BILLINGS — On Tuesday afternoon, the smoke is getting worse. Visibility in Billings is now down to six miles. However, the temperature is still getting up there- 87 degrees in the early afternoon with partly cloudy skies above the smoke.
Around the rest of the state, the temps are mostly to the 70s in the west, 80s in central Montana and 90s across the eastern edge of the state.
Smoke continues to plague much of the western half of the United States, and now it's starting to track north into Wyoming, Montana and southern Canada. The smoke is reaching as far north as Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Air quality in Montana now is unhealthy in the southern part of the state and deemed hazardous up along the Hi-Line by Malta.
We have Air Quality Warnings up there and also in the western part of the state until 8:45 a.m. Wednesday. There is also a Special Weather Statement for poor air quality in northern Wyoming until 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The Doppler radar does show a line of showers and thunderstorms coming off the Absaroka and Beartooth mountains into south-central Montana Tuesday afternoon.
The high-resolution forecast model shows we will continue to see a series of showers and thunderstorms come in and out of the area over the next three days.
This will help clear out some of the smoke and usher in a new weather pattern, one that will be cooler and possibly wetter.
We will be at 90 degrees at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, then cool back down to the mid-60s in the morning and back to 81 degrees about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
We will top out at 88 on Wednesday, keep in the 80s through Friday, head up to 92 on Saturday, then back down the 67 for a high on Monday.
BILLINGS FORECAST
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy with areas of smoke this evening, then a 40% chance for showers and thunderstorms. There will also be a chance of rain overnight. Some thunderstorms may produce some strong gusty winds this evening. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Low 59 degrees.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny with a 30% chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon. West winds 5 to 10 mph, shifting to the North in the afternoon. High 88 degrees.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny with a 40% chance for rain showers and not as warm. West winds 5 to 10 mph. High 86 degrees.
