Welcome to Spring in Montana: Fire Weather Concerns Thursday and Friday Followed by Weekend Snow With Concerns for Young Livestock
Roads and recreation will be impacted, plan accordingly
By Denise Rivette
The Billings office of the National Weather Service (NWS) issued an update on fire weather concerns over southeastern Montana on Thursday and Friday which is expected to be followed by a weekend weather system anticipated to bring widespread precipitation over the region.
Strong high pressure aloft will bring very warm temperatures Wednesday through Friday. Temperatures in the high 60s to high 70s are expected. Billings, Hardin and Sheridan are expected to flirt with 80°. The warm weather will cause mid-elevation (6500-8000’) snow melt today through Friday. There are modest water level rises expected on Rock Creek. High level elevation snow will remain. The high temperatures won’t last. There is a chance of showers, and maybe thunderstorms, on Friday. Rain on snow is NOT expected to be a significant contributor to flows on Rock Creek or other area waterways, but this is something that officials will be watching closely.
Confidence is growing that this will be a strong weather system and will impact us with significant wet snowfall possible in the Beartooths and along foothills this weekend. NWS cannot rule out 1 to 2 feet of snow above 7000 feet. Current snow accumulation predictions for Carbon County (see below) only go through Saturday, although snow is predicted through Monday.
KEY POINTS
Low relative humidity and breezy over southeastern Montana Thursday and Friday
Heavy, widespread weekend precipitation expected
Minor to moderate travel impacts Saturday through Monday morning
Potentially hazardous conditions for young livestock
DETAILS
Elevated Fire Weather Concerns Thursday Through Friday Over Southeastern Montana
Relative Humidity (RH) values in the upper teens to 20s
High temperatures 20-25 degrees above seasonal normals
May see gusts up to 30-40 mph
High Precipitation Amounts this Weekend
The Bighorn mountains have a 40-60% chance of 2 or more feet of snow
The Beartooth/Absaroka and Crazy mountains have a 50-60% chance of at least 1 foot of snow
Areas from Roundup to Sheridan have a 50-70% chance of at least 1 inch of precipitation (including rain and snow water equivalent)
Near Freezing Overnight Temperatures
Overnight Saturday into Sunday, lows will be in the 30s
Lower elevations will see mostly rain, however, as temperatures drop overnight, may see mixed precip and wet, slushy snow
Combined with breezy conditions, this may bring travel impacts and present a danger for young livestock
Carbon County Snow Accumulations Through Saturday are Predicted as Follows:
Bearcreek: approximately 2 inches (Saturday overnight low temerature 34°)
Bridger: little to no snow accumulation expected (Saturday overnight low temerature 36°)
East Rosebud Lake: approximately 13 inches (Saturday overnight low temerature 26°)
Fromberg: little to no snow accumulation expected (Saturday overnight low temerature 36°)
Joliet: little to no snow accumulation expected (Saturday overnight low temerature 36°)
Red Lodge Mountain: approximately 8 inches (Saturday overnight low temerature 32°)
Red Lodge City: approximately 6 inches (Saturday overnight low temerature 33°)
Roberts: less than 1 inch (Saturday overnight low temerature 35°)
Roscoe: approximately 3 inches (Saturday overnight low temerature 35°)
Warren: approximately 1 inch (Saturday overnight low temerature 33°)