textproduct: Billings

KEY MESSAGES

- Very strong southwest to west winds along the western foothills tonight through Tuesday morning. Gusts of 60-70 mph are likely.

- Strong west to northwest winds across the plains on Tuesday. Wind gusts exceeding 50 mph are likely.

- Warmer than normal temperatures through Wednesday.

- Prolonged period of snowfall in the western mountains. Potential for multiple feet of snow through Wednesday, greatest on west aspects of the Beartooth Absarokas.

- Next shot of cold air is expected to arrive Thursday, which may be accompanied by accumulating snowfall through Saturday morning. Uncertainty remains high so please monitor the forecast.

UPDATE

Winds have been steadily increasing over the western mountains and foothills this evening, ahead of an approaching weather system. The KIDA-KLWT pressure gradient is currently around 16mb, and is expected to increase to around 20 mb early tomorrow morning, along with 700mb winds of 60-80 kts. So far, Livingston has gusted to 68 mph, with 70 mph at Quad Creek in the Beartooth Mountains. Winds are expected to increase overnight into Tuesday morning, spreading east across the plains through the day Tuesday. Wind forecast remains on track with gusts of 70-80 mph possible along the western foothills overnight into Tuesday morning, and gusts towards 60 mph across the rest of the area on Tuesday. The going wind highlites remain in good shape.

Besides the strong wind, a plume of Pacific moisture is spreading into the mountains, with some of the SNOTELs in the southwest mountains having picked up a couple tenths of snow water equivalent so far this evening. Expect periods of snowfall to continue, heaviest in the mountains outside Cooke City overnight into Tuesday. Over the lower elevations, light rain is expected to develop and spread east into southeast Montana overnight into Tuesday morning. In general, surface temperatures and air temperatures are expected to remain above freezing, keeping the threat of freezing rain diminished over the area. Have updated wind, PoPs and temperatures to current trends through the overnight hours. An updated aviation discussion is below. STP

AVIATION

Strong winds continue over the western foothills and gap areas, including KLVM, with southwest to west gusts around 40-50 kts. These winds will increase overnight into Tuesday morning, with gusts in the 50s and 60s kts. For all other TAF sites, winds will increase Tuesday morning, with westerly gusts of 40-50 kts common by Tuesday afternoon. Light rain will spread over eastern areas overnight into Tuesday morning, with showers dropping through the area into the afternoon. Mountains will be obscured due to heavy snowfall. STP

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS

Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 039/052 031/050 038/045 008/016 009/025 011/041 023/040 15/R 48/O 67/O 66/S 31/E 10/B 10/B LVM 041/050 031/054 044/051 022/044 034/048 030/048 031/046 36/R 78/O 57/R 65/O 21/B 11/B 11/B HDN 036/052 028/048 033/044 004/017 006/024 006/038 017/038 47/R 49/O 78/O 77/S 42/S 11/B 10/B MLS 035/048 024/040 028/035 902/008 002/015 002/031 012/029 54/R 07/O 65/O 54/S 52/S 10/E 10/B 4BQ 035/051 027/042 032/042 004/014 007/022 009/037 021/037 45/R 17/O 76/O 64/S 42/S 10/B 10/B BHK 032/045 018/036 023/033 908/005 905/013 901/029 011/030 67/R 05/S 75/O 42/S 53/S 10/B 10/B SHR 032/053 024/047 032/046 009/026 012/036 014/046 021/044 26/R 48/O 67/O 74/S 21/B 00/B 10/B

BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...High Wind Warning in effect from 5 AM to 5 PM MST Tuesday FOR ZONES 29>34-36-37-42-57-58-138-169-170-173-235. High Wind Warning in effect until 5 PM MST Tuesday FOR ZONES 63-141-172-228. High Wind Warning in effect until 11 AM MST Tuesday FOR ZONES 65>68. Winter Storm Warning in effect until 5 PM MST Wednesday FOR ZONE 67. WY...High Wind Warning in effect from 5 AM to 5 PM MST Tuesday FOR ZONE 199. Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 5 AM Tuesday to 5 PM MST Wednesday FOR ZONE 198.