Rain could hit Independence Day celebrations

Rain showers were hitting north-central Montana today, and a chance of more showers and thunderstorms could dampen celebrations in the region on Independence Day.

National Weather Service predicts a chance of rain today through 3 p.m. with a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. and showers possible through the evening, mainly before 8 p.m.

The temperature is expected to warm up a bit for Thursday's celebrations - highs today are expected to be in the lower 60s today but up into the higher 60s and 70s on Thursday - but rain showers and thunderstorms still are in the forecast.

Weather Service predicts the region has a slight chance of rain or rain showers before noon, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon, otherwise mostly sunny conditions will prevail the afternoon of Independence Day.

Thursday night, Weather Service predicts in the region a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9, with a 30 percent to 50 percent chance of rain and rain showers after 9 p.m.

The forecast calls for a continued chance of rain, rainshowers and thunderstorms through the weekend and into early nexst week, with highs in the 70s.

The recent rains have put the area back into decent levels of precipitation for the year.

With just .01 inches of rain reported at the Havre City-County Airport by midnight Monday, Havre was at 6.73 inches for the calendar year, compared to a normal value of 6.06 inches for that date.

For the water year, measured from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, Havre had 7.70 inches compared to a normal value of 7.47 inches.

Much of that pickup came in the last part of June.

After a wet - and extremely cold - February, the area didn't see much precipitation in March and was slightly below normal for April.

By the end of May, which was just short of its normal value for Havre of 1.74 inches with 1.68 inches recorded, Havre was still ahead of the normal value for the year, with 4.52 inches recorded compared to the 3.73 inches. For the water year, Havre had 4.59 inches compared to a normal value of 5.14 inches.

But the area didn't see much rain in the next few weeks.

By June 15, Havre had recorded .23 inches of precipitation compared to a normal value of 1.13 inches, and the level for the calendar year was down from the normal value of 4.86 inches with 4.75 inches this year. The value for the water year was at 5.72 inches with the normal value at 6.27 inches.

But the rain came back at the end of the month. By June 30, Havre had received 2.20 inches of precipitation, just ahead of the normal value of 2.19 inches, putting it back ahead of normal for the calendar and water years.