Strong Foothills Winds through Thursday Night; Heavy Mountain Snow

By Denise Rivette

This afternoon, the Billings office of the National Weather Service highlighted a couple of periods of impactful weather expected in the remainder of the week.

KEY POINTS

• Strong southwest winds at Livingston and along the Beartooth foothills through Thursday night.

• Strong winds may impact other foothills locations Thursday afternoon through Thursday night.

• Periods of heavy snow for the Beartooth-Absaroka Mountains Thursday night through Saturday.

DETAILS

• Strong Foothills Winds

  • Gusts 60 to 70 mph at Livingston & Nye through Thursday night (95% chance of exceeding 60 mph)

    • Gusts may exceed 70 mph Thursday night prior to a cold frontal passage early Friday morning (50% chance)

    • Hazardous crosswinds on I-90 for those driving high-profile vehicles or towing trailers

• Gusts to 60 mph along US-191 from Big Timber to Harlowton and Judith Gap Thursday afternoon and night 50% chance of exceeding 60 mph

• Gusts to 40+ mph possible at Red Lodge Thursday night (40% chance)

• Mountain Snowfall

  • Moist Pacific flow will bring periods of heavy snow to the southwest aspects of the Beartooth-Absaroka Mountains

  • Heavy snow expected for the mountains around Cooke City (1 to 2 feet possible)

  • Impacts to outdoor recreation; avalanche danger may increase

• Colder & Unsettled This Weekend

  • Colder temperatures and a chance of snow at lower elevations this weekend Highs in 40s Saturday, 20s & 30s Sunday/Monday

  • Significant snowfall not expected (only 10-20% chance of two inches or more of snow)