BOZEMAN – A gradual warming trend started today and should continue into the weekend. Forecast highs this holiday weekend will vary between 70° to 85° and that is near normal.
What to watch for Friday and Saturday is pop-up thunderstorms. A WSW flow will funnel limited moisture across Montana from SW counties up into the NE corner of the state.
Thunderstorms should be isolated Friday afternoon over SW Montana but look for building storm clouds in the late afternoon hours and diminish around sunset. A few storms could produce brief heavy rain, small hail, gusty winds, and frequent lightning.
Fireworks forecast from Butte Friday night is looking favorable for the big show. Most thunderstorms should have diminished by 10:30 pm Friday night. The only concern I see is possible gusty winds with convective activity diminishing.
This pattern is likely to impact SW Montana again on Saturday. Isolate thunderstorms in the late afternoon hours. If a thunderstorm threatens your area please seek shelter until the storm passes out of the area.
