Thunderstorms are right on cue. Thunderstorm probability incrementally increases through the month of May, with the likelihood of lightning strikes growing toward the end of the month. Beginning on Friday, a few isolated thunderstorms will develop up along the Hi-Line and then over the southwestern mountains. Highs will warm into the 50s and 60s in the higher terrain, 70s for most of the lower elevations. Thunderstorms always have lightning, and small hail is a possibility as well. Saturday and Sunday will be unsettled but not a complete washout. Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy with a few afternoon and evening thunderstorms both days. Highs will be in the 60s and 70s. Monday will have more clouds and showers, with an embedded storm or two. A warmup to near 80 is possible Wednesday will aggravate the flooding situation. In fact, several consecutive days of temperatures in the 70s through the weekend and next week will mean steady melting of snow in the higher terrain. Flooding is still fairly widespread through Montana. If you live near a waterway, now is the time to prepare for flooding. And if you’re out recreating or looking at flooding, remember to be safe near the cold, fast moving water.
Be safe. Have a great day.
Curtis Grevenitz
