BILLINGS — It is Friday afternoon in the Big Sky, and it looks like our weather pattern has finally changed in the Billings area. The cloudy skies rolling into the area were the first clue, and the cooler temperatures confirmed it.
Right now in the early afternoon, it's only 73 degrees in the Billings area. Just a few days ago, we were in the 90s.
Around the rest of the state, our current temps are mostly into the 60s out in the west and 70s and a few 80s back in east. It was 80 degrees at Jordan and 88 degrees at Miles City in the early afternoon.
Our thunderstorm outlook for Friday does show isolated showers and thunderstorms expected north of Billings and all the way to the state line.
There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms from northern Wyoming through much of south-central Montana, including Billings Friday.
The Doppler radar and satellite imagery shows we do have a southwesterly flow of air. The jet streams caught up in that flow are several minor little weather disturbances that are expected to track across Billings tonight.
The high resolution forecast model shows scattered light rain showers across much of south-central Montana with the bigger storms hanging around the Beartooth Mountains and foothills.
Expect to see some light rain showers off and on throughout the afternoon and into the evening. After that, look for dry skies in the morning in Billings as the whole major wave continues to pull away.
By Sunday, a second large wave of moisture starts moving in, and it tracks into the Billings area later Sunday night.
Our temperatures will get into the low 80s Friday then roll back down to the 60s Friday night and back to the 70s on Saturday.
Once we hit those 70s for highs on Saturday, we will keep them all the way through next Thursday.
BILLINGS FORECAST
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with an 80% chance for showers and thunderstorms this evening and again overnight. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Low 57 degrees.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny with a 40% chance for showers and thunderstorms in the morning then a chance for more rain in the afternoon. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph high 75 degrees.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with a 40% chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. East winds 5 to 15 mph. High 74 degrees.
