textproduct: Billings

KEY MESSAGES

- Snow and areas of blowing snow continue this evening, then taper off overnight and Saturday morning; be prepared for wintry travel conditions! - Colder than normal temperatures Saturday through Monday; highs in the teens and 20s over the weekend; lows in the single digits above and below zero regionwide Saturday night.

- Increased winds along the western foothills Monday night and Tuesday.

- Another system may bring rain and snow showers, Tuesday into Wednesday (moderate chance).

UPDATE

Snow continues over much of the region but we are starting to see a shift in most widespread snow to the east, while snow in the west is becoming more banded and of less coverage. Mid level front is sagging southward thru the region now and BLX VAD winds show deeper NW winds, i.e. a downslope wind, as opposed to the NE surface winds which prevailed most of the day. Mesoanalysis shows PV advection associated with the main upper level trof over our west. As this feature passes we will see a definite downward trend in snowfall from west to east tonight. One thing to watch is a secondary much weaker shortwave (on water vapor imagery dropping from southern AB into north central MT) which should help to prolong chances of light snow. This is especially true for areas east of Billings as some high res models show light snow lingering to near 18z tomorrow. Our west will see clearing late tonight, but again will need to monitor the Canadian wave to our north. If Livingston clears out a couple hours before sunrise, their record low for the 29th of -12F could be approached. Current temps are in the single digits at Judith Gap & Wilsall, and already 13F at Livingston. The coldest air mass yet of the fall, by far.

Making no changes to the Winter Weather Advisories in effect for all lower elevations...these are well in hand...but have adjusted pops up to 100% account for current falling snow, and extended low pops in our east a bit longer into the day tomorrow.

As of 4pm, we measured 3.9" of snow at our office on the west side of Billings.

JKL

AVIATION

A winter weather system will continue to bring snow, gusty north winds (20-40 knot gusts), low ceilings, and reduced visibility to all TAF sites tonight into Saturday morning. MVRF to IFR conditions remain common, with occasional reductions to LIFR under heavier snow and blowing snow. Mountains are obscured. Overnight, expect precip to taper off in our west, and winds to gradually slacken across the region. Areas of light snow will continue east of KBIL into the 12-18z time period tomorrow. Expect clearing skies and a transition to widespread VFR from KBIL westward late tonight and Saturday morning, while MVFR ceilings linger thru much of tomorrow in the east. JKL

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS

Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 007/020 004/020 008/034 023/038 022/033 020/038 028/041 +0/U 00/B 00/B 14/O 42/S 12/S 32/O LVM 906/026 009/028 011/036 024/038 020/036 019/039 026/043 90/U 00/B 00/B 36/S 41/B 12/S 33/O HDN 009/020 902/020 003/035 015/039 020/032 015/039 024/041 +2/S 00/B 00/B 16/O 63/S 12/O 43/O MLS 013/016 902/016 001/027 015/035 015/025 012/035 024/037 +2/S 00/B 00/B 13/S 51/E 12/S 42/O 4BQ 014/018 001/021 007/033 018/036 020/028 016/037 026/038 +2/S 00/B 00/U 02/S 51/E 12/S 42/O BHK 008/016 909/016 902/026 011/033 009/023 009/034 020/035 +3/S 00/B 00/B 02/S 41/E 12/S 42/S SHR 008/020 001/025 005/037 015/040 018/033 013/041 022/043 +2/S 01/B 00/U 14/S 63/S 12/O 43/O

BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 5 AM MST Saturday FOR ZONES 29>32-34-40-42-56-57-63>66-139-141-169-170-172-173-228-235. Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 11 AM MST Saturday FOR ZONES 33-36-37-58-138. WY...Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 11 AM MST Saturday FOR ZONE 199.