BILLINGS- Mostly cloudy but dry skies are what you’re seeing in Billings Wednesday. However, at least the temperature is starting to warm up little bit. It’s already 55 degrees at 2 p.m. in Billings.
Elsewhere around the state, temperatures are mostly in the 50s and 60s across eastern Montana. However, we are in the 40s in the southwest corner of Montana.
While it’s true the Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for the mountains, Red Lodge Mountain reported 20 inches of new snow.
The flood watch though has been drawn back little bit to the south and east of Billings. That watch remains in effect for small streams and rivers in southeastern Montana.
The watches have been drawn back because the stream of rainfall is doing the same thing.
It now seems to be undercutting Yellowstone County and heading right for Big Horn County.
There is still a little bit of an upslope flow for the Beartooths and Bighorn Mountains but right now most of the moisture seems to be just missing the city of Billings.
According to our high-resolution forecast model, we might see a couple streams of moisture move straight through Yellowstone County on the way to the mountains about 6 p.m. Wednesday.
After that, things seem to be drying out across much of southern Montana on Thursday morning, but a fresh batch of rain starts moving in about 4:30 p.m.
After that, another batch of moisture streams in from Wyoming and brings another chance for rain showers on Friday afternoon.
Additional rainfall for Billings through the weekend is expected to be only a third of an inch.
Bozeman could pick up another inch of rain and so could Sheridan, while Miles City will see about three-quarters of an inch of rain.
With a little less moisture around, we are expecting to see the temperatures eventually start climbing into the 60s this weekend and stick around into the middle part of next week.
BILLINGS FORECAST
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with a 60% chance for rain showers this evening and again overnight. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Low 40 degrees.
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy with a 50% chance for rain in the morning and then again in the afternoon. East winds 5 to 15 mph. High 53 degrees.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy with a 40% chance for rain the morning and again in the afternoon. West winds 5 to 15 mph. High 60 degrees.
