271
FXUS65 KTFX 020859
AFDTFX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
159 AM MST Mon Nov 2 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Any lingering snow near the central island ranges and the higher
  terrain of the Big Sky area diminishes and ends early this
  morning.

- Generally milder and drier conditions then prevail for much of
  the workweek.

- Passing weather systems will bring periods of breezy to windy
  conditions and mostly mountain precipitation heading into the
  latter part of the week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Precipitation is already diminishing from west to east, but the
trough axis looks to send a couple more shortwaves that will lower
H700 temperatures to around -5C through the early morning hours.
Lingering snow will be most widespread over and near the
Madison/Gallatin Ranges and the Little Belt/Snowies in central MT.
There may also be some patchy fog development for wind protected
areas that happen to clear out prior to or near sunrise. Gusty
northwesterly surface winds on the backside of the departing
trough will continue through the day, with the eastern portion of
central/north-central MT looking to see wind speeds exceeding the
25 to 30 mph ranges at times.

Ensembles continue to favor ridging aloft to bring milder and
drier conditions heading into the mid-week period; however, breezy
conditions develop on Tuesday in advance of weak shortwave,
followed by a brief and modest cooldown on Wednesday. A more
progressive pattern becomes established over the Northern Rockies
during the second half of the week and brings breezy to windy
conditions and mostly mountain precipitation for the weekend.
- RCG

&&

.AVIATION...
02/06Z TAF Period

Light precipitation will continue to slowly exit off to the east
through the night. Across southwest Montana where precip wants to
hang on longer, reduced visibility and low cloud decks will be a
concern into the early morning hours. Terminal KWYS may have calm
enough winds for a brief period of lower visibility with the
development of fog, that threat will burn off quickly with
sunrise. Clouds gradually move eastward, breaking up and rising
through the morning. VFR conditions return to all terminals in the
2nd half of the TAF period. -JR

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF  49  31  55  31 /   0   0   0   0
CTB  48  26  50  28 /   0   0   0   0
HLN  49  27  49  29 /   0   0   0   0
BZN  42  24  47  27 /  30   0   0   0
WYS  40  16  44  19 /   0   0   0   0
DLN  44  24  46  28 /   0   0   0   0
HVR  46  28  49  29 /  10   0   0   0
LWT  40  27  55  30 /  60   0   0   0

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

$$
http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls