BILLINGS — Very warm, dry and windy conditions drive up fire risk and challenge some record high temperatures.
Windy conditions near the foothills could gust to around 40 to 50 mph, with some of the wind spreading into the Eastern Plains. With plenty of afternoon sun, highs and Tuesday will be in the mid-50s to mid 60s.
With low humidity, the wind, and those warm temperatures grassland fire risk will increase through Tuesday afternoon.
To tie the daily record high, Billings would have to reach 60 on Monday. The record in Miles City is 57, 54 in Livingston, and Sheridan needs to reach 62 to tie the record for Dec. 7.
A cold front moves through the area on Wednesday, bringing periods of wind and a downshift in the temperatures. A few light snow showers are possible by Thursday, and highs will stay mainly in the 30s through the weekend.
Billings forecast:
Monday… Sunny and warm with a westerly wind 15 to 25 mph. A high of about 57.
Monday night… Breezy at times with a low at around 36. Mostly clear.
Tuesday… Partly to mostly sunny and windy periods. Near 59 for the high.
