732 FXUS65 KTFX 280550 AFDTFX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Great Falls MT 1050 PM MST Fri Feb 27 2026 Aviation Section Updated. .KEY MESSAGES... - Light snow will continue along the Hi-Line and Rocky Mountain Front through tomorrow morning. - It will be breezy through tonight along the Southern Rocky Mountain Front. - It will be cold tomorrow across the plains of North-central Montana before it warms up Sunday through early next week. && .UPDATE... /Issued 644 PM MST Fri Feb 27 2026/ Updated evening forecast is out. Main adjustment was to end the high wind warning along the divide, and to end the winter weather advisory over the Northern Rockies, along with Fergus Counties. Thus the only remaining statement out right now is a winter weather advisory, mostly over Blaine County and the Bears Paw Mountains. As of 630 PM, the cold front that pushed southward through the Great Falls area earlier today has pushed northward this evening, with temperatures rising into the 50s in the Great Falls area for a bit. This front will go a bit further north towards Fort Benton, but then start to push southward after Midnight once again, as another push of northerly winds from Canada moves southward through the area. Expect some light snow to accompany this frontal boundary, with Blaine County most impacted. Light snow is possible from Great Falls to Lewistown on Sat morning, but any snow accumulations should be minimal. Temperatures on Saturday will be tricky as well, with temperatures likely falling during the day once again over portions of North Central MT. For Southwest MT, expect seasonal temperatures through the weekend, as the cold fronts are expected to mostly remain north of this area. The cold front pushes back northward on Sunday, as mild air starts to move back in from the south. This mild air will be over much of the CWA next week. Brusda && .DISCUSSION... /Issued 220 PM MST Fri Feb 27 2026/ - Meteorological Overview: This afternoon there is an upper-level ridge over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. An upper-level shortwave will move through the upper-level flow this afternoon through tonight. This combined with a strong surface pressure gradient will bring strong winds to the Southern Rocky Mountain Front down to MacDonald Pass. A cold front moved through North-central Montana this morning stopping just south of Great Falls along the Montana Highway 200/US Highway 87 corridor. The portions of the plains of North-central Montana north of the Montana Highway 200/US Highway 87 corridor will be cool today and cold tomorrow due to the cold front. Also due to the shortwave passage and cold frontal passage along the Rocky Mountain front and portions of the Hi-Line and Fergus County will see light snow through tomorrow morning. Tonight a secondary push of cold air will move through North-central Montana. On Saturday an upper-level ridge builds in over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana this will keep warm and dry conditions for Southwestern Montana. On Saturday North-central Montana will be cold with most locations well below seasonal averages for high temperatures. On Sunday the upper-level ridge remains over North- central, Central, and Southwestern Montana which will allow temperatures across the plains of North-central Montana to begin to warm up on Sunday. It will also be dry across the area. On Monday and Tuesday the upper-level ridge remains over North- central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will keep warm and dry weather across the area. On Wednesday and Thursday an upper- level trough begins to move over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will bring precipitation to much of Southwestern Montana. -IG - Forecast Confidence & Scenarios: From now through Saturday morning there is greater than a 50% chance for 1 inch of snow or greater across the Northern Rocky Mountain Front, Northern Hill County, and most of Blaine County. As a result Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect for Blaine County and the Northern Rocky Mountain Front through tomorrow morning. In addition in eastern Fergus County where up to an inch of snow is possible a Winter Weather Advisory will take effect tonight and continue through Saturday morning. For winds there was a high enough probability plus enough models showed the potential for mixing strong winds down that the High Wind Warning for the Southern Rocky Mountain Front and MacDonald Pass was extended to last until 11 PM tonight. There is high uncertainty in temperatures this afternoon through tomorrow across North-central Montana. Temperatures were decreased from NBM through tomorrow across North-central Montana to better match current observations and trends. Wednesday through Thursday there is greater than a 70% chance for 4 inches of snowfall or greater across the Mountains of Southwestern Montana. -IG && .AVIATION... 28/06Z TAF Period A Canadian cold front will move south through the plains tonight into Saturday morning before becoming nearly stationary near the central island ranges during g the afternoon hours. There will be a northerly wind shift, increased MVFR clouds, and even some areas of light snow behind the front. Partial clearing of skies then looks to occur between 28/20 and 29/00Z. Farther south, strong west to northwesterly flow aloft will cause instances of mountain wave turbulence and low level wind shear for locations along the Continental Divide and over southwest MT. The winds aloft will continue to decrease through 28/15Z as will their associated wind shear and turbulence impacts. - RCG && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 22 33 18 55 / 10 10 0 0 CTB 12 28 11 51 / 10 0 0 0 HLN 31 48 26 54 / 0 0 0 0 BZN 28 54 26 58 / 0 0 0 0 WYS 13 39 18 43 / 0 0 10 30 DLN 30 53 30 55 / 0 0 0 10 HVR 15 28 11 45 / 30 20 0 0 LWT 22 34 19 52 / 10 10 0 0 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM MST Saturday for Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine-Northern Blaine County. && $$ http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls