textproduct: Billings

KEY MESSAGES

- Winds increasing this evening over the western foothills.

- Dangerously strong winds expected across the region Thursday. Winds may be stronger than last Sunday's event. Crosswinds will make travel difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Damage to roofs/fences and trees are possible, along with power outages.

- An atmospheric river event will bring a prolonged period of snow well into the weekend.

- Significant snowfall is expected for the mountains. Snowfall potential has increased for the lower elevations.

AVIATION

Very strong winds will impact the area over the next 24 hours. SW winds will strengthen along the western foothills tonight. Expect gusts of 50 knots at KLVM early, increasing to near 70 knots overnight. K6S0 & KHWQ will see similar gusts by early Thursday. There is a low risk of surfacing mountain waves in the lee side of the Beartooth, Pryor & Bighorn Mountains late tonight and early Thursday morning (potentially impacting KSHR). A frontal passage will push strong/well-mixed W-NW winds across lower elevations tomorrow, beginning 15-16z and continuing thru most of the afternoon. Expect gusts of 50-60 knots at KBIL, KMLS & KSHR with a ~30% chance of gusts reaching 65+ knots at these sites. Gusts along the western foothills may push 80 knots at times along the western foothills.

Other than wind, Pacific flow will bring periods of snow to the western mountains tonight and Thursday, resulting in occasional obscurations of the high terrain. Eastern plains will see shower chances increase with the frontal passage tomorrow afternoon, possibly resulting in late day MVFR conditions. Greater precip potential arrives Thursday evening as winds decrease.

JKL

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS

Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 038/060 030/036 029/037 012/032 018/047 038/062 041/073 12/R 99/S 9+/S 82/J 34/W 31/E 00/B LVM 038/054 037/043 036/044 015/036 025/052 044/064 044/070 22/O 79/O 9+/O 83/J 55/W 31/N 00/N HDN 035/063 028/037 026/038 011/032 015/047 035/064 035/075 12/R 99/S 9+/O 93/J 34/W 31/E 00/B MLS 032/054 025/038 024/035 010/026 011/039 030/058 036/070 35/O 46/S 69/S 71/E 13/J 32/W 00/B 4BQ 029/059 027/038 026/039 013/028 011/041 031/059 038/073 13/O 88/S 79/O 82/J 13/J 31/B 00/U BHK 028/050 020/037 020/032 009/023 006/035 022/053 034/066 26/O 35/S 48/S 82/J 12/J 32/W 00/U SHR 025/058 023/037 023/042 009/029 012/046 032/062 037/073 03/R 98/S 89/O 93/J 24/W 31/B 00/U

BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...High Wind Warning in effect from 6 AM to 9 PM MDT Thursday FOR ZONES 29>33-36-37-57-58-138-139-169-170-173-235. Winter Storm Watch in effect from Thursday evening through late Saturday night FOR ZONES 29>31-34-36-42-57-58-63-138-141-171>173-228-235. High Wind Warning in effect until 9 PM MDT Thursday FOR ZONES 34-40-42-63>68-141-172-228. High Wind Warning in effect from midnight tonight to 9 PM MDT Thursday FOR ZONES 56-171. Winter Storm Warning in effect until 6 AM MDT Sunday FOR ZONE 67. Winter Storm Watch in effect from Thursday afternoon through late Saturday night FOR ZONE 68. WY...Winter Storm Watch in effect from Thursday evening through late Saturday night FOR ZONES 198-199. High Wind Warning in effect from midnight tonight to 9 PM MDT Thursday FOR ZONES 198-199.