textproduct: Billings

KEY MESSAGES

- Hot, dry and occasionally breezy through the weekend. Fire weather conditions remain elevated to critical.

- Wildfire smoke will keep skies hazy for the next several days, and will occasionally reduce air quality. For the latest air quality, visit AirNow.gov.

- Warm but trending more humid next week, leading to increasing thunderstorm potential.

UPDATE

Latest smoke analysis shows improving but still reduced air quality across our area. We have seen a push of "cleaner" air with last night's frontal passage, but all indications are that we will see a slow increase again today. Hazy skies from lofted smoke and periods of higher surface-based smoke will continue for the foreseeable future. Look for highs today in the upper 80s to mid 90s (coolest east). Most of the area will see easterly winds, but breezy downslope winds will develop along the far western foothills again today. A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for Saturday. Have made some minor adjustments to smoke cover, otherwise forecast is in good shape. JKL

AVIATION

Smoke will fluctuate across the region over the next 24 hours. MFVR visibilities are likely (50-70% chance) for KLVM and areas in the Absaroka/Beartooth mountains and immediate foothills by this afternoon. For all other TAF sites, there is a low chance (10-20%) for visibility reductions down to MVFR beginning this afternoon. Slant range visibility will continue to be affected by smoke. Archer

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS

Tdy Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu ------------------------------------------------------- BIL 093 061/099 063/095 062/091 062/089 062/084 059/079 0/K 00/K 00/U 00/U 00/U 12/W 33/T LVM 095 055/097 056/093 055/092 054/090 054/085 051/080 0/K 00/K 00/U 00/U 00/U 01/U 22/T HDN 095 056/100 059/095 057/093 059/090 059/085 054/081 0/K 00/K 00/U 00/U 00/U 12/T 43/T MLS 090 057/097 061/093 059/090 061/087 059/083 056/079 0/K 00/K 00/B 01/U 11/U 23/T 44/T 4BQ 093 060/099 063/095 061/091 061/088 060/083 057/080 0/K 00/K 00/B 01/U 22/T 25/T 45/T BHK 087 054/097 056/093 055/087 054/086 053/082 050/078 0/K 00/K 00/B 11/B 32/W 33/T 34/T SHR 095 055/100 059/095 057/093 058/088 057/082 054/079 0/K 00/K 00/U 00/U 11/U 15/T 55/T

BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...Red Flag Warning in effect from noon today to 9 PM MDT Saturday FOR ZONE 117. Fire Weather Watch in effect from Saturday morning through Saturday evening FOR ZONES 123>133. WY...Fire Weather Watch in effect from Saturday morning through Saturday evening FOR ZONES 274-284.