BILLINGS — We start with some mountain wind and end up with cold and snow this week.
The wind-prone areas near Livingston are bracing for up to 55 mph winds Monday evening after a warm and dry afternoon. A cold front overnight through Tuesday morning with sooth the winds, but bring mountain snow, rain and snow to the lower elevations, and an overall cool down.
Tuesday starts mainly in the 30s and warms only to the 40s west of Billings with mid-50s possible in the eastern plains. Light rain and snow showers will follow the front across the region.
As cold air sinks down from the north, moisture will overrun it, creating widespread snow on Wednesday through Thursday morning. Mountain snow will be steady with 12 to 24 inches possible in the Beartooths and Absaorkas.
Areas south of a line from Harlowton, Roundup to Forsyth (that includes Billings) has a very good chance of at least 2 inches of snow with up to 5 inches common. The high country and some places in southeast Montana could see 6 to 12 inches of new snow.
Temperatures becomes much colder lows dropping to the teens Thursday and Friday mornings and highs in the 20s to about 30 Thursday.
Keep checking back for updates as the storm becomes clearer.
Billings forecast:
Monday night…Mostly cloudy with a low near 39. Westerly wind 5 to 15 mph.
Tuesday…Rain or snow showers possible in the morning with occasional wind gusts. Rain showers more likely in the afternoon. Otherwise mostly cloudy with a high near 49.
Wednesday and Thursday…Best snowmaking weather is Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning. Low 30s for a high Wednesday and only the 20s Thursday with clouds. Lows Thursday and Friday mornings only in the teens.
