BILLINGS — After another day of record-setting warmth across eastern Montana and northern Wyoming, we shifted into a cooler and wetter pattern. This will mean rain for some of the area and snow into the mountains.
Record daily high temperatures were broken Wednesday in Baker, Livingston and Sheridan, Wyoming. But the 80°+ temperatures will quickly exit to the east.
A cold front moving in throughout the evening will produce areas of wind with gusts to 35 mph in southeastern Montana. This could aggravate conditions around the Elk Fire in northern Wyoming.
Snow levels will drop to around 4,500 feet, meaning there's a chance of wet accumulating snow. In areas like the Red Lodge foothills, at least a foot of snow is expected in some of the higher peaks through Friday.
There is a good chance of rain anywhere from around Ryegate (Golden Valley County) to Roundup (Musselshell County) southward. That includes Billings and Yellowstone County. Areas near and including mountains have the best chances for higher accumulations.
For Billings, the best chance of rain is early Thursday. There is another chance for rain Thursday evening through Friday morning, but that is looking less likely.
Temperatures Thursday and Friday will hover in the 40s and 50s for highs. It will be chilly Saturday morning as the rain and snow end with lows in the 20s to mid-30s.
The weekend looks typical for October with dry conditions and highs in the 50s and 60s. By early next week, scattered showers are possible.
