textproduct: Billings

KEY MESSAGES

- Gusty crosswinds over the foothills west of Billings through Tuesday morning, strongest around Livingston to Nye this evening. Crosswinds may impact portions of I-90 and US-191.

- Weather system brings precipitation (rain/snow) back to the area tonight through early Wednesday. Light snow accumulations expected over the higher hills of southeast MT with several inches of snow down into the southern mountains and foothills.

- Unsettled conditions continue Thursday into the weekend.

UPDATE

Deepening lee side trof ahead of a clipper system dropping through BC is resulting in fairly strong wind gusts along the western foothills this evening. In fact, Livingston and Nye just recently reported gusts near 60 mph. Pressures in central MT are falling ~1mb/hr and the 02z IDA-LWT gradient is up to 13mb. All indications are that the gradient will tighten a bit more over the next few hours, with mid level winds around 40 knots. Stability doesn't appear to be ideal, but ingredients should be sufficient for advisory level gusts thru the evening, before a trend down overnight as pressures begin to rise with a cold front's arrival. Have issued a Wind Advisory for the Livingston Area and Beartooth Foothills through 12z Tuesday. Otherwise, as the aforementioned system approaches the chance of light snow over the western mountains and lower elevations east of Billings will increase through the night. Starting to see weak echoes on BLX radar in northern Rosebud County. Areas from the Bull Mountains eastward across our northeastern zones should see a little snow accumulation before daybreak and this is something to keep an eye on. In the meantime, have made a few pop/wx/wind adjustments based on current trends. JKL

AVIATION

SW-W winds will remain strong along the western foothills through the night. Expect gusts of 40-50 knots at KLVM-K6S0-KHWQ, strongest at KLVM. A cold front'a arrival early Tuesday will reduce winds along the western foothills but cause breezy W-NW to spread across the lower elevations tomorrow, with gusts up to 25 knots.

Other than wind, a system dropping out of the NW will bring increasing chances of snow to the region tonight through Tuesday. Expect reductions to MVFR-IFR east of Billings initially (late tonight into early Tuesday), then locations further west and south tomorrow as winds shift to the NW. Mountains will become obscured by late evening and continue to be obscured through tomorrow. JKL

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS

Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 027/037 017/030 019/036 026/038 022/034 018/039 026/041 26/O 61/B 00/B 23/S 54/S 20/B 10/B LVM 030/037 018/036 021/039 026/042 027/040 025/042 027/044 46/S 51/B 01/B 45/O 65/O 21/B 21/N HDN 022/037 014/029 012/038 023/039 018/034 013/039 023/041 47/O 81/B 01/B 44/O 66/O 41/B 11/B MLS 021/036 009/019 011/034 024/034 013/026 008/034 023/037 37/O 41/B 00/B 42/S 63/S 30/B 10/B 4BQ 021/036 013/022 015/036 023/037 019/033 016/036 026/039 28/O 71/E 00/B 32/S 43/S 30/B 10/B BHK 014/034 000/017 005/033 019/032 009/025 004/031 018/036 24/S 30/B 00/B 32/S 53/S 30/B 10/B SHR 019/038 015/030 011/039 019/040 019/036 016/042 021/043 27/O 82/S 00/B 33/O 55/O 40/B 11/B

BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 5 AM Tuesday to 5 AM MST Wednesday FOR ZONES 36-37-57-58-138. Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 5 PM Tuesday to 5 AM MST Wednesday FOR ZONES 56-66-169. Wind Advisory in effect until 5 AM MST Tuesday FOR ZONES 65-66. Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 11 AM Tuesday to 5 AM MST Wednesday FOR ZONE 171. WY...Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 5 PM Tuesday to 5 AM MST Wednesday FOR ZONE 199.