textproduct: Billings

KEY MESSAGES

- Windy conditions are expected into Friday. Widespread wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph can be expected, with the strongest winds along the east side of the Bighorn Mountains and near the Montana-Dakotas border.

- The combination of light snow and strong winds over portions of eastern Montana tonight into Friday morning may cause reduced visibility below a mile at times (moderate chance).

- A period of light to moderate snow is forecast along the southern foothills late this afternoon and evening. Minor impacts to the evening commute are possible (moderate chance). Total snow accumulations of 0.5 to 2 inches.

- Coldest temperatures of the year so far, Friday night into Saturday morning. Low temperatures in the teens to single digits below zero, lowest near the Montana-Dakotas border.

AVIATION

18z Discussion...

A strong cold front will move through the area from NW to SE during the daytime hours today. Expect the FROPA at KBIL aroun 20z and at KSHR around KSHR. Winds will quickly pick up to 30-40kts with gusts up to 50-55kts out of the NW. Scattered rain/snow showers are also expected along this front. All sites should expect this strong wind push except KLVM may be able to keep gusts under 40kts. Snow showers will linger around KSHR/KRED through 06z as the mountain slopes see an extended period of snow. Mountains will be partially to fully obscured after 22z. Breezy winds in excess of 35kts will stick around for the entire region into the day tomorrow.

Additionally, as winds stay strong in the plains (KMLS/KBHK) and snow showers move into the area after 05z, reduced visibility is possible due to BLSN. This may be localized and thus VFR conditions will likely prevail with brief dips down to MVFR/IFR. WMR

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 028/035 018/045 035/043 019/043 031/048 023/043 026/042 10/N 00/U 01/B 00/B 01/B 11/B 12/J LVM 023/034 019/045 026/041 021/044 027/045 024/045 028/044 10/N 00/U 00/B 00/U 00/B 11/B 12/J HDN 025/034 011/041 030/041 015/041 027/047 018/040 022/040 21/N 00/U 01/E 10/B 01/B 21/B 12/J MLS 021/028 004/032 024/033 008/031 022/039 017/034 018/033 11/N 00/U 00/E 00/B 01/E 11/B 11/B 4BQ 022/028 006/035 026/037 011/034 022/042 018/036 021/038 31/N 10/U 01/E 10/B 01/B 11/B 11/B BHK 014/022 904/026 016/027 000/023 011/037 013/030 013/028 52/J 10/B 01/N 00/B 01/E 11/B 11/B SHR 019/029 011/037 026/038 012/037 019/046 017/040 020/041 51/N 10/U 01/N 10/B 01/B 11/B 11/B

BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...High Wind Warning in effect until 5 PM MST Friday FOR ZONES 29>33-36-37-57-58-138-173. High Wind Warning in effect until noon MST Friday FOR ZONES 34-42-63-141-170-172-228-235. High Wind Warning in effect until 5 AM MST Friday FOR ZONES 56-139. Wind Advisory in effect until 5 AM MST Friday FOR ZONE 66. WY...High Wind Warning in effect until 5 PM MST Friday FOR ZONE 199.