Will the Billings Area Really Get a Foot of Snow?
Winds gusting up to 75 miles per hour slammed into the Billings area on Thursday. The High Wind Warning from the National Weather Service's Billings office remains in effect until 9 PM tonight.
These high winds are certainly an inconvenience, tossing garbage cans and trampolines around like toys, and can damage roofing, fences, and trees. Power outages have been reported across the Billings area, including our broadcast center downtown.
After the wind tapers off slightly this evening, that's when things might get even more interesting in south central Montana. The NWS has issued a Winter Storm Warning effective from 6 PM Thursday through 6 AM Sunday, March 15, for the following communities:
- Musselshell
- Melville
- Pompeys Pillar
- Rapelje
- Absarokee
- Roundup
- Columbus
- Big Timber
- Ryegate
- Huntley
- Laurel
- Custer
- Park City
- Lavina
- Judith Gap
- Twodot
- Reed Point
- Harlowton
- Billings
- Melstone
- Shawmut
- Broadview
So... how much snow will we receive?
Depending on which weather model you're looking at, significant snowfall is expected from Friday night through late Saturday evening. The NWS says total snow accumulations between 7 and 14 inches are possible, greatest over the higher hills. They add that locally higher totals are possible.
Conditions may threaten young livestock, and travel could be very difficult or impossible at times. The hazardous conditions will impact Friday commutes, said the NWS, and travel might be dicey on Saturday as well.
From Spring to blizzard, to Summer-like weather in the span of a few days.
Springtime is typically our craziest time for weather, and this is a perfect example. We've been enjoying an unseasonably mild winter. Now we're expected to get a foot of snow... but by midweek next week, it will feel like early summer. The high is expected to hit 75 on Wednesday.