Record heat possible on Wednesday, cooling coming

BILLINGS – We will have another warmer than average and drier day on Wednesday, with record daytime temperatures possible in areas such as Billings, Baker, Livingston and Sheridan, WY. Highs in the upper 70s to mid to upper 80s are expected. Winds will be stronger, with gusts over 45 mph possible ahead of a cold front. The stronger winds combined with low humidity increase the fire danger along the western reaches, preventing a spark from occurring.

A cold front moves in late Wednesday evening/early Thursday morning and will bring significantly cooler temperatures to the entire area over the next few days. We can expect highs mostly in the 50s on Thursday and in the 40s and 50s on Friday.

There is a significant amount of moisture clinging to the front and trailing behind it. Rain showers are possible late Wednesday evening and at least Friday morning, with much of the area having a good chance of at least a tenth of an inch of precipitation. Billings, as well as areas to the west, east and south, have a greater chance of up to half an inch of rainfall. A mix of models show more than half an inch of collapse in and around Sheridan, which will help combat the Elk Fire.

There will also be plenty of snow in the mountains in the next few days. A winter storm warning is in effect for the Beartooths and Absarokas from Thursday morning through Friday afternoon, and a winter storm warning is in effect for parts of the Bighorns, with more than 12 inches of snowfall possible.

Dry conditions return over the weekend as temperatures rise back to the 50s-60s.

-Miller Robson
Q2 Morning Meteorologist
[email protected]