BILLINGS — Temperatures back off after Monday night’s cold front, but it does not last long.
The tail end of Monday’s weather system was exiting Eastern Montana on Tuesday morning, leaving most of the area with sunshine and Tuesday afternoon highs mainly in the 80s. A high-pressure ridge will push many of the readings back into the mid-80s to mid-90s on Wednesday.
Expect only scattered isolated showers and thunderstorms Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday will be the hottest day with a highs well into the 90s. A cold front Thursday afternoon/evening will bring a chance of stronger storms across the area with erratic winds being a concern.
Temperatures level off into the 80s to low 90s for the highs and lows in the 50s and 60s from Friday onward. Conditions get drier, increasing wildfire concerns.
The storm system that moved through the area Monday night brought 1.08 inches of rainfall to the airport, setting a record for Aug. 3. The old record was 0.62 inches set in 1944.
There were reports of downed power lines and cottonwood trees around the area with a 67 mph wind gusts reported at the Billings airport.
Billings forecast:
Tuesday… Sunny today with a high near 88. A variable breeze 5 to 15 mph.
Tuesday night… Clear to mostly clear with a low of about 60.
Wednesday… Sunny and very warm with a high around 91.
