047 FXUS65 KTFX 302335 AFDTFX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Great Falls MT 435 PM MST Tue Dec 30 2025 Aviation Section Updated. .KEY MESSAGES... - It will be warm and mostly dry through the end of the work week. - Light snow will return to the mountains Friday through this weekend. - It will be windy at times through the work week with the strongest winds along the Rocky Mountain Front tonight through Wednesday. && .DISCUSSION... /Issued 232 PM MST Tue Dec 30 2025/ - Meteorological Overview: This afternoon there is an upper-level ridge over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will bring warm temperatures (well-above seasonal averages) to the area. This afternoon through Wednesday morning there is a strong pressure gradient across North- central Montana. This will bring gusty winds to North-central Montana through Wednesday morning with the strongest winds along the northern Rocky Mountain Front and plains west of I-15. On Wednesday and Thursday the upper-level ridge remains over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will bring warm and dry weather to the area on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday and Thursday a cold front will keep Hill and Blaine Counties cold with near seasonal averages for temperatures. On Friday the upper-level ridge remains over North- central, Central, and Southwestern Montana with an upper-level trough approaching the area. This will bring snow chances to the mountains of North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana on Friday. Warm temperatures will remain across the area on Friday with cold temperatures in Hill and Blaine County. On Friday it will be mostly dry across the lower-elevations of North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. On Saturday the upper-level trough begins to move over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will bring snow chances to the mountains of North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. Due to southwest flow aloft it will remain warm across North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. Due to a strong surface pressure gradient and strong low and mid-level winds on Saturday it will be windy. On Sunday the upper-level trough will remain over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will bring another chance for snow to the mountains of North- central, Central, and Southwestern Montana on Sunday. On Sunday temperatures will cool slightly across North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. Due to a strong surface pressure gradient and strong low and mid-level winds on Sunday it will be windy. -IG - Forecast Confidence & Scenarios: This evening through Wednesday morning there is an anonymously high pressure gradient along the northern Rocky Mountain Front out to the plains west of I-15. However, deterministic models and probabilistic guidance don't support winds near high wind warning criteria occurring in that area. The 90th percentile (reasonable high-end forecast) NBM only has wind gusts approaching High Wind Criteria and not exceeding it. As a result the High Wind Watch was cancelled. From 6 AM Friday through 6 AM Monday there is a 20 - 60% chance for 2 inches of snow or greater across the Rocky Mountain Front and the mountains of Southwestern Montana. -IG && .AVIATION... 31/00Z TAF Period VFR condition's prevail with high level clouds passing through. Gusty west winds persists along the Rocky Mountain Front through the evening hours. Dry conditions prevail at TAF sites. -Wilson && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 32 50 27 44 / 0 0 0 0 CTB 25 45 22 41 / 0 0 0 0 HLN 22 42 24 42 / 0 0 0 0 BZN 19 43 22 43 / 0 0 0 0 WYS 7 37 12 34 / 0 0 0 30 DLN 22 44 26 42 / 0 0 0 10 HVR 19 34 14 29 / 0 0 0 0 LWT 30 53 29 47 / 0 0 0 0 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls