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Q2 Weather: At least part of the holiday weekend will be dry in Billings area

Posted at 3:54 PM, May 24, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-24 17:59:53-04

BILLINGS- At least part of the sun has come out in the Billings area on Friday, after measuring around a quarter inch of rainfall this morning.

At 2 p.m., the temperatures had already moved up into the upper 50s and was threatening to rise as the day went on.

Around the rest of the state, the temps are mostly up in the 50s but a few places got into the 60s Friday afternoon.

The main weather maker is this low-pressure cell in North Dakota. The wraparound moisture is what caused the rain in Billings overnight last night and this morning.

However, this afternoon that low is starting to move away, and it is taking all the moisture and rainfall with it.

So this means Billings is in between weather disturbances. The next one is starting to move into Idaho and is already slinging a lot of moisture to western Montana.

The high-resolution forecast model shows that low continues to drop a little farther south, sending more rain showers across most of western Montana Friday afternoon.

This means that most of eastern Montana, including Billings, should be rain-free throughout most of Saturday morning and afternoon.

Another low drops down from Canada and continues to send a little more moisture in toward western Montana on Sunday but most of eastern Montana should remain dry.

As the two low pressure cells out west track eastward, they continue to sling more moisture and rainfall into south-central Montana on Memorial Day.

It looks like Billings will probably pick up about a half-inch of new rainfall over the long holiday weekend.

Places like Bozeman will get almost 2 inches, Livingston and little over an inch and Miles City about an inch of rain.

As a result, temperatures will be in the 60s on Saturday and Sunday, but drop down into the mid-50s on Monday and then slowly work their way up to the 70s by Thursday of next week.

BILLINGS FORECAST

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy and dry. South winds 5 to 15 mph. Low 43 degrees.

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny with a 20% chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

SUNDAY: Partly cloudy in the morning with a slight chance of rain, then a 60% chance for thunderstorms late in the afternoon. North winds 5 to 15 mph. High 67 degrees.