Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Billings, MT
Issued by NWS Billings, MT
991 FXUS65 KBYZ 161906 AFDBYZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Billings MT 106 PM MDT Tue Jul 16 2024 .DISCUSSION... Today through Thursday... Today is likely to be the coolest day of the week, with highs in the mid 80s to low 90s due to easterly winds bringing cool air advection into the region. For Wednesday, highs are expected to increase back into the upper 80s to mid 90s and for Thursday, highs will be in the 90s to near 100. Heights continue to build over the region, although some weak disturbances will bring a 30-50% chance of showers and thunderstorms over the mountains Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and a 20-40% chance over lower elevations Thursday afternoon into overnight. Smoke from ongoing wildfires may bring occasional haze, particularly to the southwest. Archer Friday through Monday... Upper level ridging will be in place through the extended forecast period. This usually entails hot dry conditions, and there will be some of that. But this ridge will have significant amounts of moisture mixed into it, and the ridge has a skinny profile that will allow some disturbances to come through the area. These features will combine to keep an above normal chance for showers and thunderstorms under a ridge pattern, mainly of the afternoon and evening variety, but some overnight activity will be possible. This time of year strong wind gusts and significant lightning activity are the main threats with storms, and can add locally heavy rain through this weekend due to PWAT values in the 0.75 to 1.25 inch range. Temperatures will stay in the 90s through the period, and don`t see any prolonged threat for 100+ degree temperatures at this time. Thursday looks like the warmest day with highs in the 94 to 99 degree range. Temperatures trend a degree or two cooler through the weekend with Monday highs showing upper 80s to lower 90s. && .AVIATION... VFR conditions will prevail. Slantwise visibility reductions due to wildfire smoke are possible from KLVM to KBIL and KSHR. Beginning Wednesday afternoon, expect scattered showers over the mountains. Archer && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS... Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 063/095 064/097 065/094 065/094 064/092 063/092 062/095 00/U 01/U 21/U 01/U 10/U 00/U 01/U LVM 055/092 057/095 056/094 056/093 055/092 054/091 054/095 02/T 12/T 11/U 11/U 11/U 01/U 11/U HDN 061/096 060/099 062/094 061/094 060/093 060/093 058/095 00/U 01/U 31/U 01/U 10/U 00/U 00/U MLS 062/091 064/096 066/092 065/091 065/091 064/091 064/092 00/U 01/U 42/T 11/U 10/U 00/U 00/U 4BQ 061/092 063/097 066/092 063/090 062/089 062/090 062/091 00/U 01/U 22/T 11/U 10/U 00/U 00/U BHK 057/087 059/093 062/088 060/088 059/087 059/089 059/090 00/U 00/U 33/T 11/U 11/U 11/U 11/U SHR 056/092 056/095 059/092 057/090 056/089 055/089 055/092 01/U 11/U 22/T 02/T 11/U 01/U 01/U && .BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. WY...None. && $$ weather.gov/billings