textproduct: Billings

KEY MESSAGES

- Light mixed wintry precipitation tonight into Saturday morning. Rain/Snow/Freezing Rain/Sleet are all possible, with a mix of Rain/Snow most likely.

- Periods of moderate to heavy snow, strong winds, and whiteout conditions for area mountain through the Saturday afternoon. Heaviest snow on west to northwest aspects.

- Gusty to locally strong wind gusts tonight into Saturday morning for the western foothills, including Red Lodge, Livingston, Nye, Big Timber, Harlowton.

- Warmer and drier pattern Sunday into early next week. Temperatures in the 50s forecast for many areas Friday.

- Uncertainty increasing for mid to late next week.

AVIATION

18z Discussion...

Isolated snow showers linger across the region at this hour. Precipitation is expected to fill back in from west to east around 00z. Expect a wintry mix of all precipitation types at terminals away from mountains (Including KBIL). This scatted mixed precipitation is expected to linger through most of the period. Expect widespread MVFR CIGs and VIS with sporadic dips down to IFR. In any of the heavier snow showers (most likely at KSHR and KLVM) IFR VIS should be expected.

In eastern Montana (KMLS/KBHK) low clouds continue to blanket the region and this will be the theme for the entire period, including through the precipitation. After 12z the precipitation will start to thin out in this region which will allow fog/freezing fog to rapidly develop upon the end of the precipitation. The period between 12z and 18z near KMLS/KBHK will likely see rapid continuous fluctuations between MVFR RASN and LIFR FZFG.

Gusty winds will also be a concern for much of the forecast area after 09z. WSW winds at KBIL may gust as hig has 25kts after 12z. Winds in the foothills (KLVM/K6S0) may be able to touch 40kts during this timeframe. This may allow for even further VIS reductions under snow showers due to BLSN. Expect mountains to partially to fully obscured for the entire period. WMR

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS

Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 028/038 022/042 030/044 034/050 032/046 027/039 019/029 84/O 10/B 00/B 14/R 55/O 55/O 44/S LVM 030/039 027/041 030/044 034/049 032/049 031/043 023/043 97/S 30/N 20/N 24/R 66/R 55/R 43/R HDN 023/037 018/042 025/044 030/049 027/044 022/038 015/028 96/O 41/B 10/B 15/R 56/R 56/O 44/O MLS 018/026 011/035 022/039 031/046 024/036 017/029 009/021 77/S 41/B 00/B 23/R 34/O 53/O 33/S 4BQ 022/034 016/040 024/043 030/048 027/040 022/037 016/026 64/O 21/B 00/B 13/R 43/O 43/O 33/S BHK 013/027 004/033 017/039 025/043 017/033 012/029 006/020 78/S 52/S 00/B 34/R 33/S 62/O 32/S SHR 019/039 018/042 021/046 026/052 025/046 022/041 014/034 65/O 31/B 00/B 03/R 54/O 55/O 43/O

BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...Wind Advisory in effect from 6 PM this evening to noon MST Saturday FOR ZONE 65. Winter Storm Warning in effect until 2 PM MST Saturday FOR ZONES 67-68. Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 2 PM MST Saturday FOR ZONE 171. WY...Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 2 PM MST Saturday FOR ZONE 198.