BILLINGS — Hope you're enjoying the warm before the storm in the Billings area Friday, because we are expecting a major weather pattern change moving in overnight.
At 2 p.m. the temperature was 65 degrees with a southwesterly wind at 21 mph. And around the rest of the state, temps are mostly into the 50s, 60s and even a few low 70s like at Havre, Jordan and Sheridan.
The Doppler radar shows generally dry skies across much of Montana, but there is some rain and snow up in Canada. And it's probably going to hitch a ride on the jet stream, which will bring it into Montana and northern Wyoming.
The high-resolution forecast model shows high pressure continues to remain in control for the rest of this afternoon. Mostly sunny skies are expected, and a warm front is sweeping across the state.
However, that warm front is connected to a cold front, which will drop down from Canada overnight and bring rain and snow showers to Billings and south-central Montana early Saturday morning.
We expect light rain and snow off and on throughout the day on Saturday. However, on Sunday, a new area of high pressure moves in and starts clearing out the skies, but temperatures will continue to remain cool.
Snowfall amounts are expected to be about 2 to 4 inches for Billings 4 to 6 inches at Livingston, Cody and Sheridan and then later next week some more snow moves in and we could see 6 to 10 inches of snow at Livingston, Cody and Sheridan.
Our temps will continue to stay into the 60s next hour. But then slowly cool their way back down to the 30s tomorrow morning and back up to 36 degrees by 2 p.m.
Our temps will continue to stay into the 30s through the weekend and early Monday and then drop down to 28 for high on Tuesday, then back to the 40s the middle part of next week.
BILLINGS FORECAST
TONIGHT: Turning cloudy with a 70% chance for rain overnight, possibly mixing with snow after 3 a.m. West winds 10 to 20 mph. Low 34 degrees.
SATURDAY: Decreasing clouds with snow likely in a morning. Then a 70% chance for snow in the afternoon with some accumulations possible. North winds 10 to 20 mph. High 36 degrees.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny, breezy and cool. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph. High 32 degrees.
