A cool and wet weather pattern is coming to SW Montana beginning Thursday. Ahead of the storm look for aggressive thunderstorms Thursday afternoon. Some storms could be strong and a very low risk a few could be severe or damaging.
Biggest concern is locally heavy rainfall.
The Storm Prediction Center has a "Marginal" risk (low risk) for severe thunderstorms Bozeman eastward but a much higher risk for damaging thunderstorms across far eastern Montana into North and South Dakota Thursday afternoon and evening.
City by City Forecast:
BOZEMAN: LOW: 54°; HIGH THURSDAY: 74°. Warm and dry pattern will continue into Wednesday evening. Thursday afternoon a strong SW flow aloft will produce increasing showers and thunderstorms that will continue off and on through Friday morning. Some storms are likely to be on the stronger side with large hail and strong winds but the biggest concern is locally heavy rainfall. Temperatures will be cooling sharply by Friday morning.
BUTTE: LOW: 48°; HIGH THURSDAY: 69°. Beautiful afternoon for Butte with abundant sunshine. Beginning Thursday afternoon a significant pattern change is coming with a pacific cold front. Ahead of this front look for building thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening and behind the front much cooler temperatures and scattered showers into Friday.
DILLON: LOW: 47°; HIGH THURSDAY: 73°. Get out there Dillon and enjoy the rest of today. Tomorrow will not be as nice as scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely by Thursday afternoon and some storms could be on the stronger side with hail and strong outflow winds but look for moderate to heavy rainfall as well. Once a cold front passes through by Friday morning temperatures will be trending well below normal heading into the weekend.
WEST YELLOWSTONE: LOW: 42°; HIGH THURSDAY: 70°. Not as cool tonight for West Yellowstone. A new pacific storm will hit Montana Thursday afternoon and there is a slight chance for a few thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Biggest concern for West Yellowstone is moderate rainfall, gusty winds and big drop in temperatures by Friday.
NEXT WEATHER MAKER:
A new pacific storm and deep trough will begin to move into Montana Thursday afternoon and evening. Ahead of this storm a SW flow with increasing moisture and good surface heating by afternoon Thursday will produce showers and thunderstorms across SW Montana. Some storms are likely to continue into Friday morning. Areas east of the divide will be impacted with stronger thunderstorms Thursday afternoon especially from Dillon to Bozeman. Locally heavy rainfall is likely and a few storms could produce large hail and strong outflow winds Thursday afternoon and evening. Scattered showers and thunderstorms could continue Thursday night into Friday morning.
