BILLINGS — A cold front passing by from West to East highlights the weather Tuesday.
Clouds increase Monday evening ahead of a cold front that will pass through the mountain foothills West of Billings overnight through early Tuesday, eventually moving to the Dakotas by the afternoon. Areas of rain and snow will develop along and ahead of the front, with wind developing behind the disturbance.
The fast-moving system will bring around 2 to 5 inches of new snow on the West facing slopes with a very small chance of freezing rain in the valleys of Southeast Montana. The lower elevations will see a rain/snow mix or snow with only light accumulation.
Overnight temperatures will stay mild, mainly in the 30s from around Miles City towards the West including Billings. Readings will drop to the 20s along Eastern edge of Montana into the Dakotas.
Once the front passes by Wednesday, winds will become gusty especially in the mountain foothills. Tuesday night through Wednesday gusts to 55 mph are expected around Livingston, Big Timber, Harlowton and Melville.
Another disturbance passes by Thursday bringing a few more rain/snow showers but the temperature stay above seasonal averages through the week. There are some early indications temperatures could slip back to the 30s – closer to seasonal averages – next week.
Billings forecast:
Monday night… Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers after midnight. A low of about 38.
Tuesday… A 30% chance of rain and snow showers through the morning with a cloudy sky. Gradual clearing in the afternoon with a high near 46. West winds are gusty in the afternoon to around 40 mph.
Wednesday… Mostly clear the morning with a low in the mid-20s. Mostly sunny in the afternoon with a high in the mid 40s.
