Montana Temperatures Soar, Staying Warm

As expected, temperatures are soaring to very un-February levels this afternoon, with a number of records likely to be broken.

By early afternoon, Great Falls, Cutback, Shelby, and Loma were all unofficially above 70 degrees, and dozens of other locations were well into the 60s. Hardin was also at 71 and 73 at Crow Agency.

Many Western Montana locations were in the 50s, but some persistent morning fog wasn't going to stop Missoula from breaking its record of 50 degrees for this date, set back in 1995.

     😎 More warm conditions are expected through Saturday, before a cold front pushes temperatures down on Sunday in the Northern Rockies region.

More Montana Headlines

Fire destroys Great Falls home

Great Falls Fire investigators are trying to find the cause of an intense blaze that destroyed a home on 4th Avenue Northwest last night.

The house was engulfed in flames when firefighters rolled up on the scene around 7:30 pm, also burning a camper in the driveway. The effort was also hampered by heavy vegetation around the home. But fortunately, no one was found inside.

Quick collaboration led to UM coach's decision

University of Montana Athletic Director Kent Haslam says the university's leaders were able to reach a quick replacement for Griz Head Coach Bobby Hauck when Hauck informed the school he'd decided to retire Monday evening.

Haslem says he immediately started discussions with the school leadership team, with everyone quickly coming to the conclusion that Wide Receivers Coach Bobby Kennedy was the best person to fill the job.

"The goal had to be to keep the staff together," Haslam told reporters. "They are so great. They've worked so hard to build a team that is good. We needed to keep the team together. We needed this stability. And so as the process to think through that, we felt like that Coach Kennedy would be the best one to take the reins and lead the team."

READ MORE: New Griz Coach Promises to "Recruit Montana"

Hauck, who said he'd just reached the point where he was no longer enjoying the challenge of being a college head coach, enthusiastically supported Kennedy's promotion, expressing confidence that move will continue UM's success in seasons to come.

Bitterroot climbing ban returns

Rock climbers in the Bitterroot are once more being told to stay off popular climbing routes on the west side of the valley to keep from disrupting nesting raptors.

The Forest Service has taken to implementing the climbing closures every February in Mill Creek Canyon northwest of Hamilton. That's an area that includes the popular "Pie for Strength" route and other cliffs on the south side of the canyon. Biologists will monitor to nesting activity and announce when the routes can be reopened.

More Cascade County jail problems

Cascade County commissioners say they're assessing plumbing problems at the county's detention center, the latest in a series of issues that have cropped up in recent years.

The county says aging, cast-iron systems recently failed, creating what is being described as the "need for a large-scale replacement project."

In the past 6-years, the county has already spent over $6-million on other fixes, like a new roof, door replacements, and security system upgrades for the 400-inmate facility.