Happy Friday, everyone! Peering into my great crystal ball (the National Weather Service in Missoula’s online forecast), it appears it’s going to be a hot weekend in the Flathead. Well, a hot Saturday at least.

A heat advisory will be in effect for a broad portion of western Montana and north-central Idaho on Saturday from noon to 9 p.m., with the potential for record heat for this time of year. The weather service is expecting a high of 90 in Kalispell, a high of 87 in Whitefish, a high of 89 in Columbia Falls, a high of 90 in Lakeside, a high of 86 in Bigfork, and a high of 90 in Polson.

Temperatures are expected to be roughly 15 to 20 degrees above normal.

In its heat advisory, the weather service notes that “this level of heat affects most individuals sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration.”

Recommended preparedness and precautionary actions per the weather service include drinking plenty of fluids, staying in an air-conditioned room, staying out of the sun, and checking up on relatives and neighbors.

The weather service is attributing this bout of seasonally intense heat to a high pressure over the area. The expectation is that a cold front moving in Saturday night into Sunday will bring cooler temperatures and breezy conditions, with Sunday’s high temperatures dipping down to the low 70s. Looking ahead, the first half of next week should bring cooler temperatures with conditions capable of producing daily rain showers and isolated thunderstorms.

If you’re looking to beat the heat by taking advantage of recreating in some local waterways, the weather service advises that people be aware that those water sources are still cold and that rivers and streams are running fast with mountain snowmelt runoff.

Now that we’ve gotten you primed for the weekend weather, let’s get into some cool news. I’m Mike Kordenbrock bringing you the Daily Roundup …

With all this talk of the impending heat, it’s got me thinking about one of the Flathead’s most remote watering holes, the Northern Lights Saloon (pictured below) in Polebridge. Far from city limits, you’re usually able to shave off at least a few degrees of heat in the North Fork during times like these, and of course the cold drinks at the saloon can help cool one down even further.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the saloon (first built in 1916), which serves as a bar, restaurant and music venue, is now under new ownership, with last summer’s general managers Austin Wallis and Kattie Griffis having closed on the purchase of the establishment from former owner Heather Matthews at the end of April.

The menu is expected to stay the same, and diners can also expect weekly Thursday night barbecue offerings, including brisket, ribs and pulled pork. The cocktail menu will emphasize local distilleries, like Spotted Bear Spirits in Whitefish and Glacier Distillery in Coram.

The new owners already have a slate of summer music planned, including Billy Billie on June 19, 20 Grand on Aug. 15 and The Gray Goo on Aug. 23. Other summer events include an Aug. 16 “Haute Trash Fashion Show,” which is envisioned as a runway-style fashion show where models will show off designs made from upcycled and recycled materials, and a monthly North Fork Flea Market to take place the last Sunday of the month starting at 10 a.m.. The flea market will feature local vendors selling wares including art, crafts, ceramics, vintage clothes and jewelry.

You can get more information and take a peek at the full summer music lineup by checking out https://www.thenorthernlightssaloon.com/.