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Q2 Weather: Billings to miss most of the next storm entering Montana

Posted at 3:52 PM, Dec 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-18 17:52:50-05

BILLINGS- Unlike Monday, Tuesday has brought a little more blue sky and plenty of sunshine in the Billings area.

In fact, the temperature has already cooked up to 56 degrees in Billings in the early afternoon.

When it comes to wind, we are not alone. It’s another breezy day on the eastern slopes of the divide.

Winds have been gusting from 32 to 44 mph from Cut Bank down to Livingston.

Plus we have a High Wind Warning from Canada down to the Beartooth foothills for winds, possibly gusting as high as 70 mph.

In addition to that, a High Wind Watch is in effect for Billings and the surrounding area.

Beginning Tuesday evening until Wednesday evening, we could see winds gusting 50 to 60 mph.

In addition to that, we have two Winter Weather Advisories: one for the front range of the Rockies and one for the Bitterroots in west-central Montana.

Both contain snowfall amounts up to 18 inches, with high winds and accumulating ice.

The Doppler radar and satellite imagery shows the rain and snow are already moving into west-central and northwestern Montana, as well as light rain in Havre.

The computer model shows that those rain and snow showers are forecast to stay out in the western mountains and not make it into the Billings area.

Downsloping winds could actually be evaporating the storm before gets to Billings.

High pressure eventually moves in from the southwest and clears out the sky on Wednesday and Thursday, allowing mostly sunny skies to prevail for southern Montana.

BILLINGS FORECAST

TONIGHT:

High Wind Watch in effect from late tonight through Wednesday evening. Otherwise, look for mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance for rain overnight. West winds 15 to 25 mph. Low 39 degrees.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny, windy and warm. West winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts to 55 mph. High 50 degrees.

THURSDAY: Mostly sunny and not as warm. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph. High 49 degrees.