textproduct: Billings

KEY MESSAGES

- Windy today with peak gusts in the 30s to 50s mph over much of the plains, with 50 to 70 mph over areas west of Billings. Crosswinds will make travel difficult at times.

- Breezy conditions, with periods of stronger winds over the foothills west of Billings, will continue through the second half of the week. - Very warm conditions return Wednesday through at least Friday before another potential weather system arrives Saturday.

AVIATION

12z TAF discussion...Warm advection pattern is in progress across the area with strong low level winds spreading west to east across the forecast area. Snow pack strengthened surface inversion is expected to keep the strongest wind gusts just off the surface for all but the mountains and foothills through the day Tuesday. Will see westerly gusts over 50kts at times from Livingston to Big Timber to Harlowton. Gusts for the rest of the area, including KBIL/KSHR/KMLS, should stay mainly in the 25 to 35kt range though isolated stronger gusts are not out of the question especially over higher exposed locations.

Due to the surface inversion low level wind shear will be common across the area with westerly winds of 40 to 60kts just above this feature. Current KBLX VWP shows 45-60kts at 500-1500ft AGL. Warm advection and Pacific moisture will keep considerable cloud cover over the area today. VFR conditions are expected to prevail due to the strong downslope winds across the region. Winds will diminish into the early evening hours. Chambers

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS

Tdy Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon ------------------------------------------------------- BIL 058 040/069 043/074 047/077 048/069 035/056 036/062 1/N 10/N 00/B 00/B 13/W 22/W 11/B LVM 060 047/070 048/073 050/075 050/068 034/056 035/061 1/N 10/N 00/N 00/N 12/W 22/W 11/N HDN 056 037/070 039/076 043/079 045/070 034/057 034/064 2/R 10/E 00/B 00/B 13/W 32/W 21/B MLS 059 038/064 040/071 044/075 046/065 033/050 032/058 1/N 00/B 00/U 00/U 12/W 21/B 11/B 4BQ 062 039/068 040/073 044/076 046/070 035/053 034/060 1/N 00/B 00/U 00/U 01/B 21/B 11/B BHK 056 035/063 037/070 041/072 043/063 029/048 028/056 1/N 00/N 00/N 00/U 11/B 21/B 11/B SHR 063 038/072 038/074 043/077 045/072 033/056 032/062 1/B 10/B 00/U 00/U 02/W 22/W 21/B

BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...High Wind Warning in effect until 9 PM MDT this evening FOR ZONES 34-42-63-141-172-228. Wind Advisory in effect until 6 PM MDT this evening FOR ZONES 65-66. WY...None.