Billings area residents can look forward to a comfortable Thursday. Daytime temperatures will hover between the mid‑50s and around 60°F under clear, sunny skies. Winds will be lighter than Wednesday, shifting to the northeast and east with gusts of 10‑20 mph, strongest near Livingston.
Evening Fog and Weekend Dryness
After sunset, patchy fog may develop across south‑central and eastern Montana, but it should clear by Friday morning. Friday will see a modest increase in southeast winds across eastern Montana, while Saturday brings generally lighter breezes. Overall, the start of the weekend remains dry and mild.
Mountains See Moisture Return
Moisture from a low‑pressure system off the West Coast will begin to push inland later Saturday, gradually increasing precipitation chances over the mountains. Expect light rain showers in the foothills and a growing chance of snow at higher elevations as the system moves east.
Sunday‑Monday Weather Shift
The system is forecast to move further inland Sunday into Monday, bringing a broader swath of precipitation. Lower elevations will likely see rain, with a decent chance of at least 0.10 inch of accumulation. Meanwhile, the mountains above 9,000 feet could receive more than 6 inches of snow. Because plains temperatures will stay relatively mild, most precipitation will fall as rain, though brief overnight flurries cannot be ruled out on the higher hills.
Winds during this period will generally gust between 20 and 40 mph, with isolated bursts possibly reaching 50 mph, especially in exposed areas.
Mid‑Week Drying and a Quick Cold Front
Conditions should dry out again heading into the middle of next week. However, a fast‑moving cold front is expected to pass late Tuesday into early Wednesday, bringing a brief chance of light precipitation to the region.
Overall, the forecast offers a pleasant start to the fall weekend, followed by a short period of rain and snow that will help replenish mountain snowpacks without disrupting daily life in the Billings area.
Original reporting: KTVQ Q2 Billings (local) — read the source article.
