BILLINGS – It has been another active day in Billings with heavy rainfall, flooding and several funnel clouds reported by the Logan International Airport, north of the city.
In addition, because of the rain, the temperatures in the early afternoon continue to hover around the low 60s.
So far in Billings, we’ve measured 1.08 inches of rainfall out of the storm since midnight last night, and the rain is still falling, although lightly.
Our thunderstorm outlook for the rest of Wednesday shows isolated showers out in the west and a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms in the northeast corner of the state.
Plus there is a slight risk of severe storms in the southeast corner of the state.
The Doppler radar shows an upper level low pressure cell spinning right around Yellowstone National Park.
It has been sending wave after wave of moisture into south-central Montana and now all the way up toward Glasgow and Lewistown.
Because of the additional moisture we have a flood warning for Sweet Grass, Stillwater and Carbon counties of south-central Montana for small streams in low-lying areas.
Everyone else in south-central Montana is in a flood watch including the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River at Edgar and the Musselshell River at Shawmut and Lavina.
Our high resolution forecast shows all the showers and thunderstorms around the low pressure cell will eventually spin its way out of south-central Montana in into the Northeast corner of the state.
After that, most of the rain will start to fade away from Billings and the heavier showers and thunderstorms will be expected in the Northeast corner of Montana.
BILLINGS FORECAST
Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance for some more light showers and thunderstorms this evening. West winds 5 to 15 mph. Low 53 degrees.
Thursday: Mostly sunny with a 20 percent chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms. West winds 10 to 20 mph. High 81 degrees.
Friday: Mostly sunny and much warmer. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph. High 86 degrees.
