036
FXUS65 KBYZ 190641
AFDBYZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
1241 AM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Brief return of smoke and hazy skies today.

- Drier conditions today through Friday.

- Seasonal temps in the 80s to lower 90s the rest of the week.
  Increasing chance of precipitation over the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Today through Tuesday...

Smoke and hazy skies look to briefly return today as upper level
flow turns out of the west before ridging builds in by Thursday.
Conditions will remain dry as the transition to ridging cuts off
moisture entering the region. Highs today will be in the mid 80s
to low 90s.

Upper level ridging remains in place Thursday and Friday with
highs in the 90s and mostly dry conditions. By Saturday, moisture
over the region begins to increase as a disturbance approaches
from the Pacific coast. A shortwave ahead of the main energy will
be enough for scattered showers and thunderstorms (30-60% chance,
highest over the Absaroka/Beartooth mountains) Saturday.

Currently, for Sunday into Monday, most models favor the
disturbance shifting northeast, with the best chance for
precipitation centered over southern Canada. However, this will
help to flatten the ridge, allowing moisture to continue to enter
the region, and low daily shower and thunderstorm chances (10-40%)
to continue into early next week. Highs will be in the upper 80s
to low 90s this weekend into early next week. Archer

.AVIATION...

Look for decreasing clouds with dry conditions today. Hazy skies
will likely return to the area by afternoon as smoke from distant
wildfires drifts into the region from the north/northwest. Slant
range visibility may be reduced in some areas after 19Z, with
surface visibility reductions possible as well by evening. BT

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Tdy Thu     Fri     Sat     Sun     Mon     Tue
-------------------------------------------------------
BIL 089 059/093 063/090 065/089 063/092 061/088 062/089
    0/U 00/K    00/U    12/W    32/W    20/U    11/B
LVM 085 050/092 055/092 056/087 053/087 050/086 052/085
    0/U 00/U    00/U    15/T    52/T    11/U    23/T
HDN 090 054/094 059/093 062/092 062/094 058/090 058/092
    0/U 00/K    00/U    01/B    21/B    10/U    11/B
MLS 089 059/091 062/090 063/090 065/093 062/088 061/091
    0/K 00/U    00/U    01/B    21/U    10/U    11/U
4BQ 088 059/092 062/091 063/090 065/092 063/088 061/090
    0/U 00/K    00/B    01/B    32/T    20/U    11/B
BHK 089 056/090 057/090 056/087 059/091 058/089 056/090
    0/U 00/K    00/U    00/N    42/T    21/U    11/B
SHR 086 054/091 058/092 060/090 059/090 055/086 055/088
    0/U 00/U    00/U    01/B    12/T    12/W    12/T

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...None.
WY...None.

&&

$$
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