May is typically one of the wettest months of the year, and thunderstorms, rain and even snow are in our immediate future. Flooding continues near the mountains as snowmelt creates swollen waterways. Now, the next storm cycle will deliver several days of showers and storms as well as lowering snow levels. Thunderstorms will continue Wednesday evening into the overnight hours. A rapid rise in flood water is possible IF a heavy thunderstorm moves over a drainage into a flooded creek or stream. Please be aware of this possibility especially through the overnight hours. Thursday, rain will move through eastern Montana but another front will move into the western part of the state triggering thunderstorms in the afternoon. Rain and thunderstorms will continue Thursday night into Friday. At that time, colder air will be drawn into the storm and snow levels will begin dropping. Friday will be a cool, gloomy day with rain in the lower elevations. Snow will fall down to around 5000′. A few inches of snow will accumulate above 5000′. Highs will only be in the 40s and 50s, but 30s in the mountains. This storm will slowly sink south of Montana, down into Wyoming on Saturday. However, the storm is large enough that a mix of light rain and snow will continue Saturday for the central and southern areas of the state. The Hi-Line will have a little sunshine and no showers on Saturday. This slow moving storm could even spread a few showers through the state on Sunday as well. Drier but warmer weather will move in early next week. After several days of rain, with the potential for some areas to pick up about an inch, flooding will continue through the weekend. Flooding will likely be an issue through May into the beginning of June.
Curtis Grevenitz
