The bad news: The wind will blow. The good news: The wind will help scour out the cold air. At least for a while.

A disturbance moving from west to east across Canada will increase the wind down the east mountain slopes Wednesday, mixing down warmer air and boosting the temperatures.

Expect afternoon highs in the 30s to lower 40s Wednesday afternoon in most locations. A few the river valleys could hold onto some stubborn cold air with readings in the 20s.

Winds and the Western foothills around Livingston will increase throughout the day, and could reach peaks of 50 to 60 mph at times. These gusty winds will continue off and on through Thursday night, also creating stronger gust around Big Timber and Red Lodge Thursday.

Expect increasing cloud cover Thursday, as a cold front starts to move into the region. Temperatures will peak well into the 40s ahead of the front and much of the area Thursday before the front arrives.

Areas of rain and snow showers will develop Thursday night into Friday with a downward trend in the temperatures into early next week.

Billings forecast:

Wednesday… Sunny, with a high near 40. Southwest wind 15 to 25 mph.

Wednesday night… Partly cloudy with a low around 31. West wind.

Thursday… Increasing afternoon clouds with a high of about 46. West winds 15 to 25 mph.