523
FXUS65 KBYZ 091215
AFDBYZ

Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Billings MT
615 AM MDT Mon Mar 9 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Much cooler temperatures today and Tuesday with an increased
  chance (50-90%) for rain and snow showers. Light snow
  accumulations can be expected for the lower elevations, with
  several inches of snow in the mountains.

- Warm and windy conditions return late Wednesday through
  Thursday. Moderate confidence in widespread strong to damaging
  winds.

- Turning cooler and more active Friday into the weekend, with an
  increasing chance for periods of accumulating snow over the
  plains.

&&

.UPDATE...

In the wake of yesterday`s record temperatures and strong winds,
a strong cold front has moved through the region bringing much
cooler temperatures and now snow. Latest radar shows snow showers
moving from west to east across northern portions of the area
early this morning. As we head through the morning and day, expect
the snow to gradually shift south, mixing in with rain at times,
before settling into the foothills and mountains later today and
this evening. Light snow accumulations are possible today across
the lower elevations, with most places seeing an inch or less of
accumulation, though locations under persistent snow could pick up
locally higher totals. West to northwest winds are expected to
pick up along the western foothills this afternoon, with gusts of
30 to 45 mph, strongest up near Harlowton. Have updated PoPs,
temperatures and wind to latest observations and trends. The
Winter Weather Advisory for the Bighorn mountains and foothill
locations remains in good shape. Will need to keep an eye on the
Red Lodge area for possible winter highlights, if guidance trends
higher with the potential snow tomorrow. STP

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Today through Sunday...

Scattered rain and snow showers (50-70% chance) will continue
through the day behind a cold front dropping through the region
early this morning. High temperatures will be 20 to 30 degrees
cooler than yesterday for most locations, in the low 40s to low
50s.

Another wave moves through Tuesday, keeping temps cooler and
bringing a round of snow showers across the region. Models
continue to trend towards the best push of moisture hitting along
the mountains and foothills along the MT/WY border. Currently, 4
to 8 inches of snow are expected over the mountains, with a 30-60%
chance of 3 inches of snow over the Bighorn foothills, including
Sheridan and Story. Highs will generally be in the mid 30s to mid
40s.

Upper heights will increase on Wednesday, bringing warmer
conditions for midweek and windier conditions late Wednesday into
Thursday. Highs Wednesday will be in the 40s to low 50s,
increasing to 50s to low 60s Thursday. At this time, winds are
expected to be as strong on Thursday as they were yesterday, if
not somewhat stronger and more widespread. There is a moderate to
high chance of gusts into the 60s mph across the plains.

Upper level flow becomes northwesterly into the end of the week.
Coupled with a push of moisture arriving late Wednesday/early
Thursday, there is a widespread 50-80% chance of rain and snow
showers through the end of the week.

Temperatures will gradually cool into the weekend, decreasing
from highs in the 40s to low 50s Friday to upper 20s to upper 30s
by Sunday. As temperatures decrease into the weekend, accumulating
snow over the plains will become more likely each day, with a
20-50% chance of at least 2 inches of snow over the plains on
Saturday. Archer

.AVIATION...

North to northeast winds have spread over the area overnight in
the wake of a strong cold front, including through KLVM. Expect
winds at KLVM to eventually shift back to the west and northwest
this morning. After 18z winds are expected to increase out of the
west and northwest over the western foothills with gusts of 30 to
40 kts possible, strongest near KHWQ.

Expect areas of light rain/light snow/MVFR to gradually shift
south through the day, settling into the foothills this
evening/night. Mountains will become frequently obscured in snow
showers. STP

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Tdy Tue     Wed     Thu     Fri     Sat     Sun
-------------------------------------------------------
BIL 045 029/041 021/050 039/061 033/047 031/047 020/034
    7/W 56/J    20/B    14/W    76/W    68/W    74/J
LVM 048 024/037 018/048 039/056 041/053 040/054 026/042
    5/W 26/J    10/N    25/W    55/W    58/W    64/J
HDN 047 026/042 020/050 036/063 030/047 029/048 019/035
    6/W 56/J    30/U    25/W    87/W    68/W    85/J
MLS 041 026/040 022/045 034/055 026/039 026/038 014/028
    6/J 22/J    10/B    36/W    67/W    68/J    72/J
4BQ 049 028/038 022/045 031/059 029/045 029/048 018/033
    3/W 45/J    20/U    14/W    76/W    57/W    73/J
BHK 038 022/039 018/042 027/050 023/037 022/037 012/027
    6/J 23/J    10/U    36/W    57/J    68/J    73/J
SHR 055 021/036 015/045 028/059 028/050 028/055 018/036
    2/W 68/J    50/U    14/W    74/W    46/W    85/J

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 4 PM this afternoon to
      8 AM MDT Wednesday FOR ZONE 138.
WY...Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 4 PM this afternoon to
      8 AM MDT Wednesday FOR ZONES 198-199.

&&

$$
weather.gov/billings