545
FXUS65 KBYZ 021912
AFDBYZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
1212 PM MST Mon Nov 2 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Widespread precipitation expected through today.

- Moderate snowfall expected for north and west aspects of the
  Absaroka/Beartooth and Bighorn Mountains today.

- Windy conditions over portions of eastern Montana and northern
  Wyoming today, gusts 25 to 45 mph common. A few gusts of 50 mph
  or higher in southeast Montana and northern Wyoming.

- Patchy fog may bring reductions to visibility tonight into
  Tuesday morning for portions of southern Montana and northern
  Wyoming.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Rest of Today through Sunday...

Precipitation continues across portions of southern Montana and
northern Wyoming this afternoon. The upper trough over the Four
Corners and a surface low over the Dakotas will continue eastward
through this evening. This will pull the precipitation with it,
ending it from west to east. Mountain snowfall for north-west
faces of the Absaroka/Beartooths, Pryors, and Bighorns will
continue into the afternoon as well.

Breezy conditions will continue into the afternoon as well with a
tight pressure gradient over eastern Montana and northern Wyoming.
Gusts of 25 to 45 mph are occurring and a few gusts into the low
50s mph are possible, mainly in far eastern Montana along the
Dakotas border and in southern Sheridan County. Winds will
decrease this evening as the system departs the region.

A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 8 PM MST this
evening for the Bighorn Mountains, with additional snowfall up to
6 inches forecast and the windy conditions resulting in
significant reductions to visibility from blowing snow. Locally
greater amounts are possible at the higher elevations. The bulk of
additional snow accumulations will fall above 7,000 to 7,500
feet. If you have plans to travel through the Bighorns on Highway
14 or have recreation plans in the high country, prepare for
very difficult conditions.

For additional precipitation amounts, eastern Montana looks to be
favored with 0.25" to over 0.75" of rainfall forecast through this
afternoon. For portions of northern Wyoming downsloping has kept
the area drier than what models previously depicted. Sheridan
Airport has yet to pickup any rainfall yet today, though this
should change as precipitation moves south-east with the
aforementioned system movement. For locations around and north-
west of Billings expect lighter accumulations the rest of today.

Patchy fog may develop for much of the forecast area east of
Livingston tonight into Tuesday morning. Use caution during the
morning commute as reductions to visibility could impact travel.

The rest of the week looks warmer and drier with ridging. High
temperatures are forecast in the upper 40s and 50sF Tuesday
through Wednesday. Above normal temperatures are in store to end
the work week, with highs in the 50s to low 60sF. A few showers
may move through the mountains on Friday with an upper wave,
otherwise the chance for precipitation is very low this week.

Matos

.AVIATION...


Issued 18z. Precip (rain w/ mountain snow) is ending along the
western foothills but continues elsewhere. Expect precip to taper
off from west to east this afternoon & evening (ending most areas
by 06z). Reductions to MVFR-IFR will be common while precip is
occurring, and mountains will remain obscured, especially north
aspects. NW winds will gust 25-40 knots until sunset, greatest
east of KBIL. Expect decreasing wind and a transition to
widespread VFR tonight. Will need to monitor for potential fog
late tonight into early Tuesday, but this is of low confidence
(20% chance) due to a westerly component of surface wind expected
to persist. VFR prevails Tuesday after any early morning fog and
low stratus. JKL

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Tue     Wed     Thu     Fri     Sat     Sun     Mon
-----------------------------------------------------------
BIL 032/052 032/049 032/056 034/055 038/056 036/060 040/059
    00/U    00/B    00/U    00/U    10/U    00/B    00/B
LVM 023/052 027/050 025/053 026/052 029/053 029/060 034/060
    00/U    00/B    00/U    10/U    20/U    00/U    00/B
HDN 026/052 025/049 026/055 029/056 032/057 029/061 032/061
    20/U    00/B    00/U    00/U    10/U    00/U    00/U
MLS 029/049 028/049 029/052 031/054 034/053 031/058 036/059
    20/U    00/B    00/B    00/U    11/N    00/U    00/U
4BQ 030/051 027/053 029/056 031/056 034/054 032/061 036/062
    50/U    00/B    00/U    00/U    10/U    00/U    00/U
BHK 028/048 025/051 025/053 027/054 031/053 028/058 033/059
    40/U    00/B    00/B    00/U    11/N    00/U    00/U
SHR 024/054 024/054 025/057 027/057 029/055 027/065 032/064
    40/U    00/B    00/U    00/U    10/U    00/U    00/U

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 8 PM MST this evening
      FOR ZONE 171.
WY...Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 8 PM MST this evening
      FOR ZONE 198.

&&

$$
weather.gov/billings