FXUS65 KBYZ 191930 AFDBYZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Billings MT 130 PM MDT Thu Mar 19 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Warm, dry, and breezy conditions continue into Saturday. Daily record high temperatures possible during this time. - Elevated wildland grass fire conditions exist through Saturday. - Cold front late Saturday brings a chance of precipitation back to portions of the area through Sunday morning. - Temperatures trend closer to average Sunday into early next week. && .DISCUSSION... Through Wednesday... Strong ridging over the region will continue to bring very warm to record temperatures, dry conditions and breezy winds at times into Saturday. High temperatures are forecast to range from the 70s to lower 80s through Friday. Westerly wind gusts from the 30s into the 50s mph will be common along the western foothills, with wind gusts of 20 to 40 mph elsewhere across the area. The probability of wind gusts exceeding 60 mph is around 30-50 percent along the western foothills. Relative humidity values from 10-25 percent will be common in the afternoons. A cold front dropping through the region Saturday afternoon will bring cooler temperatures and a quick shot of rain showers for the lower elevations and light snow to the mountains, generally above 7,000 ft Saturday night into Sunday. Currently there is a moderate chance for a tenth of an inch of precipitation, greatest over central areas, and into the immediate foothills. The chance for an inch or more of snow is around 30-50 percent in the Beartooth/Absarokas and lower elsewhere. Highs look to range from the upper 40s to 50s for most places Sunday. Weak ridging is progged to build over the region Monday into Wednesday bringing mainly dry conditions and warming temperatures (50s to 50s Monday and 60s to lower 70s Tuesday and Wednesday). An approaching system for the middle of the week will bring increasing winds to the western foothills along with moderate chances for precipitation (30-50 percent chance). With regards to fire weather, most of the area saw anywhere between 0.5 to 1 or more inches of liquid moisture in the snow that was received this past weekend. The continued very warm, dry and breezy conditions are using up the buffer this precipitation provided over the lower elevations. Elevated fire weather concerns for the lower elevations will continue into Saturday given the combination of very warm temperatures, low humidity and breezy winds. We have issued A Rangeland Fire Danger Statement across the area for Friday to account for the grass fire concerns. An additional statement is possible for Saturday. STP .AVIATION... Breezy west winds (gusts 35-45 kts) will continue for the western foothills (KLVM, K6S0, K3HT) through the afternoon, decreasing this evening. Winds will be similar late Friday morning and during the afternoon. TS && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS... Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 049/081 052/074 038/061 034/062 038/067 045/071 034/051 00/N 02/W 51/U 00/B 01/E 12/W 32/J LVM 049/077 051/071 033/058 035/061 041/068 051/066 031/049 00/N 03/W 31/U 00/E 11/E 12/W 21/N HDN 042/082 048/075 036/061 032/063 037/068 043/074 033/051 00/N 02/W 61/U 00/B 01/E 12/W 32/W MLS 044/077 046/070 033/053 031/059 034/062 041/066 029/045 00/U 01/B 31/U 00/B 00/E 12/W 21/B 4BQ 045/080 049/077 037/056 033/061 037/066 046/073 033/048 00/N 00/B 31/U 00/B 00/B 01/B 22/W BHK 043/074 045/069 030/049 028/057 030/059 040/068 028/046 00/N 00/B 31/B 00/B 00/E 11/B 21/N SHR 046/081 048/080 034/056 031/063 035/069 044/073 027/048 00/U 01/B 52/W 00/B 00/E 01/N 33/J && .BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. WY...None. && $$ weather.gov/billings