675
FXUS65 KBYZ 082126
AFDBYZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
326 PM MDT Wed Oct 8 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Warm and mostly dry through Friday.

- Weather system arrives later this weekend, bringing cooler
  temps, increased winds, rain showers at lower elevations, and
  mountain snow.

- Probability of 6+ inches of snow is 40-70 percent over the
  Absaroka-Bearooth and Crazy Mountains, and 25 percent over the
  Bighorn Mountains.

- Unsettled weather looks to continue next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Today through Tuesday...

Warm and dry conditions will continue into Friday with upper
level ridging aloft. During this time, look for high temperatures
to be in the upper 60s and 70s and low temperatures to be in the
30s to lower 50s, with there being a low chance (20 percent or
less) of seeing a freeze in sheltered river valleys tonight. While
much of the area will remain dry Friday, there is a slight chance
(15 to 30 percent) of precipitation mainly over the mountains as
some energy and moisture moves into our region from the southwest.
Winds also look to increase over eastern Montana (around and east
of Custer and Powder River Counties) during the day Friday with
southeasterly gusts in the 20s and 30s (mph) common. By late
Friday night into Saturday, look for breezy conditions to develop
over the foothills west of Billings as well.

Saturday will be another warm day with high temperatures in the
70s to lower 80s over the plains. While eastern Montana looks to
remain dry during the day, the chance of precipitation does
increase (to 20 to 70 percent, greatest over the mountains) over
south- central Montana and northern Wyoming as our next weather
system approaches the region. With this, there looks to be modest
instability available, which could result in a few weak
thunderstorms developing (15 percent chance). By late Saturday
into Sunday, the cold front associated with our next weather
system will push through the area, bringing cooler temperatures,
increased winds, and precipitation in the form of rain for much of
the lower elevations and snow for the high country.

As far as precipitation potential goes, look for the chance of
precipitation to increase and spread east through the area
Saturday night into Sunday. At this point, there is a moderate to
high chance of precipitation across the entire area, highest over
south- central Montana and lowest near the Montana/Dakotas border.
With this, the chance of seeing a half inch (0.50") or more of
precipitation is around 40 to 70 percent over south- central
Montana and northern Wyoming and around 10 to 30 percent over
south- eastern Montana. With snow levels dropping around 6,000
feet by Sunday, snow is expected over the mountains. At this
point, the chance of seeing 6 or more inches of snow generally
above 8,000 feet is 40 to 70 percent over the Absaroka-Beartooth
and Crazy Mountains. By Monday morning, the coldest air of the
system looks to settle into the area. While the precipitation
looks to come to an end for much of the area, upslope flow around
Melville to Harlowton, and surrounding communities, could
(moderate chance) produce light snow as snow levels drop around
4,000 feet. Should this happen, accumulations look to remain
light.

Breezy conditions will also occur along and behind the frontal
passage late Saturday into Sunday. At this point, wind gusts in
the 20s and 30s (mph) look to be common, strongest over the
foothills west of Billings and over far eastern Montana. For areas
in far eastern Montana around Baker and Ekalaka, gusts around 40
mph are even possible (moderate chance). Otherwise, look for high
temperatures to drop into the upper 40s to lower 60s Sunday into
early next week. Overnight lows will also be cooler in the 20s and
30s by Sunday night.

By the middle part of next week, another weather system may
impact the region. At this point, a lot of uncertainty remains,
but the general trend of cooler and wetter weather looks to
continue. Stay tuned. Arends

.AVIATION...

Clear conditions will prevail through the forecast period. Breezy
SW winds (20-25kts) will diminish late this evening at KLVM. TS

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Thu     Fri     Sat     Sun     Mon     Tue     Wed
-----------------------------------------------------------
BIL 044/070 042/072 051/079 043/057 034/048 032/052 036/055
    00/U    01/U    02/W    87/W    31/B    12/W    32/W
LVM 038/072 040/076 047/073 034/053 026/048 027/052 030/052
    00/U    01/U    15/T    87/W    42/W    23/W    44/W
HDN 039/071 040/074 047/079 042/058 031/053 030/055 032/055
    00/U    01/U    02/W    77/W    31/B    12/W    32/W
MLS 041/073 042/076 052/079 045/057 032/054 035/058 037/058
    00/U    00/U    00/U    56/W    20/B    11/B    32/W
4BQ 042/074 044/075 054/079 045/058 033/058 037/060 039/060
    00/U    00/U    00/B    36/W    10/B    11/B    22/W
BHK 040/073 038/070 048/075 044/058 029/055 033/059 036/061
    00/U    00/N    10/B    35/W    10/U    11/B    32/W
SHR 039/075 039/076 046/078 038/058 029/055 031/058 034/058
    00/U    02/W    01/U    57/W    21/B    12/W    22/W

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...None.
WY...None.

&&

$$
weather.gov/billings