textproduct: Billings

KEY MESSAGES

- Breezy winds along the western foothills today.

- Storm system Tonight into Friday: Widespread rain transitioning to snow over the lower elevations Thursday. Uncertainty in snow totals for the foothills and lower elevations remains.

- Moderate to heavy snow for all mountains.

- Warmer and Dry this Weekend.

UPDATE

Quick update to add a Wind Advisory for the Livingston area and Beartooth foothills, in effect through this evening. Current observations show wind gusts in the 50s to 60s around the Livingston area, with pressure gradients overachieving. Have updated the wind forecast through this evening. The remainder of the forecast is on track. STP

AVIATION

While winds may decrease near KLVM into the morning, look for gusty southwest to west winds to increase once again today. These gusty winds will also impact K6S0 and KHWQ during the day today. Late today into Thursday, a cold front is expected to move through the area. Ahead of this front, isolated to scattered showers are forecast over and near the mountains of south-central and western Montana this afternoon and evening. A few weak thunderstorms are possible over the west (20% chance) during the afternoon and evening. As the cold front brings widespread rain/snow into Thursday, conditions will deteriorate towards MVFR to IFR. Mountain obscurations will increase this afternoon into tonight over the west. STP

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS

Tdy Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue ------------------------------------------------------- BIL 068 038/046 025/047 027/059 035/069 042/075 043/076 1/B 58/W 34/J 20/U 00/U 01/B 12/W LVM 060 029/038 020/041 022/055 030/064 037/070 040/071 5/W 99/J 57/J 30/U 00/U 01/B 12/W HDN 071 038/048 025/049 024/059 028/070 037/077 043/077 1/B 48/W 44/J 21/U 00/U 01/U 11/U MLS 070 040/049 023/043 022/054 028/067 039/075 043/074 1/B 34/W 31/B 00/U 00/U 00/U 01/U 4BQ 069 041/053 024/042 019/052 028/066 038/074 043/074 0/U 14/W 62/J 11/U 00/U 00/U 01/U BHK 069 038/054 022/039 018/049 025/064 036/071 040/070 0/U 12/W 52/J 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/U SHR 067 034/047 021/039 019/050 025/064 034/072 038/073 0/B 29/W 86/J 31/U 00/U 00/B 12/W

BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MT...Wind Advisory in effect until 10 PM MDT this evening FOR ZONES 65-66. Winter Storm Warning in effect from noon today to 6 AM MDT Friday FOR ZONES 67-68. WY...None.