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000
FXUS65 KBYZ 170930
AFDBYZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
330 AM MDT Wed Apr 17 2024

.DISCUSSION...

Today through Thursday night...

Light to heavy snow and rain showers are ongoing early this
morning across the region. While areas around Billings are seeing
a mix of rain and snow, all snow is falling along the foothills
and mountains now. Montana DOT is reporting snow covered roads
through the Paradise Valley, and webcams show snow covered roads
around Roscoe, Red Lodge, and Burgess Junction. Expect hazardous
winter driving conditions to continue in these areas through at
least the morning commute today. For the latest conditions, call
511 or visit MT/WY 511 online.

The heaviest snow along the foothills is still expected to fall
early this morning, with precipitation backing off through the
morning hours. By afternoon today, an additional push of rain and
snow looks to develop with unstable northwesterly flow in place,
adding more snow to the foothill areas. At this time, an
additional 1 to 2 inches of wet snow can be expected along the
immediate foothills, with another 2-4 inches over the north facing
slopes of the mountains. This round should be less impactful
though with daytime heating present. Areas north and east of
Billings could see weak afternoon rain/snow showers develop as
well within the unstable northwesterly flow (15-20% chance). While
uncertainty remains on the end time of precipitation along the
mountains and foothills today, it looks like all precipitation
will wrap up by tonight across the area. This will not last long
as another round of light snow showers looks to develop over the
mountains and foothills Thursday afternoon under the continued
unstable northwest flow (15-40% chance).

Temperatures will remain 10 to 15 degrees below normal today and
Thursday with highs in to 30s and 40s. Thursday morning will be
cold, with temperatures dropping back below freezing across the
area (lows in the 20s). Therefore, make sure to protect sensitive
vegetation from these cooler temperatures. Hazardous conditions
for young livestock will continue south and west of Billings
today as well before drier conditions move in tonight.

Lastly, breezy winds will continue today and Thursday with 20 to
35 mph gusts common. On Thursday, the breezy conditions will
persist generally for areas east of Billings. Arends

Friday through Tuesday...

Cool north to northwest flow aloft is progged to remain over the
area into Saturday. Breezy northwest winds over far eastern areas
on Friday will decrease into Friday evening. Cyclonic flow aloft
and upslope flow at the lower levels will produce rain/snow
showers during the afternoon and evening hours on Friday and
Saturday, greatest near the southern mountains/foothills. Current
precipitation chances range from 20-40% over the southern
mountains and foothills. Light snow accumulations can be expected
in the mountains.

Brief shortwave ridging over the region Saturday night into
Sunday will transition to more unsettled conditions the second
half of Sunday as a low is progged to cross southern Canada. An
associated cold front looks to spread shower chances across the
area into Monday, with zonal to northwest flow in place for
Tuesday. Current precipitation chances Sunday afternoon into
Monday range from 20-50%, highest over the mountains.

Below normal temperatures are forecast through Saturday. High
temperatures will range from the upper 30s to lower 40s Friday,
with 40s and lower 50s on Saturday. Temperatures climb into the
50s and 60s for Sunday through Tuesday, warmest on Tuesday.
Overnight lows in the teens and 20s warm towards the 20s and 30s
early next week. STP

&&

.AVIATION...

Mountain/foothills snow and lower elevation rain/snow from KRPX to
K00U to KSHR and areas west will continue to produce MVFR to LIFR
conditions at times through the morning, continuing along the
immediate foothills and mountains through the afternoon. Showers
VC KMLS and KBHK this afternoon and evening could produce local
MVFR conditions at times. North to northwest surface winds gusting
20-35 kts can be expected across the area today, strongest east
of KBIL. Mountains will be obscured into tonight due to snow. STP

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Tdy Thu     Fri     Sat     Sun     Mon     Tue
-------------------------------------------------------
BIL 045 028/046 025/043 026/050 032/063 038/061 037/067
    6/O 10/U    00/B    22/S    03/R    21/B    02/R
LVM 040 021/045 022/042 023/050 032/060 033/057 035/065
    7/S 21/B    11/B    21/U    13/R    10/B    12/R
HDN 047 026/048 023/044 025/052 029/065 036/062 035/069
    5/O 10/B    00/B    12/S    03/R    31/B    11/B
MLS 047 028/044 023/040 021/047 029/062 038/059 035/066
    2/O 20/N    00/B    01/U    01/B    21/U    00/B
4BQ 047 028/045 022/041 022/048 029/064 038/059 035/066
    2/O 10/N    00/B    02/S    01/B    31/B    00/B
BHK 047 025/040 019/038 018/045 025/059 034/054 031/062
    2/O 20/N    00/N    01/U    01/B    31/N    00/B
SHR 040 021/043 019/041 020/047 025/062 034/057 032/066
    8/O 31/U    01/B    22/S    02/R    31/B    11/B

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 6 AM MDT
      Thursday FOR ZONES 34-40-64-65-138-141-169-170-172.
     Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until noon MDT
      Thursday FOR ZONES 56-66.
     Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 PM MDT
      Thursday FOR ZONES 67-68-171.
WY...Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 6 AM MDT
      Thursday FOR ZONE 199.
     Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 PM MDT
      Thursday FOR ZONE 198.

&&

$$
weather.gov/billings