A strong trough works through the Intermountain West producing heavy showers and thunderstorms in western Montana, all but northern Idaho, northern Utah, northeast Nevada and a small part of western Wyoming. Rainfall over one half inch is expected in most of those areas.

Scattered thunderstorms in eastern Montana and eastern Wyoming could become severe very late this afternoon and this evening. Damaging wind gusts, hail and an isolated tornado are possible from the strongest cells.

South and southeast of the rain area the trough will produce strong winds. Sustained winds of 15 to 30 mph are possible in Wyoming, central and western Colorado, eastern Utah, northern Arizona and parts of northwestern New Mexico. Gusts in those areas could exceed 40 mph with a few 50 mph gusts possible in central Wyoming.

The strong winds combined with low humidity levels produces very high fire danger throughout the central and southern Rocky Mountains today.

High temperatures from the Rockies to the West coast excluding the desert areas should only be in the 60s and 70s today. The Desert Southwest should be cooler-than-average, but high temperatures still climb into an 85 to 100 degree range today.

High temperatures east of the Rockies from southeastern Montana south to New Mexico should be in the middle 80s to lower 90s.