670 FXUS65 KBYZ 262059 AFDBYZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Billings MT 259 PM MDT Sun Apr 26 2020 .DISCUSSION... Tonight through Tuesday night... Upper level short wave trough continues to slide across southern Canada today. Scattered radar echoes have cross the region, but relatively limited moisture availability and downslope flow seem to be keeping much if any precip from reaching the ground in lower elevations. Shallow ridging builds back into the region tonight, but transitions back to zonal flow Monday morning ahead of another approaching trough. Moisture streaming into the region should bring shower activity to the high terrain by Monday afternoon. Showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected to move across the plains through the afternoon and evening Monday, with best potential in the east. Expect precip to continue overnight in the east, with some lingering showers at least into Tuesday morning. The trough digs south into northwest and north central North Dakota Tuesday morning, which could open the door for some wrap around precip on the back side of the trough. The GFS looks a bit drier at this time, bringing additional upslope type showers to the eastern facing mountain slopes, while the ECMWF appears much wetter, keeping much of the region under precip through Tuesday afternoon. The digging trough will also help support high wind gusts across the east. Gusty winds are expected to mix out across eastern MT by Tuesday afternoon, bringing wind gusts approaching 40 mph for areas like Miles City and Baker. Winds will drop off Tuesday night. Clearing skies from west to east can be expected through the evening and overnight, as the next upper level ridge builds back into the region. High temperatures will be in the lower 70s again Monday, but should be mainly in the 60s on Tuesday. Overnight lows will be primarily in the 40s, but eastern areas east of a line from Sheridan to Miles City will see lows drop into the 30s Tuesday night. Gilstad Wednesday through Sunday... No significant changes to the extended period forecast. Wednesday and Thursday start the period, with upper level ridging in control over the region. Expect dry conditions and temps well above seasonal normal, with highs around 80 degrees. An unsettled pattern takes shape Thursday afternoon, as southwesterly flow aloft takes over as the ridge axis shifts eastward. A stream of moisture and several pieces of energy riding through the flow will result in scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms each afternoon/evening through Sunday. Expect afternoon highs to cool back into the 60s Friday and Saturday, with highs back around 70 Sunday. Overnight lows around 50 degrees can be expected Wednesday night, with mainly 40s for the rest of the period. Gilstad && .AVIATION... VFR conditions will prevail through tonight. Gusty west to southwest winds over the western foothills, and northwest winds over eastern Montana will diminish with sunset this evening. A quick moving system will bring a chance for showers and lower VFR ceilings to western locations after sunrise Monday, including KLVM. Chambers && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS... Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 043/069 045/067 043/080 055/079 050/067 044/064 044/068 03/T 30/N 00/B 14/T 54/T 33/T 34/T LVM 039/064 041/065 042/077 051/072 045/062 039/062 041/063 06/T 40/N 00/B 26/T 64/T 34/T 35/T HDN 039/072 044/067 039/079 052/081 048/068 043/065 043/070 04/T 60/N 00/U 13/T 54/T 34/T 34/T MLS 040/072 045/065 039/077 052/081 051/069 044/064 043/068 01/B 40/N 00/U 01/B 43/T 23/T 33/T 4BQ 039/072 043/062 036/076 050/082 049/070 043/063 041/067 02/T 51/N 00/U 01/B 22/T 33/T 23/T BHK 038/072 042/062 034/073 046/079 048/069 040/063 038/063 01/B 41/N 00/U 00/B 22/T 23/T 33/T SHR 040/071 040/062 038/076 049/079 046/067 042/063 040/067 03/T 71/N 00/B 02/T 23/T 44/T 34/T && .BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. WY...None. && $$ weather.gov/billings