KBEAR Afternoons
KBEAR Afternoons.
Much as we saw early Thursday, a band of showers has developed along a line where the cold air in Eastern Montana is colliding with the warmer air coming in from the west. The difference is this morning, the temperatures aren’t as cold, and the line of showers is mainly east of Billings
A band of heavy snow will remain in the Billings area until later this morning. This will help produce 2 to 3 inches of additional snow before conditions begin to improve. Expect snowpacked and icy roadways and reduced visibility especially along interstate 90 between Billings and Hardin
Today, temperatures will contrast sharply between areas from Billings to the west, and the eastern edge of Montana. While Eastern Montana and the Dakotas are hit with high temperatures in the teens above to the teens below zero, 20s and low 30s are reachable from Billings to the west
A strong Canadian cold front will move through the region today, resulting in a rapid drop in temperatures and some snow showers. The warmest readings will be early in the day, then drop or hold steady from that point on
The snow from yesterday and last night spread far from evenly. Reports of a skiff to 5 inches just outside of Lame Deer came in during the overnight hours. While Billings picked up only about an inch, that has made sidewalks and streets slick in places
A little breezy today, otherwise a weak ridge of high pressure is going to keep us mild to start the weekend. Highs Friday and Saturday should be close to Thursday’s above average highs in the 40s and low 50s
As expected, the wind will be a big player in Thursday’s weather. Gusts in the mountain foothills could reach 60 mph, but the entire area has the potential of 45 mph wind gusts through the afternoon and evening
Colder Air has already backed in to the area from the east overnight, setting up a slightly cooler day. Highs will be mainly in the 30s. Livingston winds have been gusty overnight to as high as 58 mph, but they will slacken through the morning
Conditions are right for wind to develop around Livingston blowing out toward Billings today. While gusts in the mountain foothills could be 65 mph, Billings will likely experience steady winds of 15-25 mph
A clear dividing line is evident across Eastern Montana this morning, with warmer and breezy conditions just west of Billings, and chilly air and snow showers to the east of Billings on the other side of a stationary front
While winds took a bit of a lull during the overnight hours, the ingredients are still in place for gusty winds again Friday from the mountain slopes east to Billings. While gusts along I-90 heading toward Bozeman could reach 60 mph, Billings has the potential for 45 mph gusts
The overall weather pattern is dominated by a high pressure ridge across the Western U-S. This will keep the sky clear to mostly clear, and help the temperatures warm to above average readings. A disturbance moving down from Canada will tighten the pressure gradients, and start to increase those gusty winds again today, and really pick up the wind speeds tonight and tomorrow