when weather conditions promote rapid spread of fire which may become life-threatening, and that this does not mean there is a fire.
Residents are urged to advise appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of the warning, and to make and maintain a go kit, with guidance available at ready.gov/kit. The warning covers two zones.
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Revision history
- Version 122 Aug 2026, 15:22current
First published.
- Version 122 Aug 2026, 15:11current
First published.
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