BILLINGS- Partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures are the perfect recipe for making big thunderstorms Tuesday around south-central Montana. The early afternoon temperature in Billings is 80 degrees, with the south wind about 10 mph.
Elsewhere around the state, current temps are mostly into the 60s and 70s, but mostly in the 70s. Billings is the hotspot in the low 80s right now.
Our thunderstorm outlook for Tuesday does show a marginal risk of severe storms in north-central Montana, down through Billings, into the southeast corner of the state. On either side of that, look for isolated thundershowers Tuesday.
And strangely enough, that’s where all the moisture is falling Tuesday around the same area where we have a marginal risk of severe storms.
Some of the heavier storms so far seem to be right along the Hi-Line just north of Great Falls to Havre. Only scattered showers and thunderstorms are moving toward Billings right now.
The high-resolution forecast model shows that we might see scattered showers in the afternoon, but the big stuff might start moving in about 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday morning, look for mostly dry conditions, then a fresh batch of heavy thunderstorms, possibly severe, could move in by 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Thursday morning looks to be dry as well, but by Thursday afternoon a fresh supply of moisture will start streaming in from the southwest and give Billings another chance of rain Thursday evening.
We could possibly get into the low 80s this afternoon and then roll back to the mid-50s for overnight lows, then bounce back up to 80 degrees for the high on Wednesday.
BILLINGS FORECAST
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with a 60% chance for early evening showers and thunderstorms. Then clearing skies overnight. West winds 5 to 15 miles per. Low 55 degrees.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny in the morning, then partly sunny in the afternoon with a 40% chance for showers and thunderstorms, some may be severe in the afternoon. West winds 5 to 15 mph. High 80 degrees.
THURSDAY: Partly sunny and cooler with a 20% chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. West winds 5 to 15 mph. High 69 degrees.
