FXUS65 KBYZ 041905 AFDBYZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Billings MT 105 PM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Wildfire smoke will linger over southern Montana into Wyoming. For the latest air quality, visit airnow.gov. - Temperatures trend warmer Wednesday into the weekend, with high temperatures in the 90s to near 100 possible Saturday. - Occasional periods of breezy winds are expected Thursday through the weekend. With the hot and dry weather, fire weather concerns are elevated. && .DISCUSSION... Today through Monday... A weak shortwave in the flow will bring a low (<20%) chance for showers and weak thunderstorms over the Beartooth/Absaroka mountains and foothills this afternoon and over the Bighorn mountains and foothills this evening, moving east into the plains along the Montana/Wyoming border overnight. Wednesday into Thursday, upper level ridging builds over the region, keeping conditions dry and bringing a warming trend. Highs will increase from 80s Wednesday to 90s Thursday. Sometime Thursday into Friday, the ridge begins to break down and a mostly dry cold front moves through. Breezy winds of 20 to 30 mph will accompany the frontal passage, although there is uncertainty in if the front moves through Thursday afternoon or Thursday night. In either case, this will limit highs on Friday to the 90s. Saturday into early next week, the ridge continues to flatten, with highs decreasing from mid to upper 90s over the weekend to upper 80s to low 90s by Monday. As the ridge flattens, additional periods of breezy conditions may occur through the weekend. By Monday, monsoonal moisture moves into the region. Along with weak shortwaves in the flow, this may lead to daily afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms (20-50% chance) early next week. With hot and dry conditions expected Thursday through the weekend, along with the potential for breezy winds, fire weather concerns are elevated. Take care not to cause a spark! Smoke will continue to create hazy skies at times through the week. As the ridge begins to break down and flatten, turning upper level flow out of the west, more smoke may move into the region and affect air quality and visibility. For the latest air quality, visit airnow.gov. Archer .AVIATION... 18z Discussion... VFR conditions with generally light winds will continue for the entire period. Wildfire smoke aloft may reduce slant range visibility as well as partially obscure mountains. There is a small chance (15%) that a shower or storm get in the vicinity of KSHR between 01z and 06z this evening. There is a low chance (20%) of patchy fog around sunrise Wednesday near KMLS/KBHK. WMR && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS... Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 052/087 055/094 060/097 060/097 063/097 065/091 064/090 00/K 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/U 11/B LVM 045/085 049/092 053/096 055/097 057/095 056/091 055/090 00/K 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/U 10/U 11/U HDN 049/088 052/095 057/097 058/099 061/097 061/093 061/092 00/K 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/U 11/B MLS 048/086 053/094 057/094 057/095 061/096 063/091 062/089 00/B 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/B 11/B 23/T 4BQ 050/085 055/093 059/096 060/095 064/096 065/091 064/089 10/K 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/B 10/B 22/T BHK 046/084 052/092 053/091 055/093 057/094 058/088 057/086 00/B 00/U 00/U 00/U 01/B 11/B 34/T SHR 046/086 050/093 054/096 057/097 058/096 060/093 059/090 20/K 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/U 00/U 11/B && .BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. WY...None. && $$ weather.gov/billings