939
FXUS65 KBYZ 030737
AFDBYZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
137 AM MDT Thu Sep 3 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Elevated fire weather conditions thru Friday; locally critical
  fire weather today.

- Cooler and potentially wetter Sunday into next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Today through Wednesday...

The main concern today is for critical fire weather conditions.
High temperatures will range from near 80 over the west to near 90
over the east. Minimum daytime humidities are expected to be in
the teens to low 20s. Breezy winds out of the southwest will be
around 30 to 50 mph over the mountains and foothills, with gusts
into the 20s mph extending out into the plains. As a result, a Red
Flag Warning is in effect from noon to 9 PM MDT today for western
and central areas. Currently, conditions look similar for Friday
and fire weather is expected to remain elevated into the end of
the work week.

A low to the west continues to keep upper level flow out of the
southwest and a weak shortwave or two will bring a low chance
(10-30%) for showers and thunderstorms, primarily to the
mountains, through Saturday. A high set up southeast of the region
will continue to allow hot temperatures over the east. Friday
looks to be the warmest day, with highs in the upper 90s near the
Dakota border.

Sunday into early next week, the low to the west is expected to
move into the region, bringing a more widespread chance (30-60%)
for showers and thunderstorms late Sunday through Monday. With
the approach of this low, atmospheric moisture will increase over
the region with PWATs around 160-200% of normal. This will bring
potential for pockets of heavy rain with any storms. Cooler
temperatures will also move in, with highs in the low 70s over the
west to low 80s over the east by Monday.

Into the middle of next week, the pattern looks to remain
unsettled. This would allow for temperatures to remain near to
slightly below normal (70s) and a low chance (10-40%) for daily
showers and thunderstorms. Archer

.AVIATION...


A Pacific cold front pushing across the area early this morning is
bringing a shift to W-NW winds, with brief 15-25 knot gusts along
the frontal passage. Expect generally light winds from 12-18z,
then mixed SW winds become breezy this afternoon, especially from
KBIL westward. Look for gusts to 35 knots along the western
foothills til 02z this evening, then lighter winds tonight. No
thunderstorms expected today. JKL

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Tdy Fri     Sat     Sun     Mon     Tue     Wed
-------------------------------------------------------
BIL 084 055/091 057/083 058/078 057/076 053/073 050/076
    2/W 00/U    10/U    11/B    65/T    42/W    00/B
LVM 076 047/082 047/079 048/076 048/071 043/071 043/074
    2/W 00/N    11/U    02/T    76/T    52/W    11/B
HDN 087 051/095 052/085 054/082 056/079 047/075 045/078
    0/B 00/U    00/U    01/B    55/T    62/W    00/B
MLS 086 061/095 059/087 060/083 060/080 053/074 049/076
    2/T 00/U    00/U    13/T    74/T    52/W    01/B
4BQ 088 061/097 061/089 062/086 062/084 054/076 051/078
    2/T 00/U    00/U    12/T    53/W    42/W    10/U
BHK 089 056/098 060/092 057/087 057/084 049/076 044/077
    2/T 00/U    00/U    14/T    64/T    52/W    11/U
SHR 085 052/093 054/086 054/081 053/080 044/074 043/076
    0/U 00/U    00/U    01/U    44/T    42/W    11/U

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Red Flag Warning in effect from noon today to 9 PM MDT this
      evening FOR ZONES 123>129.
WY...Red Flag Warning in effect from noon today to 9 PM MDT this
      evening FOR ZONE 284.

&&

$$
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