MONTANA - An early morning cold front will bring gusty northerly winds (30 to 60 mph) to the state today, with the highest gusts near the Dakotas.

Another surge of Canadian wildfire smoke is expected to reduce visibility and air quality across the state, with smoke improving across central and eastern Montana this afternoon/evening.

Western Montana will continue to see areas of dense smoke through Friday.

This same passing cold front will lead to cooler temperatures across the state through tomorrow, with frost possible in eastern plains Friday night.

Warmer temperatures expected to return for the weekend.

Thunderstorms a likely to increase starting Saturday afternoon, from the south to the north, with lightning, brief heavy rain, and gusty outflows winds being the main concerns.