The first day of 2018 will be a transition day into warmer temperatures and a break from the snow.

There will be a lot of variation in the afternoon highs today. Readings will range from the 20s and the mountain foothills around Livingston and Red Lodge; the teens through northern Wyoming; single digits above zero in Billings and the surrounding counties, with subzero temperatures all day in Eastern Montana towards the Dakotas.

Expect to sunny to a mostly sunny afternoon with a light wind.

Winds start to increase tonight down the East mountain slopes with gusts of 25 to 45 mph. This will cause areas of blowing and drifting snow possibly even around Billings on Tuesday.

Temperatures will move up from the single digits and teens below zero Tuesday morning, to the 20s and low 30s for afternoon highs.

Billings forecast:

New Year’s Day… Mainly sunny and cold with a high near 5. Morning wind chills could feel like -20 to -30.

Monday night… The low drops to around -3, and then begins to rise overnight.

Tuesday… Sunny with a high near 29. Areas of blowing snow increasing with Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph.