Expires:No;;050319 FXUS65 KBYZ 091026 AFDBYZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Billings MT 326 AM MST Fri Jan 9 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Light snowfall Friday night into Saturday morning along the Dakotas border, around half an inch. - Periods of strong winds over the western foothills and gap locations, continuing through the weekend and potentially into next week. - Period of stronger winds possible across the Plains on Monday, stay tuned. - Warm and mostly dry conditions arrive for the weekend into next week. && .DISCUSSION... Today through Thursday... Strong NW flow is setting up over the region today, with a developing upper low plunging into the Midwest and a strong ridge building over the Mountain West through the weekend. A few weak disturbances are forecast to move through this flow though, bringing light persistent snow showers to all mountains. Light accumulations are forecast, with up to 2 inches. The main concern today into Saturday will be breezy to strong winds across the foothills and gaps west of Billings. Despite a strengthening pressure gradient for the Livingston and Nye gap winds, 700mb winds will be northwesterly through today, before shifting slightly to become more WNW. The lack of more W-SW flow looks to diminish the threat for even higher wind gusts greater than 60 mph, with the probability of that around 50-60%, greatest overnight tonight into Saturday. The current forecast has breezy winds across the US-191 corridor as well today, with a favorable gradient developing there as well. Gusts in the 30s and 40s are expected, with a 50% chance for a few gusts of 50 mph around Big Timber and Harlowton. Breezy conditions will spread across the plains today and last through Sunday, with an upper disturbance passing through. The current forecast has winds gusting in the 20s to 30s mph across the plains. The Wind Advisory for the Livingston and Nye areas remains in effect until 11AM MST Saturday, with periods of strong crosswinds expected. As the ridge continues to shift east on Saturday, HiRes models are indicating an increase in the chance for precipitation in the far east, with another wave moving through. The latest forecast has light snow accumulations through Saturday morning, with around 0.5 inches for Carter and Fallon Counties. Although impacts look to be minor, make sure to take care if traveling Saturday morning. Temperatures are forecast to be in the 30s and 40s today, before warming through the weekend. High temperatures for Saturday will be in the 30s to 50F (coolest in the east), and 40s and 50s on Sunday. Models and ensembles are depicting the ridge flattening over the area on Monday. Temperatures look to be quite warm again, with highs in the 50s to 60F. Additionally, low to mid level northwest winds will increase, with 30-40+ knots at 850mb and 50-60 knots at 700mb. This will be worth monitoring, as the latest forecast and guidance has widespread gusty winds on Monday. Currently there is moderate confidence of winds approaching 60 mph along the US-191 corridor, as well as continued gusty winds for the gap locations. Ridging looks to rebuild into mid-week, with warm and dry conditions persisting. Temperatures are forecast to remain in the 40s and 50s, approaching 60F on Tuesday and Wednesday. Additional periods of wind will remain possible as well. There is low confidence on a notable pattern change, with a few models depicting a trough breaking through on Thursday. This remains to be seen, especially for snow lovers. Matos .AVIATION... Breezy winds will prevail across the area today, strongest over the western foothills (including KLVM, K6S0, K3HT). While surface winds may decrease over the plains tonight, breezy winds look to continue over the western foothills. Around KBIL, if winds do decrease into tonight, minor low level wind shear may occur. Otherwise, light snow showers are possible around KMLS and KBHK mid-day today (15 percent chance), before a better chance of more widespread light snow over far eastern Montana (KBHK and K97M) develops tonight into Saturday (30 percent chance). Arends && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS... Tdy Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu ------------------------------------------------------- BIL 042 032/050 034/053 038/059 044/058 041/060 038/052 0/N 00/N 00/N 00/N 11/E 00/B 02/W LVM 035 027/045 030/050 034/052 038/051 036/056 034/049 1/N 10/N 00/B 00/N 12/W 00/B 02/W HDN 041 030/050 031/055 032/059 042/057 038/059 035/051 0/B 00/B 00/B 00/B 12/W 10/B 13/W MLS 035 025/043 027/051 033/056 041/052 031/051 033/045 0/B 10/B 00/B 00/B 11/B 00/B 12/W 4BQ 035 028/043 031/053 033/056 042/052 034/053 034/047 0/B 11/B 00/U 00/B 11/E 10/B 12/W BHK 032 017/034 021/047 028/052 034/047 028/047 028/042 2/B 21/E 00/B 00/B 11/N 10/B 12/W SHR 036 021/046 026/055 028/057 034/052 032/055 029/047 0/N 10/N 00/B 00/B 13/W 10/B 12/W && .BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...Wind Advisory in effect until 11 AM MST Saturday FOR ZONES 65-66. WY...None. && $$ weather.gov/billings