High Wind in Wyoming, February 20, 2017

Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Billings MT
900 PM MST Mon Feb 20 2017

.UPDATE...
Adjusted winds upward in some of the areas adjacent to the
Foothills like Red Lodge and Harlowton this evening. Current
model runs support a windy day across most of south central
Montana tomorrow. borsum

&&

.SHORT TERM...valid for Tue and Wed...

Active weather pattern in the short term with wind, mountain snow
and the possibility of lower elevation rain/snow late. Southwest
flow aloft was inducing strong surface pressure falls over the
entire area. Mid level winds were increasing, and this combined
with some instability was creating strong winds at Livingston. Not
a typical gap flow pattern for strong winds here, but winds have
gusted to 57 mph already, so will leave advisory in place.
Gradient looks to decrease overnight, then increase again Tuesday
morning. The strongest winds look to be Tuesday morning.

700mb winds increase to 60kts early Tuesday over the west.
Surface pressure gradient does not look orientated right to aid
in getting these winds to the ground. Also, shortwave activity was
moving through the flow during this time producing ascent. Agree
with the mid shift thinking in keeping winds quite strong from Big
Timber to Harlowton early Tuesday, but keeping them below warning
criteria. This shortwave will produce an increasing chance of
showers over the western and central plains early Tuesday.
Downslope winds will limit chances over the west somewhat, but
shortwave looks strong enough to overcome it, so painted some
PoPs in. Will hit the east hardest, as the downslope influence is
less in these areas compared to the west.

Southwest flow aloft was sending deep moisture into the southwest
mountains. Precipitable water anomalies were 2-3 standard
deviations above normal. This deep moisture transport will produce
locally heavy mountain snow. Models point to areas to the south
for the heaviest snowfall. Regional mosaic had an area of strong
returns heading into Yellowstone Park, and south of the forecast
area. Snow amounts will add up to around a foot over a day and a
half to two days. Will opt to not issue a warning at the moment
with the thought that the heaviest snow will be south of the Cooke
City mountains.

The next thing to discuss is the possibility of accumulating snow
Wednesday into Wednesday night for the plains. A western trough
moves into the northern Rockies and sends a cold front into the
area early Wednesday. This front will hang up over the area and
set up a convergence zones anywhere from Roundup to Sheridan.
Latest model trend has been to keep this convergence zone east of
Billings, from around Hysham to Ashland. Models have not been
consistent on the placement of this convergent zone. The ECMWF was
quite a bit drier than the GFS in snowfall. Have opted to keep
PoPs scattered for now and give it another couple of runs to get
this convergence zones narrowed in.

Temperatures will be mild Tuesday with strong downslope flow.
Wednesday will be cooler behind the strong. TWH

.LONG TERM...valid for Thu...Fri...Sat...Sun...Mon...

The extended period continues to look unsettled. The models and
ensembles were in decent agreement with the synoptic scale
pattern, but due to the progressive nature of the pattern and
decent instability through the period, precipitation will be
showery and hard to place in terms of timing and location.

Broad troughing will be over the area on Thursday and an open wave
will move from WY into the central plains Thu. night and Friday.
Models showed an inverted surface trough over the area through
Thu. night which will provide a precipitation focus. However, the
models did not agree on the location of the trough, but did agree
that the best moisture will be over the southern tier of the area.
Thus kept the highest PoPs over the south. Weak zonal flow with
shortwaves will be over the area Friday and will turn NW Sat. as a
shortwave approaches from the NW. Moisture differences between the
models continued, so kept the slight chance to chance PoPs over
the area with the lowest PoPs on Saturday. The shortwave from the
NW affects the area Sat. night and Sunday, but the ECMWF quickly
builds ridging into the area Sunday. With not much moisture in the
flow, have kept Sat. night through Sunday mainly dry. Model
differences continued through Mon., so had slight chance PoPs
through the end of the period.

Temperatures become challenging on Sat., when the GFS brings in
colder air than the ECMWF. These differences amplify through the
rest of the period. Best confidence in highs was on Thursday and
Friday when highs will be in the 30s, then 20s and 30s
respectively. Model blends resulted in highs in the 20s and 30s
from Sat. onward. Arthur

&&

.AVIATION...

Winds 40 to 50 kts will continue through this evening at LVM, dial
back a bit in the morning hours, before gusting again tomorrow
afternoon. Mountain wave activity expected near the Bighorns
impacting SHR and along the northeast slopes of the Beartooth
Absarokas tonight. LLWS potential through tomorrow at MLS and SHR
given the strong winds above 2000 ft. Shower activity in the
morning at LVM, BIL, and MLS, with winds increasing to around 40
kts by afternoon at BIL. Walsh
&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Tue     Wed     Thu     Fri     Sat     Sun     Mon
-----------------------------------------------------------
BIL 040/062 035/047 027/037 020/032 016/029 015/031 015/033
    02/W    33/W    54/W    43/J    22/J    11/B    22/J
LVM 039/058 031/041 020/031 012/027 010/027 011/030 012/032
    24/W    43/W    46/J    33/J    32/J    22/J    22/J
HDN 035/062 033/047 025/037 018/032 014/031 013/032 012/033
    02/W    34/W    45/W    32/J    22/J    11/B    22/J
MLS 035/061 034/045 027/036 020/032 018/031 017/032 015/034
    04/W    23/W    44/J    32/J    22/J    11/B    12/J
4BQ 036/064 034/047 027/037 019/032 015/031 014/034 013/036
    04/W    34/W    45/W    53/J    22/J    11/B    12/J
BHK 034/061 034/043 025/032 017/029 014/029 013/030 012/031
    02/W    23/W    44/J    32/J    22/J    11/B    12/J
SHR 036/063 032/045 023/033 017/029 010/029 008/030 012/033
    02/W    44/W    67/J    53/J    32/J    11/B    22/J

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Wind Advisory in effect until midnight MST Tuesday night FOR
      ZONES 65-66.
WY...None.

&&

weather.gov/billings

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Billings MT
320 PM MST Mon Feb 20 2017

MTZ028>042-056>058-063>068-WYZ098-099-212230-
Southern Wheatland-Musselshell-Treasure-Northern Rosebud-Custer-
Fallon-Northern Stillwater-Yellowstone-Powder River-Carter-
Southern Big Horn-Eastern Carbon-Northern Park-
Northern Sweet Grass-Golden Valley-Red Lodge Foothills-
Northern Big Horn-Southern Rosebud-Judith Gap-Paradise Valley-
Livingston Area-Beartooth Foothills-Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains-
Crazy Mountains-Northeast Bighorn Mountains-Sheridan Foothills-
320 PM MST Mon Feb 20 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central
Montana...south central Montana...southeast Montana and north
central Wyoming.

* Winds: Periods of strong winds will impact the western foothills
  late this afternoon and evening, and again on Tuesday. Expect
  hazardous cross winds on Interstate 90 at Livingston, and Highway
  191 from Big Timber to Harlowton. The Red Lodge and Sheridan
  areas may also experience a few stronger gusts off the mountains.

* Mountain Snow: Periods of snow, locally heavy, will fall over the
  Beartooth Absaroka Mountains through Tuesday night. This snowfall
  may increase avalanche danger in the high country.

* Significant Weather Change: Colder weather will return to the
  region during the latter half of the week, with below normal
  temperatures expected Thursday through the weekend. Some snow
  accumulation is also possible, but details remain highly
  uncertain at this time.

* Potential Wintry Impacts: Poor driving conditions. Hazardous
  conditions for young livestock.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Hazardous Weather Outlook is issued when hazardous weather could
impact the region within the next week. Be sure to stay tuned for
future updates as locations, timing, and impacts could change.
Begin preparations to mitigate any impacts that could result from
the hazardous weather.

&&

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Billings MT
1036 PM MST MON FEB 20 2017

WYZ099-210700-
Sheridan Foothills WY-
1036 PM MST MON FEB 20 2017

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

Periodic strong southwest winds can be expected along the eastern
slopes of the Bighorn Mountains through midnight. A wind gust of 61
mph was observed at the Sheridan airport at 1030 pm. Gusts of 50 to
60 mph could impact travel on Interstate 90 through Ranchester to
Sheridan and southward toward Buffalo. Those driving high profile
vehicles should be prepared to encounter strong and erratic wind
gusts.

Locations impacted include...
Sheridan, Ranchester, Dayton, Big Horn, Clearmont, Parkman, Banner,
Story and Ucross.

LAT...LON 4462 10704 4480 10732 4500 10752 4499 10651
      4456 10618 4456 10697
TIME...MOT...LOC 0533Z 240DEG 49KT 4486 10702

Lester