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.