Brief Return to Winter Today Through Tuesday

By Denise Rivette

The Billings office of the National Weather Service this morning provided an update on the weather impacting the region early this week.

KEY POINTS

• Strong winds over the mountains and foothills end today.

• A cold front passage will bring precipitation and a sharp drop in temperatures to the region today into Tuesday.

• Hazardous winter driving conditions are expected this evening through Tuesday morning.

• Blowing snow threat Tuesday night into Wednesday morning at Livingston and I-90.

• Warmer conditions return Wednesday and Thursday.

DETAILS

• Strong winds over the mountains and foothills end today.

  • A cold front passage this afternoon will quickly turn winds out of the north, ending the strong winds over the mountains and foothills.

  • Breezy 20 to 35 mph wind gusts out of the north will occur just behind the front.

  • Winds along the foothills may briefly peak right before the frontal passage mid-day.

• A cold front passage will bring precipitation and a sharp drop in temperatures to the region today into Tuesday.

  • Precipitation will move in mid-day today. This precipitation will start as rain before quickly transition to snow this afternoon and evening over the lower elevations.

  • Snowfall is expected to be heaviest in the areas along and south of I-90.

    • 30% chance for 4” in Billings, >95% chance for 4” in Red Lodge

    • See attached graphics for more information.

  • Over the lower elevations and foothills, the snow is expected to be heaviest this evening into tonight before tapering off Tuesday morning.

  • Temperatures will warm into the 40s and 50s this morning before quickly dropping below freezing this evening.

  • Overnight low temperatures tonight and Tuesday night will be in the single digits to low teens. High temperatures Tuesday will be in the teens and 20s.

• Hazardous winter driving conditions are expected this evening through Tuesday morning.

  • A flash freeze of wet roads is likely this evening as temperatures quickly drop below freezing.

  • Snow packed roads along the foothills will create difficult travel conditions.

• Blowing snow potential Tuesday night into Wednesday morning with increasing winds near Livingston.

  • Increased winds around and west of Billings, especially Livingston, could create blowing snow conditions Tuesday night into Wednesday morning where new snow is present.

    • Probability for 50+ mph wind gust at Livingston: 90%

  • Warming temperatures by midday Wednesday should decrease the blowing snow threat.