BILLINGS — Rain, snow, cooler temperatures, but wind is still the Thursday weather highlight.
As Wednesday’s warm air tries to fend off the colder air that started to arrive Wednesday evening, the cold wins out through the day. This will cause periods of gusty winds over a wide area.
Gusts of 30 to 50 mph are expected across the plains and 50 to 60 mph in the mountain foothills.
Rain and snow showers through the morning will turn to rain showers in the afternoon.
Conditions begin to clear Thursday afternoon and evening. Friday will reach the mid to lower 60s for highs, but another disturbance brings a chance of scattered afternoon and evening showers.
Showers come and go through the weekend with temperatures a bit shy of seasonal average. Highs will be mianly in the 50s to about 60, and lows mainly 30s to about 40.
Billings forecast:
Thursday... A chance of rain and snow showers this morning, then rain showers around. High near 56. West wind 15 to 30 mph becoming northeast 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Thursday night... A 20 percent chance of showers before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southwest after midnight.
Friday... A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
