BILLINGS- It is another severe clear Wednesday afternoon in Billings. Not only are the skies sunny, but the temperature is also way above average for this time of year in the early afternoon.
In Billings, the temp had already climbed into the upper 50s in the early afternoon. The average high temperature in Billings for this day, Nov. 21, is 42 degrees.
Elsewhere around the state, we see temps into the 50s right in the central part of the Montana.
Out west, temperatures are only to the 20s and 30s. Back east, it’s mostly into the 40s.
The huridgedge of high pressure that’s been sitting over our region for the last few days is finally starting to shift to the east. The axis, or middle, of this ridge has set up right over Billings.
This is allowing the first of two waves of moisture to start moving onshore and eventually start heading toward Montana and the northern Rocky Mountains.
This first wave will cause rain from Southern California all the way up in towards British Columbia by 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Montana will just see cloudy skies in the western part of the state Wednesday night.
By Thanksgiving morning, cloudy skies will continue to move across the state, but the moisture will continue to stay just to the west mainly in Idaho, Nevada and on out to the Pacific Ocean.
On Thanksgiving evening, Billings could see rain showers at 7 p.m. That fades away and a new batch of moisture moves in by 6 a.m. Friday, producing rain and snow for Billings.
That moisture will move on and give us a chance to get the holiday parade in at 7 p.m. without rain or snow.
However, by 6 a.m. Saturday, a fresh batch of snow starts moving into south-central Montana including Billings, that moves on by 7 p.m. then one more batch of snow moves into Billings by 5 p.m. Sunday. Billings could see about an inch of snow.
Our high temp on Thanksgiving Day, will actually top out at 51 degrees. The temps roll back to 36 degrees on Saturday and eventually work their way back up to 44 degrees by Tuesday afternoon.
BILLINGS FORECAST
TONIGHT: Mostly clear and cool. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Low 33 degrees.
THANKSGIVING: Partly sunny and still warm. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph. High 51 degrees.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny with a 20 percent chance for rain in the afternoon and a 60% chance for rain and snow mixed that evening. Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph. High 49 degrees.
