529 FXUS65 KBYZ 302232 AFDBYZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Billings MT 332 PM MST Tue Dec 30 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Gusty winds (35 to 55 mph) continue over the foothills west of Billings through Wednesday. Minor travel impacts due to crosswinds along I-90 around Livingston to Big Timber and US-191 from Big Timber to Harlowton. - Warmer and dry weather continues into the second half of the week. - Periods of light snow look to return to the south and west slopes of the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains Friday into the weekend. Plains look to remain mostly dry. && .DISCUSSION... Today through Monday... Warmer and dry conditions will continue into the second half of the week under persistent northwesterly flow aloft. Within this northwesterly flow, occasional disturbances will drop southeast out of Canada into the northern plains, clipping far eastern Montana. This will keep temperatures cooler in the east with highs in the 30s to lower 40s, while persistent downslope winds over south-central Montana and northern Wyoming keep temperatures warmer in the 40s and 50s. Along with the warmer and dry conditions, gusty winds will continue over the foothills west of Billings this evening into Wednesday, strongest around Livingston to Nye and Big Timber to Harlowton. While these winds have backed off a bit this afternoon, the ingredients favoring stronger gusts (40 to 55 mph) are expected to return this evening into tonight. An isolated gust to 60 mph is even possible, but chances remain lower around 20 to 40 percent, greatest around Livingston to Nye where a strong pressure gradient exists. While winds look to decrease during the day Wednesday, breezy conditions look to continue Wednesday night into Thursday morning over the foothills. Therefore, those with travel plans along Interstate 90 from Livingston to Big Timber or Highway 191 from Big Timber to Harlowton should be prepared for gusty crosswinds at times today into Thursday. Late this week, Pacific moisture, courtesy of another atmospheric river impacting the west coast, will try to advect into our area. While this will likely bring periods of light snow to the south and west facing slopes of the Absaroka- Beartooth Mountains, the chance of precipitation across the rest of the area is minimal due to mid-level convergence and subsidence. Saturday into Sunday, a bit stronger wave may move into our region, temporarily ending the subsidence. While a few members of each ensemble forecast suggest light precipitation is possible during this time (15 percent chance or less), the model consensus remains just increased cloud cover. Will have to see how things trend. This Saturday into Sunday system will also bring the chance of strong crosswinds back to the western foothills Friday night into Saturday morning. Currently, the Livingston to Nye area has a 40 percent chance of seeing 60 mph wind gusts Friday night into Saturday morning. Arends .AVIATION... Widespread VFR conditions will prevail. Breezy winds, up to 30kt gusts, are forecast for KBIL after 03z tonight. KLVM can expect to see WSW winds with gusts up to 35kts before 04z and up to 45kts after 04z. Elsewhere, gusts up to 20kts are possible after 06z. WMR && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS... Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 032/049 032/049 033/051 037/056 033/051 030/049 029/049 00/U 00/B 00/E 00/B 01/B 00/B 01/B LVM 033/051 032/050 034/051 037/053 032/047 029/045 028/045 00/N 00/N 00/B 01/N 11/N 11/B 11/B HDN 024/045 025/044 028/048 030/054 030/050 027/047 026/047 00/U 00/B 00/E 00/B 11/B 01/B 11/B MLS 023/037 021/037 019/036 025/046 030/047 027/045 024/043 00/U 00/B 00/E 00/B 10/B 00/U 01/B 4BQ 026/045 027/045 026/046 030/052 032/050 028/047 026/045 00/U 00/B 00/B 00/B 10/B 00/U 01/B BHK 021/034 017/036 015/038 023/047 026/045 023/042 021/040 00/U 00/U 00/E 00/B 10/B 00/U 01/B SHR 025/050 027/050 029/049 030/054 027/049 024/047 023/046 00/U 00/B 00/B 00/B 11/B 00/B 11/B && .BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. WY...None. && $$ weather.gov/billings