Montana’s Weather Transformation

After days of gloomy, wet, and even snowy weather across Montana, things are finally starting to turn around. And just in time, too, because we could be in for a pretty incredible night sky show.

Forecasters say skies are expected to clear enough for a strong chance to see the Aurora Borealis Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, conditions are lining up across a wide stretch of the northern U.S. That includes much of Montana, along with parts of Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. If everything comes together, this could be one of those rare nights when the lights dip farther south than usual.

Maximize Your Aurora Viewing Experience

Of course, it all comes down to cloud cover. Even with strong solar activity, clouds can block the view. If you are planning to head out, keep an eye on local conditions. The best viewing window is usually late at night into the early morning hours, away from city lights.

READ MORE: Two Beautiful Montana Locations That Have Dark Skies

There is also a bigger weather picture starting to take shape.

Summer Forecast: Drier Days Ahead

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a dry summer across both eastern and western Montana. Both regions are expected to trend drier than average, though western Montana could see slightly cooler temperatures. That could take some of the edge off the heat during peak summer months.

READ MORE: Farmer’s Almanac Predicts Dry Montana Summer with Wild Temperature Swings

For now, though, all eyes are on the sky. If the clouds cooperate, Wednesday night could bring a rare and memorable light show across Big Sky Country.

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Birdies and Bliss is a women‑focused golf fundraiser for Northern Nevada Hopes that brings the community together for a day of connection, fun and giving back.

Meredith Tanzer, philanthropy associate, stopped by Morning Break to invite the community to this feel good event that pairs fun golfing with meaningful impact, supporting programs at HOPES that make a real difference for families.

This inaugural tournament takes place Monday, May 4 at Red Hawk and Resort. It marks an exciting beginning and reflects the generosity and strength of the community that supports our mission. Click here to reserve your spot.

BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. — The Bernalillo County Assessor filed an ethics complaint against the treasurer over short-term rentals and allegedly costing the county nearly $2 million.

Assessor Damian Lara accused Treasurer Tim Eichenberg of setting up “NM Property Tax,” a business hired by the owners of at least seven residential properties, to help lower their taxes and represent them before the county’s valuation protest board – as they faced higher taxes for reclassifying their properties as short-term rentals.

While the board sided with the reclassification, Lara accused Eichenberg of ignoring the decision and costing the county “nearly $1.8 million.”

Lara filed a letter with the State Ethics Commission regarding these claims. He’s asking them to investigate Eichenberg’s alleged violations of state law regarding government conduct.

“Lowering the tax liability for these businesses means that the average homeowner has to pick up that cost,” Lara said, “and that’s unfair to all homeowners who have played by the rules.

“The law is clear on this issue: If you operate as a business, you are classified as a business.”

In April, Lara’s office developed a first-of-its-kind policy reclassifying short-term rentals. The policy will classify properties that are rented for fewer than 29 nights-in-a-row as commercial properties.

This new policy affects houses, condos, and apartments but doesn’t include leased apartments or hotels.

In 2023, there were approximately 4,000 properties considered short term rentals. With this new policy, 1,000 are considered short term rentals and the remaining 3,000 are now available as long-term housing.

MORE: Bernalillo County reclassifies short-term rentals