High Humidity Hits Billings as Extreme Heat Warnings Begin

Last night, I was sitting by the pool with some friends trying to soak up the evening. Even though the sun was dipping below the horizon and a gentle breeze was blowing through, we all kept coming back to the exact same observation: it felt absolutely disgusting.

We talked about how this weekend is slated to be an absolute scorcher, remembering that record-breaking heatwave we weathered a few weeks back. But as we sat there fanning ourselves, we realized it wasn't strictly the temperature making things feel so sticky and uncomfortable. It's the humidity.

If you’ve lived around the Billings area for any length of time, you know we're famous for our dry heat. This summer, though? Montana feels surprisingly humid, and everyone is starting to take notice.

Billings Weather Alerts: Extreme Heat Warning and Fire Watch Issued

If you thought the last few days were warm, hold onto your hats. The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for the Billings area running straight through Sunday. Highs are expected to climb well into the triple digits, making outdoor activities risky if you aren't staying proactive about staying cool.

On top of the sweltering temperatures, a Fire Weather Watch is also in effect across Yellowstone County. Dry fuels combined with heat and potential localized winds mean fire danger is exceptionally high.

Monsoonal Moisture Drives Unusually High Humidity in Billings

Because we're so accustomed to dry summer air, these elevated moisture levels have a lot of us asking what gives. I decided to reach out to veteran local meteorologist Bob McGuire to get some insight into why the air has felt so unusually sticky over the last few weeks.

Bob pointed out that our usual seasonal shifts are getting a big push from surrounding weather systems right now.

"This time of year we usually see something called Monsoonal moisture that comes up here from the 4 corner states," McGuire explained. "High pressure has been parked over the central Rockies. The circulation around a High is Clockwise. So this Monsoonal moisture is getting a little extra push up here by the High pressure.

Super El Niño Climate Pattern Amplifies Montana Heatwave

It isn't just the monsoonal moisture making life uncomfortable in Yellowstone County. McGuire noted that a much larger climate trend is amplifying the heat wave across the region.

"Plus we are also experiencing a climate pattern called a super El Niño," McGuire said. "This is giving the effect of making it even hotter than it normally would be for us, this time of year. Combine the two together, and we get our current weather pattern."

How to Stay Safe During the Billings Heatwave

With that combination of monsoonal moisture and high pressure trapping heat right over the region, this weekend is shaping up to be a rough one for staying cool.

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Make sure you're drinking plenty of water, staying in air-conditioned spaces during the peak afternoon heat, and checking in on neighbors, elderly family members, and pets. If you're heading out to the Yellowstone River or a buddy's pool to beat the heat, don't forget the sunscreen.