Heat wave hits this week

After a rainy and cool June, the weather to open July promises to be hotter than a firecracker.

The first true heat wave of the year is descending on Northwest Montana, with scorching temperatures predicted this week.

Today’s high is forecast to reach 85 degrees in the Flathead Valley and the mercury should climb to 93 degrees on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The heat will be widespread: Forecast highs for Wednesday include 86 degrees at Polebridge, 92 at West Glacier and 91 at Bigfork and Whitefish. 

Over in Libby, the thermometer is predicted to hit 97 on Wednesday and 91 on Thursday.

In the Kalispell area, Thursday’s high should reach 89 degrees and the Fourth of July should top out at 87 degrees.

Hot weather may continue through the entire Independence Day weekend with highs in the 80s forecast Saturday and Sunday.

The heat wave comes on the heels of a soggy June during which 5.24 inches of precipitation was recorded at Glacier Park International Airport.

That would rank this past month as the fourth-wettest June on record, behind 2012 (6.2 inches), 2005 (5.66 inches) and 1995 (5.3 inches).

The June 2014 rain total was bolstered by downpours June 17-19 when over 3 inches of rain fell in the valley. 

During that period, Glacier National Park received 4 to 8 inches of rain and up to 36 inches of snow on the Continental Divide.

So far this year, the Flathead Valley has received 12.49 inches of precipitation — 3.39 inches more than normal.