BILLINGS — If you have been waiting for a taste of summer, then Tuesday is your day. Just look at that beautiful blue sky out there- it's so clear you can see 70 miles away to the Red Lodge ski runs in the Beartooth Mountains.
When you throw in the temperature, it is a wonderful day. In Billings, the temperatures was already 66 degrees in the early afternoon.
Around the rest of the state, the temps are mostly to the 50s and 60s out in the west, but up in the northeast we are already into the 70s at Glasgow, Jordan and Glendive. In fact, we expect more 70s before the day is done.
The Doppler radar and satellite imagery shows generally dry conditions from one side of Montana to the other and even to most of North and South Dakota. The high-resolution forecast model bears that out.
Through the early afternoon, we're still expecting mostly sunny skies across the state with maybe a few high clouds by Great Falls.
In fact, the next chance we see to get some moisture in Billings might be Wednesday evening.
A new Pacific shortwave weather disturbance is forecast to move into western Montana Wednesday afternoon and start sending some cloudy skies into the Billings area that night.
It probably won't be until about 1:30 a.m. Thursday before Billings sees any rain.
Then we could see another batch rain move into Billings Thursday afternoon and night.
In the meantime, we expect temperatures get into the 70s this afternoon and stay there through 6:30 p.m.
We will drop back to 48 degrees in the morning and back up to 65 degrees, about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Our high temperature on Wednesday will top out at 68 degrees, then roll back to 59 and 60 on Thursday and Friday for highs. From there we will jump up to 70 degrees on Sunday and Monday.
BILLINGS FORECAST
TONIGHT: Mostly clear and mild. West winds 10 to 20 mph. Low 42 degrees.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny and continued warm. Look for a 60% chance for rain moving in Wednesday night. West winds 10 to 20 mph. High 68 degrees.
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy with a 60% chance for rain in the morning and again in the afternoon. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. High 59 degrees.
