835 FXUS65 KBYZ 282334 AFDBYZ Area Forecast Discussion...Updated National Weather Service Billings MT 534 PM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated showers mainly west of Billings this evening through overnight. Showers increase and spread over the plains Monday. - Snow is expected in the mountains mainly above 9000 feet through Monday, with accumulations of 1-3" (around 9kft), 3 to 6 inches with locally higher amounts up to 9 inches above 10kft. - Windy for the mountains and foothills with gusts to 30-55 mph, greatest in the foothills west of Billings. && .DISCUSSION... A strong upper low remains over northern Montana this afternoon. Warmer and drier conditions exist east of Billings, with clearer skies. Meanwhile, around and west of Billings low to mid clouds along with increasing showers and maybe a few rumbles of thunder are spreading across south-central MT. This will begin a period of precipitation for much of the foothills and mountains west of Billings, especially in the Absaroka/Beartooth and Crazy Mountains, where snowfall is forecast. As the upper low pivots into southern MT and eastern ID through Monday, additional periods of precipitation are expected to increase from west to east. The best chance at least 0.5" exists in the mentioned mountains where total liquid precipitation amounts up to 1.5" are forecast through Monday. Cooler temperatures are forecast across the west-central areas through Monday, with high temperatures in the 50s to low 70s. In the mountains, temperatures are currently in the 30sF this afternoon. Look for overnight temperatures to drop into the 20s and low 30s at the higher elevations. Snow levels will drop towards 7,500 feet tonight allowing for accumulating snowfall. The majority of accumulating snow will occur above 9000 feet. The current forecast has 1 to 3 inches of snowfall around 9kft, 3 to 6 inches with locally higher amounts up to 9 inches above 10kft. Recreation in the mountains will be impacted by wintry conditions to start the week. Travel along the Beartooth Highway, mainly above Vista Point will also be impacted by accumulating snowfall and strong wind gusts up to 60 mph. Because of this, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until Monday evening. The upper lows placement is bringing gusty west to northwest winds across the area, with gusts in the 20 to 45 mph range today. Monday looks to be slightly gustier, with gusts up to 50 mph. Each day the strongest winds will be across the foothills west of Billings and in each of the Absaroka/Beartooth, Crazy, and Bighorn mountains. The most recent runs from the HRRR have been showing a period of higher wind gusts in the Bighorns around sunrise tomorrow morning, with projected gusts into the 60s mph. The latest forecast has gusts in the low 50s however, with ensembles and other models not depicting quite as strong winds. A weak wave Monday morning may bring a few rumbles of thunder to the far southeast, though strong storms are not expected. The upper low looks to finally get moving and departs the state into Tuesday, leaving breezy conditions with westerly winds gusting in the 20 to 40 MPH range (greatest in the foothills west of Billings and along the Dakotas Border). Wednesday through Friday, a series of upper shortwaves is depicted by the latest ensemble runs. These look to bring the chance for showers and a thunderstorms. The extent of thunderstorm strength is not clear at this time, though machine learning networks suggest little threat for severe weather at this time. Look for high temperatures in the 70s and low 80s during this timeframe as well. Cluster and ensemble analysis are in moderate agreement that ridging will begin to build over the Northern Rockies over the weekend, bringing temperatures back into the 80s and potentially 90s going into next week. Matos .AVIATION... Isolated showers continue this evening into overnight, increasing to scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms Monday morning and afternoon. Localized MFVR to IFR conditions are possible under the strongest showers. Expect mountain obscuration. West winds will briefly decrease for many locations overnight, before increasing to widespread 20 to 40 kt gusts by late Monday morning. There is a moderate chance for low level wind shear to develop overnight into early Monday morning near the mountains, including KRED and KSHR. Archer && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS... Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 047/066 054/078 053/079 054/083 055/084 055/081 056/087 25/W 21/B 23/T 21/B 23/T 42/T 10/U LVM 040/056 043/072 045/074 045/077 047/078 046/078 048/084 58/T 53/T 25/T 44/T 35/T 42/T 10/U HDN 046/070 052/079 051/081 052/086 054/086 054/083 054/089 04/W 21/U 33/T 11/B 13/T 42/T 10/U MLS 050/072 051/078 053/081 055/086 057/088 057/082 055/087 14/T 21/N 15/T 11/B 24/T 42/T 11/U 4BQ 052/073 052/079 054/081 055/086 058/089 057/081 056/088 32/W 10/U 34/T 12/T 12/T 42/T 21/U BHK 049/073 048/077 050/079 052/085 054/087 054/081 052/084 23/T 20/N 15/T 32/T 23/T 53/T 11/U SHR 046/071 045/077 048/078 049/083 051/084 051/080 050/086 22/W 11/U 34/T 12/T 13/T 33/T 11/U && .BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 6 PM MDT Monday FOR ZONE 67. WY...None. && $$ weather.gov/billings