BILLINGS — On Friday afternoon, the sky is clear, and the temperatures are starting to warm up in Billings. We are already into the 80s, and it is expected to get a little bit warmer before the day is through.
Around the rest of the state, our current temps are mostly to the 70s and 80s. Jordan, Montana is already up to 90.
The Doppler radar and satellite imagery shows generally dry conditions from one side of Montana to the other, including northern Wyoming.
But Saturday, the thunderstorm outlook shows a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms blowing right through the center part of the state, including Billings. On either side of that, we could see stray showers.
The high-resolution forecast model agrees it will be mostly dry all of Friday, but then on Saturday afternoon, the showers will start streaming up from the southwest and push their way to the Billings area by about 6:30 p.m.
Then on Sunday, a fresh supply of moisture moves in from the southwest and up over the Beartooths. This could produce very heavy thunderstorms across much of south-central Montana, including Billings.
The temperatures will be toying with the 90s by then as a fresh supply of moisture moves in. This could cause these thunderstorms to climb even higher, and become even bigger.
The computer models are suggesting that Billings could see anywhere from two-thirds of an inch to over an inch of rainfall by the time Monday morning gets here. And there's some talk that Billings could even receive over two inches of rain by Tuesday night.
Our temps will continue to stay in the 80s the rest of Friday, drop back out of the 60s in the morning and then back to the 80s again Saturday afternoon.
We could top out at 93 degrees on Saturday, then when a new cold front moves through Saturday night, the temps will drop back down to the 60s and 70s for the rest of next week.
BILLINGS FORECAST
TONIGHT: Mostly clear and warm. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Low 64 degrees.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny with a 20% chance for showers and thunderstorms late in the afternoon. West winds 5 to 10 mph. High 93 degrees.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with rain likely in the morning ,then an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms possible in the afternoon and much cooler. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. High 70 degrees.
