BILLINGS — We have just a few high clouds rolling in Billings Monday afternoon. But the temperature isn't nearly as high as last Saturday. So far, the temperature in Billings has only gotten up to 70 degrees at 2 p.m. Monday.
Around the rest of the state, the temps are mostly into the 50s and 60s out west and mostly 70s back in the east.
The thunderstorm outlook for Monday shows only a stray thunderstorm or two in the northeast corner of the state. However, we could see a few more stray storms across the rest of Montana on Tuesday.
There's a marginal risk of severe storms in the extreme eastern edge of the state Tuesday afternoon.
Right now, the Doppler radar and satellite imagery shows just some scattered light rain showers moving in west-central Montana. They continue to track toward the northeast.
But now there is this: We have a Winter Storm Watch, beginning Tuesday afternoon and going through Wednesday at noon for up to 8 inches of snow above the 5,000-foot level in southwestern Montana and 12 to 15 inches above the 6,500-foot level.
The high-resolution forecast model shows where most of the moisture will be over the next couple of days. Throughout Monday night, Billings would see just dry conditions, with scattered rain showers in the west.
Then by Tuesday afternoon, you'll see a line of showers in southwest Montana up toward Glasgow .but none is really coming into the Billings area.
Overnight Tuesday, we see the rain change over to snow in the southwest. Again, Billings should remain fairly dry through Wednesday afternoon.
We will get up to 80 degrees next hour, then cool back down to the upper 50s in the morning and back to the 60s Tuesday afternoon.
We will top out at 70 on Tuesday, then down to 63 on Wednesday and then work our way up to 86 degrees by Sunday afternoon.
BILLINGS FORECAST
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with a 30% chance for rain showers overnight. North winds 5 to 15 mph. Low 56 degrees.
TUESDAY: Slight chance for showers and thunderstorms in the morning. Then rain likely in the afternoon with a chance of thunderstorms. Chance of rain 60%. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph. High 70 degrees.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy with a 70% chance for rain showers likely. West winds 5 to 15 mph. High 63 degrees.
