textproduct: Billings

KEY MESSAGES

- A brief period of mixed precipitation, including freezing rain (up to 0.05 inches of ice), is forecast to impact northern Rosebud County eastward late tonight into early Saturday.

- Strong wind gusts along western foothills late Friday through Saturday, gusts up to 65 mph expected.

- Mostly dry and very warm with periods of gusty winds along the western foothills through the next 7 days.

- Increased grass fire concerns across the area next week.

AVIATION

18Z Aviation Discussion...Ridging over the area this morning has kept patchy fog in place across portions of SE Montana. As of the 17z observations have seen significant improvement in most areas, with a reduction to MVFR visibility in Baker. Anticipate further improvement to VFR conditions for this area over the next hour or two.

Winds already gusting to 40kts or so over the western foothills around Livingston, with gusts over 25kts from Nye to Big Timber (K6S0) and Harlowton (K3HT). Expect to mix out to a west wind over these areas this afternoon with more uniform gusts in th 30 to 35kt range. As the sun sets will see winds increase, especially from Livingston to Nye, into the 40 to 50kt range. The strong wind gusts will continue through the sunrise hours tomorrow. Further east, the stronger winds will stay off the surface producing occasional wind shear for KBIL east to near KMLS.

The biggest impact to flights will come late evening through the early morning hours as an area of light freezing rain/freezing fog is anticipated from near Forsyth east into the Western Dakotas. This will include the KMLS/KBHK/K4BQ/K1S3 terminals starting around 04z, and lasting through sunrise along the eastern state line. Temperatures are forecast to increase quickly as the westerly winds mix down to the surface around sunrise, with a gust morning anticipated for Saturday in most locations. Chambers

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS

Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 037/057 033/057 035/056 033/054 032/058 038/062 030/056 11/N 00/B 00/N 01/B 00/B 00/U 00/U LVM 036/052 033/055 032/049 031/049 031/055 034/058 031/056 10/N 00/B 00/N 01/B 00/B 00/U 00/U HDN 034/057 027/056 033/057 030/054 029/059 033/063 027/054 21/B 00/B 00/U 11/B 10/B 00/U 00/U MLS 026/050 025/047 029/052 028/047 025/052 034/055 025/047 31/N 00/B 01/U 01/B 00/B 00/U 00/U 4BQ 027/050 027/053 032/052 029/048 027/053 035/058 027/051 31/N 00/B 00/B 11/B 10/B 00/U 00/U BHK 015/043 022/041 024/046 023/041 022/045 029/049 022/041 44/W 00/B 01/B 11/B 00/B 00/U 00/B SHR 028/052 027/057 029/052 026/049 027/055 031/061 026/054 20/N 00/B 00/B 12/W 10/B 00/U 00/U

BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 11 PM this evening to 11 AM MST Saturday FOR ZONES 31>33-36-37. Wind Advisory in effect from 8 PM this evening to 11 AM MST Saturday FOR ZONES 65-66. High Wind Warning in effect from 11 PM this evening to 2 PM MST Saturday FOR ZONES 141-172-228. WY...None.