Storms Threaten Eastern Montana and Mountain Passes This Weekend

Overview

• The storm system, which builds Saturday into Sunday, will concentrate the greatest severe risk in the eastern half of the state near Billings where conditions favor supercells and rotating storms.
• An early cluster of high-based storms moved through Thursday evening and produced 40–50 mph gusts that showed how wind-driven storms could cause tree damage and power outages in the region.
• Mountain areas face a separate hazard as snow levels fall into the mid-to-high 6,000–9,000-foot range, with local forecasts diverging from light slushy accumulations above 9,000 feet to reports of 6 inches or more on some peaks and possible travel impacts on passes like Homestake.
• Heavy downpours from weekend storms could trigger localized flash flooding in low-lying and urban areas, though forecasters warn models may overestimate totals even as some locations could see beneficial soaking rains.
• The active weather is expected to exit early next week and give way to a steady warming and drying trend with highs climbing back into the 80s and isolated readings near the mid-90s later in the week.