BILLINGS — As you can see, it's smoky out there again Monday, and the temperatures are not warming up as fast as projected.
Here in Billings, it was 81 degrees at 1:30 p.m., and the winds were out of the south at 7 mph.
The smoke continues to dominate most of the air in the western half the country, all rotating around this high-pressure cell. Generally, the smoke continues to be pretty thick from southern Montana up to just about the Hi-Line.
Around the rest of the state, our current temps are mostly into the 70s and 80s with a few 90s here or there.
Air quality around the state is generally good east of the divide, but we are looking at unhealthy air quality from Yellowstone Park through much of western Montana.
In fact, we have an Air Quality Warning until 9:15 a.m. Tuesday for much of the west and a special weather statement until 3 p.m. for northern Wyoming for poor air quality.
The Doppler radar shows scattered rain showers developing in the southwestern corner of the state, but it looks like those showers continue to track around the Billings area.
At least, that's what the high-resolution forecast model shows for Monday, but later Tuesday morning we could see an increased risk of severe thunderstorms in the southwest and a marginal risk of severe storms back in the east.
In the Billings area, we could see scattered showers move into Billings about 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, then stronger storms move in Wednesday morning about 1 a.m.
After that, we are expecting mostly sunny skies and dry conditions for the rest of the day on Wednesday.
Our temps will cool back down to the 50s and 60s for Monday evening, then bounce back to the 80s, 90s and even some upper 90s back in the east on Tuesday.
It will be 97 degrees at 5:30 p.m. Monday, then cool back down to the upper 60s in the morning. After that, we will warm up to 84 degrees by 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
We will top out at 92 on Tuesday, then roll back to the 80s Wednesday through Friday and actually drop down a 71, for a high, on Sunday.
BILLINGS FORECAST
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy with a 20% chance for showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Areas of smoke expected through the night. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Low 65 degrees.
TUESDAY: Increasing clouds with a 20% chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. West winds 5 to 10 mph the morning shifting to the North in the afternoon. High 92 degrees.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny with a 30% chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. West winds 5 to 10 mph. High 89 degrees.
