FXUS65 KBYZ 032341 AFDBYZ Area Forecast Discussion...Updated National Weather Service Billings MT 441 PM MST Tue Feb 3 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Mostly dry and very warm with periods of gusty winds along the western foothills through the weekend. - Breezy from Billings west tonight into Wednesday. 40-50% chance of gusts greater than 50 mph over the western foothills. - Increased grass fire concerns across the area this week. && .DISCUSSION... The rest of today through Monday... As a shortwave exits the region, breezy conditions across the region and the chance of precipitation over the east will end by the evening. Upper level ridging builds in for the rest of the week, keeping conditions dry and temperatures well above normal. Highs Wednesday will generally be in the 50s to low 60s. Then, Thursday looks to be the warmest day with highs in the 60s to near 70. Friday through the weekend will see highs decrease back to 50s to low 60s as the ridge flattens. Tonight into Wednesday morning, the pressure gradient becomes favorable for stronger winds along the western foothills. However, 700 mb winds are expected to only be around 20-30 kts, limiting the wind potential. Currently, there is a 40-50% chance of a gust greater than 50 mph near Livingston, Big Timber, and Harlowton areas. Due to the persistent dry, occasionally breezy, and very warm conditions, there is an elevated risk for grass fires this week, especially from Billings west Wednesday. Be careful to not cause a spark! Beginning next week, there are signs of a pattern change towards cooler and wetter weather, with a 20-50% chance of precipitation (highest over the mountains). There is still disagreement on how much cooler temperatures will be with this pattern, which will influence if precip over lower elevations falls mostly as rain or a rain/snow mix. Archer .AVIATION... 00Z TAF Discussion... Patchy fog is possible over SE Montana after 06z tonight including KMLS/KBHK terminals. MVFR to local IFR visibility can be expected near any areas of fog through around 16z. Otherwise, expect widespread VFR through Wednesday as strong high pressure aloft builds back over the region. SW-W winds will increase along the western foothills tonight, with gusts of 30-45 knots at KLVM/K6S0/KHWQ after 07z. Gusts will approach 30 knots at KBIL by Wednesday morning. Gusty winds will persist at these locations for much of the day tomorrow. JKL/Chambers && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS... Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 031/060 039/065 033/062 038/064 038/062 038/051 031/045 00/N 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/B 12/W 33/J LVM 032/057 036/062 034/062 036/058 037/056 036/047 028/041 00/N 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/N 24/W 33/J HDN 026/061 036/068 028/061 034/064 032/064 034/054 028/045 00/B 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/B 12/W 33/W MLS 025/053 035/062 027/056 033/058 032/059 031/047 026/040 00/B 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/B 11/E 22/W 4BQ 026/056 038/065 030/061 035/060 032/063 031/054 028/042 00/B 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/B 01/B 22/W BHK 022/049 033/058 026/051 031/054 028/055 028/044 020/038 00/B 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/B 01/E 22/J SHR 024/058 034/067 031/062 033/060 031/061 031/052 025/041 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/B 00/B 12/W 34/W && .BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. WY...None. && $$ weather.gov/billings