textproduct: Billings

KEY MESSAGES

- Cold front this afternoon and evening ends strong wind threat and brings a band of precipitation (rain transitioning to snow) through the area. Light snow accumulations for the foothills expected. Impacts to this evening's commute possible.

- Periods of moderate to heavy snowfall over the Absaroka- Beartooth Mountains into Saturday. Additional snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches forecast, greatest on south and west aspects.

- Another period of moderate to heavy snow is expected in the Absaroka- Beartooth Mountains Sunday into Monday. Chance of 12 or more inches of snow is 80 percent over the highest peaks.

UPDATE

As of 4PM MST, the cold front is moving into northern Wyoming, ending the strong wind threat. Therefore, the High Wind Warnings for Big Horn County, MT and Sheridan County, WY, as well as the Bighorn/Pryor Mountains and Bighorn Canyon, have been allowed to expire.

AVIATION

Strong winds from mountain wave activity have tapered off to 25-35kts across the Beartooth/Absaroka and Bighorn/Pryor foothills will continue until a frontal passage moves through the afternoon. This will shift the winds northwest (25-35kts) and bring a rain/snow mix before transitioning to all snow. Areas of moderate snowfall (KSHR, KLVM) will be most likely to see reductions in visibility due to blowing snow this evening (40-50% chance). IFR/LIFR conditions are possible under these circumstances. Expect mountain obscurations through midnight when precipitation is expected to have cleared the area. TS

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS

Tdy Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu ------------------------------------------------------- BIL 057 027/042 026/039 031/050 029/048 032/054 032/052 6/W 50/U 01/E 23/W 11/B 01/E 11/B LVM 051 021/037 021/041 033/047 031/050 037/051 033/049 7/J 60/N 02/W 55/W 32/W 13/W 32/W HDN 057 023/042 022/039 027/048 026/045 027/053 029/051 8/W 70/U 00/E 22/W 10/B 00/E 11/B MLS 052 017/034 018/036 026/045 025/042 026/048 028/045 3/W 20/U 00/B 11/E 10/B 00/B 10/B 4BQ 055 024/038 021/041 030/049 028/049 032/056 032/051 4/W 70/U 00/B 01/E 00/B 00/B 10/B BHK 051 013/030 016/039 024/045 023/043 026/051 026/045 4/W 20/U 00/B 01/E 00/B 00/B 10/B SHR 058 017/037 016/041 026/048 026/049 030/056 028/051 2/W 90/U 00/E 01/E 00/B 00/B 11/B

BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...Winter Weather Advisory in effect until midnight MST tonight FOR ZONES 56-58-66-138. High Wind Warning in effect until 5 PM MST this afternoon FOR ZONES 63-228. Winter Storm Warning in effect until 5 AM MST Saturday FOR ZONE 67. WY...Winter Weather Advisory in effect until midnight MST tonight FOR ZONE 199.