BILLINGS- It is simply another beautiful Wednesday in Billings. The temperatures are almost Goldilocks-like: not too hot, not too cold, but just right at 81 degrees at 2 p.m.
Other temperatures around the state are mostly in the 70s, but a few places like Glasgow, Glendive and Worland are also in the low 80s.
Now our thunderstorm outlook for Wednesday does show, like Tuesday, we could see isolated showers and thunderstorms in southern Montana and northern Wyoming.
However, by Thursday, we have an increased risk of severe thunderstorms from the southwest corner of the state all the way up toward Glasgow, and it should be just west of Billings.
This means we will probably see big thunderstorms develop in the mountains and hold together as they come down off the mountains and onto the plains.
I would not be surprised to see severe thunderstorms with large hail, heavy rain and damaging winds in the area.
However, in Billings, we have a marginal risk of severe storms there and only isolated thunderstorms possible in the southeast.
Today we have just a few isolated showers tracking along the state line with Wyoming.
The high-resolution forecast model shows we expect those showers to continue to track all the way in toward the Dakotas and mostly sunny skies can be seen everywhere else Wednesday.
However, on Thursday, about 6 p.m. we will see those showers and thunderstorms along with a new cold front track across the Billings area, giving us a slight chance for some thunderstorms.
Then on Friday, another batch of moisture moves in, and it could bring more severe thunderstorms to the plains with heavy snow up in the mountains.
But, as far as the rest of Wednesday is concerned, it’s just another beauty: kind of quiet and kind of warm.
BILLINGS FORECAST
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy and continued dry and mild. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Low 58 degrees.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny and very warm. South winds 5 to 15 mph. With a 20% chance for evening showers and thunderstorms. Some may be severe. South winds 5 to 15 mph. High 91 degrees.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy with a 70% chance for rain showers the morning and again in the afternoon with a possible thunderstorm. North winds 5 to 15 mph. High 73 degrees.
