Hot weather returns

Another hot day ends at Gates of the Mountains- USFS photo(MISSOULA)- After a few days of cooler weather, temperatures soared back into the mid and upper 90s for a second day across Western Montana. 

The National Weather Service says Thompson Falls and Drummond had both hit highs of 97-degrees by early Saturday evening. But several other unofficial readings in the west half of the state were already close to the mark, and might even eclipse it. Both St. Regis and Plains weather stations were showing readings of 100 at sunset, and Stevensville also was showing a 100-degree mark as the day came to a close. Three Forks also may have hit the century mark. 

Temperatures were generally in the 80s, and low 90s, with a few upper 70s east of the Divide.

Forecasters say a hot, dry ridge of high pressure remains over the Northern Rockies, although a disturbance over Eastern Oregon might spin off some unstable area, leading to isolated, and likely dry thunderstorms over the Southern Bitterroot and the Lemhi Valley. There's also a chance of isolated t-storms over the Idaho panhandle could slip into NW Montana early Sunday morning. 

Temperatures are expected to remain in the upper 80s and low 90s for the next couple of days.