Heavy rain, gusty winds and cooler temperatures

BILLINGS – The moist low pressure system in the upper atmosphere will continue to move through the area Wednesday. Heavy rain is expected, especially in Rosebud County and western areas where there is a high chance of up to 1 inch of rainfall. Excessive rainfall may occur in some areas, which could lead to flash flooding in susceptible areas.

This dynamic system could also bring over a foot of snowfall to areas above 10,000 feet elevation over the Beartooths and Absarokas by Wednesday night. Gusts up to 50 mph are also expected. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect. Beartooth Highway remains closed at this time. Check MDOT and WYDOT for the latest updates.

In addition to being wet on Wednesday, it will also be quite windy, with gusts up to 60 mph across much of the region. A gale warning is in effect. Winds will ease, but it will remain breezy through Thursday. Stronger winds could linger in eastern Montana through early Thursday afternoon.

A cold front associated with the low will cool daytime highs to 10 to 15 degrees Celsius across much of the region on Wednesday, then remain between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius for the rest of this week and next. Nighttime lows will be between 4 and 10 degrees Celsius through Friday morning, between -1 and 4 degrees Celsius Saturday and Sunday mornings, and then mainly between 4 and 6 degrees Celsius for the next week.

The low will move northeast by Thursday, so the forecast expects predominantly dry weather again. Several fast-moving disturbances mean that daily showers are still possible from Friday until the beginning of next week.

-Miller Robson
Q2 Morning Meteorologist
[email protected]