FXUS65 KBYZ 231523 AFDBYZ Area Forecast Discussion...Updated National Weather Service Billings MT 923 AM MDT Sun Aug 23 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Showers and thunderstorms possible today. A few storms could be strong to severe, with strong wind gusts 55-65 mph the main threat. Localized heavy rainfall is also possible. - Drier with seasonal temps next week with just an occasional chance of precipitation. && .UPDATE... Showers over northeastern areas are slowly exiting off to the east this morning as remaining energy from last nights wave slides into the Dakotas. Still expecting another round of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, some of them strong to severe. Have updated PoPs, weather and wind to latest observations and trends this morning. STP && .DISCUSSION... Through Saturday... Upper level troughing moving over the ridge will be the dominant factor in the weather over the next couple of days. Today will see 500-1000 J/kg of CAPE, 30-40kts of 0-6KM shear, and steep lapse rates create a favorable environment for thunderstorm development. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Risk Level 2 of 5 for severe storms. The main threat with these storms is the potential for wind gusts in excess of 70 mph and hail greater than 1 inch. Thunderstorm chances (20-40%) increase along the western foothills around 12 PM and move east throughout the afternoon and evening. Areas west of Billings could see a period of elevated fire weather concerns on Sunday as pre-frontal conditions bring westerly wind gusts of 15-30 mph, with humidity down near 20 percent. A low pressure system moving through southern Canada Monday will bring a cold front through the region decreasing temperatures from the low to mid 90s F on Sunday to the 80s F Monday. Drier air is expected to move in behind the cold front with minimum relative humidity values expected to be in the teens to low twenties. Breezy winds of 20-30 kts are expected along the western foothills and from Northern Rosebud County southeast to Carter County. This will lead to localized areas of elevated fire concern. Cooler conditions in the 80s F continue Tuesday. Upper level troughing begins to move off to the east Tuesday bringing high confidence in upper level ridging returning. This upper level ridging is expected to interact with an upper level trough over the Pacific Northwest. At this time, models are in agreement that the upper level ridge will win keeping warmer temperatures and drier conditions over our region, and cooler conditions to the west. Upper level high pressure centered over the southwestern US is expected to bring in monsoonal high based moisture bringing daily 10-40% chances for showers and thunderstorms Tuesday through the weekend. Temperatures will continue to be slightly above average in the high 80s and low 90s F Wednesday through Saturday. Torgerson .AVIATION... Another round of showers and thunderstorms will develop over the Beartooth/Absaroka mountains around 19Z and spread east through the region into the evening. Strong wind gusts up to 50kts are the main threat from this activity, particularly at KLVM and KBIL from 22Z to 02Z, and at KMLS between 02Z and 05Z. Wildfire smoke may affect slant range visibility at times. BT && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS... Tdy Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat ------------------------------------------------------- BIL 095 062/088 060/085 061/090 063/093 062/091 062/089 3/T 30/U 00/U 00/B 21/B 20/B 11/B LVM 089 050/086 049/085 051/088 052/089 051/087 051/086 6/T 10/U 01/U 11/B 41/B 31/U 22/W HDN 097 059/088 055/087 056/092 060/094 059/092 058/090 3/T 30/U 00/U 00/B 11/B 20/B 11/B MLS 096 064/087 057/084 056/087 060/093 062/091 061/090 1/B 20/U 00/U 00/U 11/B 21/B 21/U 4BQ 095 065/087 058/085 057/088 061/092 062/091 061/090 2/T 20/U 00/U 00/U 11/B 21/B 21/U BHK 093 059/088 053/085 050/086 053/090 056/090 055/090 3/T 20/U 00/U 00/U 01/B 23/T 22/W SHR 092 057/086 053/084 052/087 055/090 055/089 055/088 3/T 30/B 02/T 12/T 11/B 11/B 11/U && .BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. WY...None. && $$ weather.gov/billings