Miles City, Montana 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

085
FXUS65 KBYZ 142134
AFDBYZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
234 PM MST Wed Jan 14 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Elevated grass fire concerns continue today around and west of
  Billings due to dry, windy, and unseasonably warm temperatures.

- Strong winds are likely Thursday into Friday over much of the
  area. Current chance of 50+ mph winds is 30-70 percent for much
  of of the area, highest near the Dakotas border and the east
  side of the Bighorns.

- Low to moderate chance of light snow in eastern Montana and
  northern Wyoming Thursday into Friday morning (20-40%).
  Combination of wind and light snow may result in blowing snow
  and reduced visibility.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Through Tuesday...

Shortwave ridging and lee side troughing have led to a very warm,
dry and breezy day today, with temperatures in the 50s and 60s
this afternoon. Winds along the foothills have been gusting into
the 30s to near 50 mph. An initial cold front/wave will drop
through the area from the northwest to southeast tonight into
Thursday morning bringing northwest winds from the 20s to 40s mph,
strongest over the western foothills and the higher hills. The
initial wave will be dry, and the breezy winds overnight will keep
temperatures up over the hills.

A much stronger shortwave will drop south and east out of Canada
into the High Plains on Thursday, dragging an associated cold
front through the area from north to south Thursday afternoon and
evening. Strong pressure rises will accompany the front, and mid
level winds will increase with 850mb winds of 40 to 55 kts over
portions of south-central and eastern Montana, including northern
Wyoming (east side of the Bighorn Mountains). Gusty to strong
winds are expected at the surface, with a high chance of seeing
wind gusts of 50 mph for northwest areas, far southeast MT and
the east side of the Bighorns, and a moderate chance of 60 mph.
Much of the remaining area will see wind gusts of 30-50 mph
through Thursday evening, with the potential for locally higher
winds. Given the strong pressure rises associated with the front,
have added the Judith Gap and Wheatland County zones into the High
Wind Watch, in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday
morning. Rosebud County has been added to the High Wind Watch as
well. The strong winds will gradually diminish into Friday evening
as the parent weather system tracks east, and strong winds aloft
decrease.

Along with the wind, the front will bring a period of showers
Thursday afternoon and evening, greatest near the southern
mountains and foothills (20-40% chance). While the initial
precipitation should remain a rain/snow mix over the lower
elevations, some light snow accumulations into the southern
mountains and foothills are possible. Light snow showers are
possible along the Dakotas border Thursday night into Friday
morning (20-40% chance) as additional energy associated with the
parent system to the east drops through the region. The main
concern with this is the combination of light snow and strong
winds reducing visibility at times. Overall accumulations look to
remain minimal, especially with the wind.

A much cooler day is expected for Friday behind the cold front
with highs in the 20s to near 40 degrees. Warmer conditions build
into the area for the weekend over the west and central zones as
heights increase from the west. Another clipper system dropping
into the northern US may bring a backdoor front to the area on
Sunday, with gusty to potentially strong winds to eastern Montana
and the east side of the Bighorns. A low chance (less than 20%) of
precipitation may accompany the front. If you have travel or
recreation plans Sunday, make sure to stay up to date with the
latest forecast.

Mainly dry northwest flow looks to prevail over the area through
the early part of the week, with perhaps a weak wave dropping
through the flow Monday. Cooler temperatures are forecast, but
still above normal over most of the area, with highs in the 30s
and 40s, and 20s and 30s near the Dakotas border. STP

.AVIATION...

20z Discussion..

West to northwest winds gusting 25-50 knots over the foothills
(KLVM/K6S0) will continue through today. KBIL can expect gusts out
of the west up to 20kts during the daytime hours. After 00z this
evening LLWS is forecast across the region and will last through
12z. Breezy conditions are forecast to continue through Thursday
where KBIL may see northwesterly gusts up to 30kts after 12z.
Otherwise, expect VFR conditions for to prevail for the entire
period. WMR

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Thu     Fri     Sat     Sun     Mon     Tue     Wed
-----------------------------------------------------------
BIL 040/054 029/038 024/048 033/049 027/045 030/049 028/046
    12/J    10/N    00/U    00/U    00/B    00/B    01/B
LVM 038/051 023/036 022/049 028/046 024/046 029/048 028/046
    00/N    10/B    00/U    00/U    00/U    00/B    11/B
HDN 035/052 025/036 020/044 028/047 023/043 025/048 024/046
    02/W    10/N    00/B    00/B    00/B    00/B    11/B
MLS 035/043 023/028 013/031 025/037 016/033 020/039 020/036
    02/W    10/N    00/B    00/B    00/B    00/B    01/B
4BQ 037/046 023/028 015/035 026/041 020/035 022/042 021/040
    02/J    21/N    10/U    00/B    10/B    00/B    01/B
BHK 030/040 016/023 002/026 017/030 007/027 013/035 015/033
    02/J    41/N    10/B    01/N    10/B    00/B    11/B
SHR 038/050 018/031 017/041 026/045 019/040 020/046 021/046
    02/W    30/N    10/B    00/N    00/B    00/B    01/B

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...High Wind Watch in effect from Thursday afternoon through
      Friday afternoon FOR ZONES 31>33-36-37-58-138.
     High Wind Watch in effect from Thursday afternoon through
      Friday morning FOR ZONES 63-228.
WY...High Wind Watch in effect from Thursday afternoon through
      Friday afternoon FOR ZONE 199.

&&

$$
weather.gov/billings