Warm and dry conditions to start the weekend; wetter and cooler with potential flooding by Memorial Day.

Drier, warmer and quieter weather is in store for Friday. With less wind than Thursday, and plenty of sunshine, high temperatures will move up mainly into the mid-80s with lower afternoon humidity.

Saturday morning temperatures start off mainly in the 50s, and will be hot again in the afternoon. Highs will end up mainly in the 80s, with some low 90s in the Eastern plains of the state.

By Saturday evening, scattered late day thunderstorms return. Some will have heavy rain, hail, and gusty winds.

Very wet conditions are expected for the remainder of the Memorial Day weekend, with temperatures cooling to mainly the 60s by Memorial Day.

The combination of warming temperatures at first and heavy rain at times to follow will increase the potential for flooding in area streams and rivers. Be aware of changing conditions with fast-moving waterways, very cold water, and banks that are more likely to give way.

Billings forecast:

Friday… Sunny with a high near 84. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Friday night… Mostly clear with a low of around 58. Winds remain light.

Saturday… Mostly sunny with a high of about 86. Scattered showers and thunderstorms develop during the afternoon and evening. Some storms could produce gusty winds and small hail.

It was a very busy weather day on Wednesday. Drier, warmer, quieter weather is in store for Thursday and Friday.

Areas of heavy rain, hail, and even a tornado highlighted weather across Eastern Montana on Wednesday. The Billings airport recorded a May 23 record rainfall total of 1.54 inches. Up to 2 inch hail was reported around Miles City. And a rope tornado was reported near Glendive but did no damage.

Thursday will be breezy with gusts of 20 to 30 miles an hour possible through the afternoon. Otherwise expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures moving up mainly in the upper 70s to mid 80s.

Isolated storms are still possible through this afternoon and this evening with plenty of moisture to tap into.

Friday will be warmer, with much of the area seeing the hottest temperatures so far in 2018. With highs moving up in the 80s, Billings could come close to the May 25 record high temperature of 88°.

Very active weather will redevelop again late Saturday through the rest of the Memorial Day weekend. The threat of thunderstorms with gusty winds and hail and heavy rain seems likely.

Billings forecast:

Thursday… Mostly sunny with isolated afternoon thunderstorms. High near 81. Westerly winds 10 to 20 miles an hour with occasional stronger gusts.

Thursday night… Isolated evening thunderstorms, otherwise partly cloudy. Low of about 57.

Friday… Around 86 for the high temperature with sunshine.

Wednesday is a rain day. For some, the rain will be heavy. For others, it could mean damaging hail and wind.

Showers and thunderstorms that produce areas of heavy rain will continue Wednesday, as a storm system slows it moves across the region. The highest rain accumulations are expected in areas from Billings towards the West, and will total an inch or more.

A few severe storms capable of producing large hail and strong winds could develop in Eastern Montana toward the Dakotas Wednesday afternoon and evening.

With more precipitation and warmer temperatures expected, rising water levels are expected in the rivers and streams around the region through the holiday weekend. This will keep the Musselshell River near to above flood stage upstream from Roundup, and will keep other streams near or above flood stage through the end of the week.

Expect precipitation to taper off Wednesday night. A drying and warming trend will begin Thursday, and some locations could be close to 90° for the first time in 2018 by Friday or Saturday.

Billings forecast:

Wednesday… Showers and possibly a thunderstorm that could produce heavy rain. High of about 67.

Wednesday night… A chance of showers or thunderstorms during the evening then mostly cloudy overnight. Low near 54.

Thursday… An isolated shower thunderstorm possible in the afternoon. Otherwise, mostly sunny with a high of about 82.

The potential for heavy rain with continued warmer-than-average temperatures will keep flood awareness high this week.

Monday afternoon temperatures will reach the 70s to low 80s with scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. Most of the Monday storms will affect the mountains South and West of Billings.

With more humid conditions, the chance of storms increases on Tuesday and Wednesday. The greatest threat is areas of heavy rain. But there is a chance of damaging wind and larger hail in Eastern Montana extending into the Dakotas both days.

With the increasing cloud cover, and the better chance of rain, temperatures will decrease. Expect highs mainly in the 70s on Tuesday, and upper 60s to low 70s on Wednesday.

The potential for heavy rain could increase already rising levels streams and creeks with some potential for flooding.

Billings forecast:

Monday… Partly to mostly sunny with a high near 80. A slight chance of a late day shower thunderstorm.

Monday night… Isolated storms. Otherwise partly to mostly cloudy with a low of about 53.

Tuesday… Partly cloudy with increasing afternoon clouds. An increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms that could include areas of heavy rain.

A much different look to the weather Friday, but we are back to warm temperatures before the end of the weekend.

Strong cold front moves through the area last night creating areas of heavy rain, hail, and frequent lightning.

Much cooler temperatures with gray skies in area showers are expected Friday. Highs will be mainly in the 50s, and won’t change much from the morning to the afternoon.

Rain will be heaviest on the North facing slopes of the mountains with higher elevation snow.

Conditions dry out on Saturday, but temperatures remain cooler than normal. Highs will be mainly in the 50s to mid 60s.

Temperatures will turn to the 70s on Sunday, and continue in the 70s warming to around 80° early next week.

Billings forecast:

Friday… Cloudy with showers. Light Northeast wind. High of about 54.

Friday night… Showers continuing the tapering off to the evening. Otherwise cloudy with a low of about 42.

Saturday… A chance of morning showers and then mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Around 57 for a high.

A much different look to the weather Friday, but we are back to warm temperatures before the end of the weekend.

Strong cold front moves through the area last night creating areas of heavy rain, hail, and frequent lightning.

Much cooler temperatures with gray skies in area showers are expected Friday. Highs will be mainly in the 50s, and won’t change much from the morning to the afternoon.

Rain will be heaviest on the North facing slopes of the mountains with higher elevation snow.

Conditions dry out on Saturday, but temperatures remain cooler than normal. Highs will be mainly in the 50s to mid 60s.

Temperatures will turn to the 70s on Sunday, and continue in the 70s warming to around 80° early next week.

Billings forecast:

Friday… Cloudy with showers. Light Northeast wind. High of about 54.

Friday night… Showers continuing the tapering off to the evening. Otherwise cloudy with a low of about 42.

Saturday… A chance of morning showers and then mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Around 57 for a high.

After another warm day, the evening could include severe thunderstorms in portions of Eastern Montana.

As a strong cold front moves across the region Thursday afternoon and evening, showers and thunderstorms will develop. Especially along the eastern edge of Montana into the Dakotas, the potential for heavy rain, large hail, and damaging winds exists.

The entire area has at least some potential for showers and thunderstorms through the evening hours. Rain showers will continue overnight through Friday.

During the day Thursday, expect sunshine mix with a few clouds and high temperatures mainly in the 70s to low 80s. Overnight readings will drop to the 40s to low 50s.

With the clouds and showers Friday, expect high temperatures only in the 50s.

Billings forecast:

Thursday… Partly cloudy with increasing afternoon clouds. A high near 79. West wind 5 to 15 miles an hour becoming gusty around afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

Thursday night… Cloudy to mostly cloudy with area showers and thunderstorms. Low near 51.

Friday… Cloudy with area rain showers. Much cooler with a high only around 55.

Temperatures peak Wednesday with cooler and wetter weather by Friday.

The next couple of days will remain warm, with widespread highs 75 to 85 Wednesday followed by low-70s to low-80s Thursday.

For Wednesday, winds will be light with brief afternoon gusts possible and a few afternoon and evening showers or thunderstorms. Wednesday’s storms will favor areas wet of Billings.

For Thursday, it will be slightly cooler. A cold front will bring gusty winds and an increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of these storms could have gusty winds and small hail.

Friday and Saturday will be cooler with scattered showers.

Billings forecast:

Wednesday…Mostly sunny with a chance of an afternoon shower or brief thunderstorm. High of about 82.

Wednesday night…Partly cloudy with a chance of an evening shower or thunderstorm. Low near 53.

Thursday…High around 79. Mostly sunny early with a better chance of late afternoon or evening showers and thunderstorms. Periods of gusty winds.

Our warm up peaks the next few days. Cooler and wetter weather arrives late Thursday.

Tuesday will be filled with sunshine with winds remaining light. High temperatures will be mainly in the upper 70s, or about 10 degrees warmer than mid-May averages.

After a quiet evening, Wednesday will warm from early morning temperatures from 45 to 55 to mainly the upper 70s and 80s. Overall, it should be the warmest day of the week.

Thursday remains warm ahead of a cold front with high temperatures back to the 70s to low 80s. A cold front Thursday afternoon/evening will provide an increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Friday will be noticeably cooler with area showers.

Billings forecast:

Tuesday…Sunny with a high of about 78. Light southwest breeze.

Tuesday night…Mostly clear and near 51 for the low.

Wednesday…Mostly sunny and around 83 for the warmest temperatures. Scattered to isolated showers and thunderstorms around the area during the afternoon and evening.

As our weekend rain shifts out of the area, it gets warmer and drier before another weekend system arrives with more rain.

A low pressure area broke off from the main weekend weather maker, and is anchored in Southeast Montana. That will continue to produce rain showers Monday and a few afternoon or evening thunderstorms.

High temperatures Monday will hit 65-75 across much of the area. Tuesday, expect sunshine and highs mainly in the 70s.

Wednesday is looking like the warmest day of the week, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. But by sometime late Thursday, a pretty substantial cool down arrives.

Highs by Friday will be mainly in the 50s with more rain, isolated thunderstorms, and potential for snow in the mountains and the higher elevation communities.

Billings forecast:

Monday…Mostly cloudy with scattered showers and the possibility of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. High of about.71.

Monday night…Isolated evening showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear overnight, with a low around 46.

Tuesday….Sunny with a light southwest breeze. Near 79 for a high.