FXUS65 KBYZ 170648
AFDBYZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT 
1248 AM MDT Sat Oct 17 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Gusty winds along the foothills west of Billings through this
  evening.

- Warm and dry into next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Today through Friday...

Ridging will dominate the pattern today, bringing well above
normal temperatures to the area. Expect highs in the 70s today 
along with dry conditions. A favorable pressure gradient over the 
Paradise Valley will result in increased winds along the Beartooth
Foothills into this evening, with gusts in the 30s to 50 mph. The
latest probability for gusts of at least 50 mph for around 
Livingston and Nye is 50 to 70 percent. The probability for gusts 
of 60 mph or greater is around 20 to 30 percent.

A dry cold front is shown by models moving through the region
tonight, this will bring cooler temperatures for Sunday with highs
in the 50s and 60s. Ensembles show ridging rebuilding Monday and 
Tuesday, bringing temperatures back into the 60s and low 70s.

Uncertainty remains high for the middle of next week, though
guidance is showing a low digging along the West Coast. The latest
forecast has a low chance of precipitation coming into the
mountains southwest of Billings late Tuesday into Wednesday at
this time. Continue to monitor the forecast as the weekend
progresses.

Matos

.AVIATION...

VFR conditions are expected throughout the TAF period. Southwesterly
winds from 15-25 kts gusting 35-45 kts are expected in the south 
central MT foothills through the day. Southerly flow will be 
draining out of the Bighorn Basin bringing winds gusting up to 30 
kts to locations such as Joliet and Laurel. Winds will slowly 
diminish after 20Z for all locations. BT

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Tdy Sun     Mon     Tue     Wed     Thu     Fri     
-------------------------------------------------------
BIL 074 041/061 036/068 042/068 040/063 042/069 045/058
    0/U 00/B    00/U    00/U    00/B    01/B    46/W
LVM 073 038/062 034/071 039/067 036/064 037/067 037/051
    0/N 00/B    00/U    01/B    10/B    12/W    68/W
HDN 076 036/065 034/069 036/069 036/066 038/071 043/059
    0/U 00/U    00/U    00/U    00/U    00/B    46/W
MLS 073 040/062 041/069 041/067 040/063 043/070 046/060
    0/U 00/B    00/U    00/U    00/U    01/U    35/W
4BQ 077 042/063 042/069 044/070 041/064 046/074 049/061
    0/U 00/B    00/U    00/U    00/U    01/U    36/W
BHK 076 040/063 035/066 037/071 038/065 040/074 045/065
    0/U 00/B    00/N    00/U    00/U    01/U    35/W
SHR 078 037/063 034/068 038/070 038/065 040/071 042/058
    0/U 00/U    00/U    00/U    00/U    01/U    37/W

&&

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

&&

$$
weather.gov/billings