BILLINGS — The first round of colder and wetter weather arrives Wednesday with most to come this weekend.
Strong winds in the Livingston/Nye/Big Timber areas will gust 55 to 65 mph Wednesday, with strong winds around Harlowton and breezy near Billings. Temperatures will be mainly in the 50s to low 60s by the afternoon.
A fast moving cold front brings wind, showers, and colder temperatures to the evening.
Rain should quickly change to snow with generally light accumulations. But the Red Lodge foothills, and areas in southern Big Horn County in Montana and Sheridan County, Wyoming could pick up 2 to 4 inches.
Expect 40s for the highs Thursday and Friday, then much colder air and snow for the weekend. The timing and intensity of the weekend system is unclear, but it does look like the coldest system we have seen for a while.
Billings forecast:
Wednesday… Increasing clouds with a high near 60. Southwest wind 15 to 25 switches northwest in the late afternoon or early evening.
Wednesday night… evening rain followed by light snow showers. Periods of wind. Otherwise cloudy to mostly cloudy and about 29 for the low.
Thursday… A morning snow shower is possible. Otherwise, partly sunny with highs around 44.
