Comanche, Montana Weather Forecast Discussion

320
FXUS65 KBYZ 220828
AFDBYZ
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
228 AM MDT Mon Sep 22 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Weather system brings precipitation, cooler temperatures, and
  breezy northwest winds to the region today.
- Wet mountain snow (up to a few inches) forecast above 9,000 to
  10,000 feet today.
- Warm and dry conditions return by the middle of the week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Today through Sunday...
A weather system will bring precipitation, breezy winds, and
cooler temperatures to the region today.
The cold front associated with this weather system is currently
(as of 2AM) moving through the region and is expected to exit the
area by around 6-8AM. Along this front, northwesterly wind gusts
in the 20s and 30s (mph) have been common, with a few gusts into
the 40s over the wind prone foothills west of Billings. Look for
winds of this caliber to continue downstream into eastern Montana
and northern Wyoming this morning, with the highest gusts
remaining over the higher hills. While winds will taper off behind
the front, breezy northwesterly winds are expected to continue
today, especially in southeastern Montana where a favorable
surface pressure gradient will exist. By this evening, winds will
decrease across the area.
As far as the precipitation goes, today`s activity will be
associated with the upper level trough passage, not the cold front
passage. Therefore, look for a broken line of scattered to
widespread showers to push east across the area this morning into
the afternoon before exiting the area to the south this evening.
One thing to note, the chance of precipitation has decreased over
far eastern Montana as the trough and its associated forcing are
expected to drop south before reaching this area now. While an
occasional lightning strike is possible with the activity today,
cooler temperatures and limited instability will keep much of the
activity as benign rain showers. With that said, snow levels are
still expected to drop near 9,000 feet today, so a couple inches
of wet snow can be expected over the higher elevations of the
Absaroka- Beartooth and Bighorn Mountains. As was the trend
yesterday, high resolution models continue to favor the Bighorn
Mountains for snow today, so this will be an area to watch. With
that said, wet snow accumulations on warmer ground will be a bit
more difficult, but the High Resolution Ensemble Forecast (HREF)
system does have a 30 to 50 percent chance of seeing 3 or more
inches of snow above 9,000 feet in the Bighorn Mountains. Over the
Beartooth Highway in the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains, the chance
of seeing 1 or more inches of snow is lower, around 20 percent,
but a brief heavier snow shower could still occur this morning.
Therefore, those with recreation or travel plans in the mountains
today should be prepared for wintry conditions.
Temperatures today look to remain cool with highs in the 60s to
lower 70s, warmest in far eastern Montana. Tonight, temperatures
look to drop into the 30s around Wheatland and northern Park and
Sweet Grass Counties, with the chance of seeing a frost being
moderate to high around Harlowton and in the Shields River Valley.
Tuesday into the weekend will see warmer temperatures and dry
conditions as upper level ridging builds over the region. Arends
.AVIATION...
Showers are becoming widespread west of Rosebud County this
morning. Meanwhile, NW winds gusting 15-30 knots have spread
across all terminals. Expect local MVFR conditions with heavier
showers. MVFR conditions are also possible near the foothills and
mountains as snow levels drop to near 9000 feet. Winds will
decrease from west to east through the day. Expect the
precipitation to taper off from west to east as well this
afternoon. Matos
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...
Tdy Tue     Wed     Thu     Fri     Sat     Sun
-------------------------------------------------------
BIL 065 046/074 050/083 052/083 054/080 051/077 051/077
    7/W 10/U    00/U    00/U    00/U    11/U    10/U
LVM 063 037/073 041/082 045/083 046/078 044/075 043/075
    5/W 10/U    00/U    00/U    01/U    11/U    11/U
HDN 064 043/074 045/084 046/084 048/081 047/078 045/079
    7/W 20/U    00/U    00/U    00/U    11/U    10/U
MLS 069 046/075 048/084 050/083 052/081 049/077 050/080
    2/W 00/U    00/U    00/U    00/U    10/U    10/U
4BQ 067 048/071 048/081 050/082 052/079 049/076 050/078
    2/N 10/U    00/U    00/U    00/U    10/U    10/U
BHK 073 043/074 046/082 047/083 050/080 046/077 047/079
    0/N 00/U    00/U    00/U    00/U    00/U    10/U
SHR 062 040/071 042/081 046/083 048/080 044/076 044/077
    8/T 30/U    00/U    00/U    00/U    11/U    10/U
&&
.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...None.
WY...None.
&&
$$
weather.gov/billings

NWS BYZ Office Area Forecast Discussion