A dramatic weather shift took place in Baker, Montana, where temperatures dropped nearly 40 degrees within 24 hours due to a cold front that hit the area late Tuesday night, leading to stormy conditions on Wednesday.
This sudden chill followed a record-breaking high of 95 degrees on Tuesday afternoon, marking a stunning shift to just 57 degrees by Wednesday afternoon—a drop of 38 degrees.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Billings reported that Baker’s high broke its previous record of 92 degrees from 2000, while nearby Livingston saw its precipitation of 0.89 inches tie an old record set in 1975. This was shared via Twitter on Wednesday morning.
A couple of daily records were set yesterday. Baker’s high of 95° broke the old record of 92° set in 2000, and Livingston’s precip of 0.89″ tied its record set in 1975. #mtwx
— NWS Billings (@NWSBillings) September 18, 2024
The storm has also brought significant snowfall to higher elevations, with reports of up to 8 inches in the Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains. While Baker itself saw 0.2 inches of rain, areas within the Billings forecast region recorded over 3 inches, indicating a spike in precipitation for this time of year.
A winter storm warning currently advises of “heavy wet snow,” with anticipated additional accumulations up to two inches and wind gusts reaching 50 mph, significantly impacting outdoor activities in the higher regions.
The storm advisories for the Billings area include not just winter warnings but also high-wind warnings and flood watches.
Typically, this time of year, Baker expects highs around 73 degrees. However, a quick rebound is on the horizon with temperatures projected to hit the 70s by Thursday and near 80 by Friday.
Additionally, a six- to ten-day temperature outlook indicates a possibility of above-average temperatures across Montana from September 23 to 27, along with a reduced chance for precipitation during that period.