Wind Advisory 13, NWS Billings, MT

Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Billings MT
433 AM MDT Mon Apr 6 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...
- Warm and dry ahead of a cold front on Tuesday. Low to moderate
  chance of showers with the front.

- Brief period of gusty to strong crosswinds accompany the front,
  across the foothills west of Billings Tuesday afternoon/evening.

- Gusty to strong winds in southeast MT, greatest along the
  Dakotas border on Wednesday. Moderate chance of gusts exceeding
  50 mph.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Through Sunday...

Ridging continues into Tuesday, with mostly dry conditions. There
is a backdoor cold front dropping into the east, models are
showing a low chance for showers there today. Any accumulations
with precipitation will be negligible though. Look for high
temperatures in the upper 30s to mid 50sF today (coolest in the
east). With the backdoor front, breezy conditions will be felt in
the east today into Tuesday afternoon with winds gusting 20 to 30
mph out of the south-southeast.

An upper low developing over Canada will bring the next system to
the region, Tuesday through Wednesday. A cold front associated
with the low will bring a brief period of gusty to strong winds
across the foothills west of Billings Tuesday evening. Pre-frontal
temperatures will be 10-20F above normal, with highs in the 60s
and 70sF. This is a tricky wind setup, as ensembles have a strong
signal for wind gusts exceeding 50 mph Tuesday afternoon/evening
for the foothills west of Billings. Because this is less of a
synoptic setup, the likelihood of gusty to strong crosswinds all
day on Tuesday is lower. The east-west gradient that generally
aids a strong crosswind event for the US-191 corridor, looks to be
fairly weak. Additionally, 700mb winds are not all that strong
ahead of the front, 35 to 45 knots. Mixing does not seem to be an
issue, with lapse rates in excess of 7.5C/km. Soundings do show 50
knot winds or greater above 700mb ahead of the front for Big
Timber and Harlowton, though the westerly direction is less
favorable for Harlowton. For Livingston, this will be a hybrid
event with strong mixing and westerly 700mb winds. The probability
for gusts of 50 mph or greater for Livingston is moderate at this
time. The main push of strong winds looks to be with the fronts
arrival, currently late Tuesday afternoon/ early Tuesday evening.
Because of this, a High Wind Watch remains in effect from Big
Timber through Judith Gap for gusts to 60 mph.

Across the rest of the area, look for gusts in the 20s to 40 mph
range. Low relative humidities are also forecast with the windy
and warm conditions. As a result of this, there will be elevated
grass fire concerns for the plains/foothills around and west of
Billings where recent precipitation was generally a tenth of an
inch or less.

As the upper low moves through southern Canada / into northern
Montana Tuesday evening, the cold front will move across the rest
of the forecast area, bringing a low to moderate chance of
showers. This will not bring significant, widespread rainfall. The
chance for appreciable moisture is low, though heavier showers
could bring a tenth of an inch of rain or more. A few rumbles of
thunder may accompany the front as well.

The upper low looks to continue it's journey through the Canadian
Plains and Dakotan Plains, NW winds wrapping around the low look
to bring gusty to strong winds to eastern MT Wednesday afternoon.
The latest model guidance has at least a 60% chance of 50+ mph
wind gusts in Custer, Fallon, and Carter Counties.

Thursday and beyond, a return to ridging or perhaps slightly
unsettled flow appears likely, though the chance for precipitation
is currently low. High temperatures are currently forecast to be
in the 40s and 50sF to end the week before 60s and 70sF arrive for
the weekend.

Matos

.AVIATION...

10Z update...
There is a chance of fog (15%) in the Bighorn Foothills in the
vicinity of KSHR through 15Z this morning. IFR/LIFR conditions can
be expected with any fog that does form. Elsewhere, scattered
MVFR decks have developed from K6SO to K1KM...and may spread over
other sections of the forecast area, including KBIL. These decks
are expected to slowly lift or break up by 18Z. Otherwise, VFR
conditions are expected through into the evening. BT

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Tdy Tue     Wed     Thu     Fri     Sat     Sun
-------------------------------------------------------
BIL 053 036/073 034/056 029/055 031/065 040/075 045/066
    1/E 12/W    51/N    11/U    10/U    02/W    35/W
LVM 054 036/068 032/054 029/058 030/065 041/070 041/063
    1/E 12/W    31/N    11/U    11/B    13/W    45/W
HDN 057 032/074 033/056 027/057 030/068 038/077 043/069
    1/E 12/W    81/N    11/B    11/U    12/W    35/W
MLS 047 031/072 034/046 023/050 028/064 040/075 043/066
    1/E 02/W    61/N    01/B    10/U    01/U    23/W
4BQ 047 032/070 034/050 025/053 030/064 042/075 045/068
    1/E 01/B    71/N    11/B    10/U    11/B    23/W
BHK 039 026/063 030/043 021/049 025/060 037/071 042/066
    2/E 01/B    71/N    01/B    10/U    01/B    13/W
SHR 054 031/068 028/051 024/054 028/065 038/073 040/066
    1/E 11/B    82/J    11/U    11/B    12/W    25/W

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...High Wind Watch in effect from Tuesday morning through
      Tuesday evening FOR ZONES 63-141-172-228.
WY...None.

&&

weather.gov/billings