Laurel, Montana 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

676
FXUS65 KBYZ 281941
AFDBYZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
141 PM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...
- Increasing showers mainly west of Billings through this
  afternoon.

- Snow is expected in the mountains mainly above 9000 feet through
  Monday, with accumulations of 1-3" (around 9kft), 3 to 6 inches
  with locally higher amounts up to 9 inches above 10kft.

- Windy for the mountains and foothills with gusts to 30-55 mph,
  greatest in the foothills west of Billings.


&&

.DISCUSSION...

A strong upper low remains over northern Montana this afternoon.
Warmer and drier conditions exist east of Billings, with clearer
skies. Meanwhile, around and west of Billings low to mid clouds
along with increasing showers and maybe a few rumbles of thunder
are spreading across south-central MT. This will begin a period of
precipitation for much of the foothills and mountains west of
Billings, especially in the Absaroka/Beartooth and Crazy
Mountains, where snowfall is forecast. As the upper low pivots
into southern MT and eastern ID through Monday, additional periods
of precipitation are expected to increase from west to east. The
best chance at least 0.5" exists in the mentioned mountains where
total liquid precipitation amounts up to 1.5" are forecast
through Monday.

Cooler temperatures are forecast across the west-central areas
through Monday, with high temperatures in the 50s to low 70s. In
the mountains, temperatures are currently in the 30sF this
afternoon. Look for overnight temperatures to drop into the 20s
and low 30s at the higher elevations. Snow levels will drop
towards 7,500 feet tonight allowing for accumulating snowfall. The
majority of accumulating snow will occur above 9000 feet. The
current forecast has 1 to 3 inches of snowfall around 9kft, 3 to 6
inches with locally higher amounts up to 9 inches above 10kft.
Recreation in the mountains will be impacted by wintry conditions
to start the week. Travel along the Beartooth Highway, mainly
above Vista Point will also be impacted by accumulating snowfall
and strong wind gusts up to 60 mph. Because of this, a Winter
Weather Advisory remains in effect until Monday evening.

The upper lows placement is bringing gusty west to northwest winds
across the area, with gusts in the 20 to 45 mph range today.
Monday looks to be slightly gustier, with gusts up to 50 mph. Each
day the strongest winds will be across the foothills west of
Billings and in each of the Absaroka/Beartooth, Crazy, and Bighorn
mountains. The most recent runs from the HRRR have been showing a
period of higher wind gusts in the Bighorns around sunrise
tomorrow morning, with projected gusts into the 60s mph. The
latest forecast has gusts in the low 50s however, with ensembles
and other models not depicting quite as strong winds.

A weak wave Monday morning may bring a few rumbles of thunder to
the far southeast, though strong storms are not expected. The
upper low looks to finally get moving and departs the state into
Tuesday, leaving breezy conditions with westerly winds gusting in
the 20 to 40 MPH range (greatest in the foothills west of Billings
and along the Dakotas Border).

Wednesday through Friday, a series of upper shortwaves is
depicted by the latest ensemble runs. These look to bring the
chance for showers and a thunderstorms. The extent of thunderstorm
strength is not clear at this time, though machine learning
networks suggest little threat for severe weather at this time.
Look for high temperatures in the 70s and low 80s during this
timeframe as well.

Cluster and ensemble analysis are in moderate agreement that
ridging will begin to build over the Northern Rockies over the
weekend, bringing temperatures back into the 80s and potentially
90s going into next week.

Matos

.AVIATION...

A weather system will bring wind, precipitation, and low to mid
clouds to portions of the area today into Monday.

Expected westerly wind gusts mainly in the 20s to 40s knots
during the day both days, strongest over the western foothills
(KLVM / K6S0 / K3HT). While winds will remain breezy tonight over
the western foothills, many areas will see winds decrease. This
may (moderate chance) allow for low level wind shear to develop in
spots, especially near the mountains (KSHR / KRED).

The area of light precipitation over central Montana this
afternoon will gradually dissipate through the afternoon and
evening. Tonight into early Monday morning, a few showers and weak
thunderstorms may (moderate chance) move through far south-
eastern Montana before additional widespread precipitation moves
back over south- central Montana late tonight into Monday. While
VFR conditions are expected to prevail over much of the plains,
MVFR to IFR conditions are expected at times near the mountains in
central and south-central Montana. Precipitation in the high
county will also cause mountain obscurations today into Monday. LA

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Mon     Tue     Wed     Thu     Fri     Sat     Sun
-----------------------------------------------------------
BIL 047/066 054/078 053/079 054/083 055/084 055/081 056/087
    05/W    21/B    23/T    21/B    23/T    42/T    10/U
LVM 040/056 043/072 045/074 045/077 047/078 046/078 048/084
    58/T    53/T    25/T    44/T    35/T    42/T    10/U
HDN 046/070 052/079 051/081 052/086 054/086 054/083 054/089
    04/W    21/U    33/T    11/B    13/T    42/T    10/U
MLS 050/072 051/078 053/081 055/086 057/088 057/082 055/087
    14/T    21/N    15/T    11/B    24/T    42/T    11/U
4BQ 052/073 052/079 054/081 055/086 058/089 057/081 056/088
    32/W    10/U    34/T    12/T    12/T    42/T    21/U
BHK 049/073 048/077 050/079 052/085 054/087 054/081 052/084
    23/T    20/N    15/T    32/T    23/T    53/T    11/U
SHR 046/071 045/077 048/078 049/083 051/084 051/080 050/086
    22/W    11/U    34/T    12/T    13/T    33/T    11/U

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 6 PM MDT Monday FOR
      ZONE 67.
WY...None.

&&

$$
weather.gov/billings