Alert archive / Montana / High Wind Warnings in 2020

High Wind Warning 4, NWS Missoula, MT

March 13, 20204 counties in Montana

NWS Missoula, MT issued this high wind warning at Mar 13, 2020, 3:26 AM MDT for 4 counties in Montana. It took effect at Mar 13, 2020, 3:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 20 hr. 29 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Mar 13, 2020, 3:26 AM MDT (09:26 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 13, 2020, 3:00 PM MDT
Expired
Mar 14, 2020, 11:00 AM MDT
In force
20 hr
Issued by
NWS Missoula, MT

Counties Flathead County, MT, Lake County, MT, Lincoln County, MT, Sanders County, MT

The radar

The Missoula radar (KMSX), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:23 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 13, 3:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 698 E Rollins, MTPERSONAL CUP ANEMOMETER SITUATED ON THE ROOF.
Mar 13, 3:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG5 S Woods Bay, MTMULTIPLE LARGE TREES OVER THE ROAD AT MILE-MARKER 21.5, MAKING HIGHWAY 35 IMPASSABLE. THE TIME OF REPORT IS ESTIMATED BASED ON POWER OUTAGE REPORTS AND TWITTER ACTIVITY. PHOTOS AND VIDEO REPORTED VIA MEDIA.
Mar 13, 3:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG6 Ne Woods Bay, MTTHE MEADOW LAKE ROAD AND WHITETAIL ROAD AREAS WERE PROBLEM AREAS WITH MULTIPLE TREES DOWN FROM THE EASTERLY WINDS. IT TOOK SEVERAL DAYS TO MITIGATE.
Mar 13, 3:36 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 644 N Creston, MTMESONET STATION FW5910 KALISPELL.
Mar 13, 4:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 704 Ene Woods Bay, MTA PRIVATE WIND ANEMOMETER IN THE AREA REPORTED GUSTS NEAR 70 MPH.
Mar 13, 4:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG4 Ne Woods Bay, MTAPPROXIMATELY 6 TREES ACROSS SOUTH FERNDALE ROAD WITH DOZENS OF TREES DOWN TOWARDS HIGHWAY 83. THESE WERE 100 YEAR OLD TREES AND WERE LAID DOWN FROM EAST TO WEST. TIME IS APPROXIMATE.
Mar 13, 4:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG5 Ene Woods Bay, MTTHE RED OWL ROAD AREA WAS LISTED AS THE WORST DAMAGE BY THE UTILITY. THERE WAS SO MUCH DAMAGE THAT IT TOOK 3 OR 4 DAYS TO CLEAR UP THE TREE DEBRIS. THEY SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MITIGATE DURING THE EVENT BECAUSE THERE WERE TREES FALLING ALL AROUND THEM. THE TI
Mar 13, 5:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG5 Ene Woods Bay, MT*** 1 INJ *** MULTIPLE TREES, POSSIBLY DOZENS, WERE LAYED DOWN ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, WITH A FEW TREES ON HIGHWAY 83. OLD PONDEROSA AND GRAND FIR TREES. THEY REMARKED THAT THE SOIL WAS SLIGHTLY SOFT. A MAN WAS INJURED WHEN A TREE FELL ON HIM APPROXIMATELY A FEW
Mar 13, 5:31 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 714 N Creston, MTMESONET STATION FW5910 KALISPELL (LAKE BLAINE).
Mar 13, 6:38 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG4 Ese La Salle, MTTREE DAMAGE WITH POWER OUTAGE.
Mar 13, 7:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG3 Ne Creston, MTAT LEAST 10 GIANT TREES, MOSTLY FIRS BUT WITH A FEW PONDEROSA PINES, TOPPLED OR SNAPPED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
Mar 13, 7:11 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 724 N Creston, MTMESONET STATION FW5910 KALISPELL (LAKE BLAINE). GUSTS TO +70 MPH OBSERVED AT 706 PM, 711 PM, 721 PM AND 726 PM.
Mar 13, 7:31 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG4 Se Lakeside, MTLUTHERAN CAMP REPORTED A DOZEN TREES DOWN WITH DAMAGE: 3 CABINS DAMAGED, SHED, A NEW DECK DAMAGED, AND SEVERAL TREES ON THE ROAD.
Mar 13, 8:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG3 Ene Fortine, MTAPPROXIMATELY 30 PERCENT OF TALL SPRUCE TREES IN A 20 ACRE SWATCH FELL OVER DUE TO THE HIGH WINDS AT THE MOUTH OF DEEP CREEK CANYON. A CHAIN-LINKED FENCE WAS DAMAGED AT A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. POWER CREWS WERE UNABLE TO MITIGATE INITIALLY DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS CON
Mar 13, 8:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG4 Nne Fortine, MTSEVERAL SPRUCE TREES TOPPLED OVER DUE TO THE HIGH WINDS NEAR THE MOUTH OF GRAVE CREEK CANYON.
Mar 13, 8:30 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG2 Ene Finley Point, MTTREES DOWN AT MILE-MARKER 8 ON HIGHWAY 35.
Mar 13, 9:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG5 E Bigfork, MTDOZENS OF TREES WERE DOWN ALONG LANDMARK LANE, JUST DOWNWIND OF THE BEAR CREEK CANYON. FIREFIGHTERS WERE IN THE PROCESS OF CLEANING UP THE TREES TO GET TO SOMEONE, BUT HAD TO ABANDON DUE TO FURTHER TREE-FALL. THE TIME IS APPROXIMATE AND OCCURRED SOMETIME FRIDA
Mar 13, 9:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG5 E Eureka, MTMULTIPLE TREES DOWN WITH POWER OUTAGES IN THE GLEN LAKE, GRAVE CREEK, DEEP CREEK AREAS AND FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD IN WHITEFISH. LOCATION IS AN ESTIMATE OF WHERE THE DAMAGE OCCURRED. TIMING IS AN ESTIMATION AS WELL.
Mar 13, 9:46 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMGWoods Bay, MT8 LARGE TREES DOWNED ON A PROPERTY IN WOODS BAY.
Mar 13, 10:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG4 Ene Woods Bay, MTMULTIPLE TREES FELL DURING THE WINDSTORM SOMETIME DURING THE 13 AND 14 AT THE KOOTENAI LODGE. THE WIND BLEW FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. TIME IS A COARSE ESTIMATION.
Mar 13, 11:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG3 Nnw Finley Point, MTCLOSE TO A HUNDRED TREES WERE ESTIMATED TO HAVE FALLEN OVER(NOT ALL FELL ON POWER LINES AND ONTO ROADWAYS), EXTENDING FROM THE NORTH SHORE OF FINLEY POINT TO ALONG HIGHWAY 35 BETWEEN MILE-MARKERS 6 AND 18, CAUSING WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO POWER LINES AND POLES, AT
Mar 13, 11:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG4 E Woods Bay, MTDOUGLAS FIR, 2.5 FEET AT THE BASE, 125 FEET TALL TIPPED OVER. TIME IS APPROXIMATE.
Mar 14, 1:05 AM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 47La Salle, MTASOS STATION KGPI KALISPELL.
Mar 14, 3:07 AM MDTNON-TSTM WND DMG2 Ene Heron, MTTREES WERE REPORTED DOWN BETWEEN MILE-MARKERS 6 AND 7 ON HIGHWAY 200.
Mar 14, 5:45 AM MDTSNOW 2Libby, MT
Mar 14, 8:00 AM MDTSNOW 111 E Libby, MTCO-OP OBSERVER STATION LIBM8 LIBBY 12 E.
Mar 14, 9:00 AM MDTSNOW 0.8Yaak, MTCOCORAHS STATION MT-LN-6 YAAK.
Mar 14, 9:00 AM MDTSNOW 1.33 Wnw Kalispell, MTCOCORAHS STATION MT-FH-30 2 WNW KALISPELL.
Mar 14, 9:00 AM MDTSNOW 1.55 E Weeksville, MTCOCORAHS STATION MT-SN-5 5 N PLAINS.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Spokane, WA (KOTX), launched 00:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 135 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Spokane, WA at 00:00Z on 2020-03-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Spokane, WA at 00:00Z on 2020-03-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 26 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2114 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
73 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
26 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
77 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

764 
WWUS75 KMSO 130926
NPWMSO

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
326 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2020

MTZ001-140930-
/O.NEW.KMSO.HW.W.0004.200313T2100Z-200314T1500Z/
Kootenai/Cabinet Region-
326 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 AM
MDT SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Northeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 40 mph
  expected. Strongest winds and gusts are likely along Highway 93
  Eureka to Whitefish, where periodic gusts up to 50 mph are 
  likely.

* WHERE...Highway 2 Kalispell to Libby, Highway 37 Eureka to 
  Libby, Highway 56 Bull Lake Road, and Highway 93 Eureka to 
  Whitefish.

* WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 9 AM MDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. 
  Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be 
  difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.

&&

$$

MTZ005-140930-
/O.NEW.KMSO.WI.Y.0005.200313T2100Z-200314T1200Z/
Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys-
326 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2020

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM MDT
SATURDAY...

* WHAT...East winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 40 mph likely. 
  Stronger gusts to 45 mph will be possible near the mouth of 
  Hellgate Canyon. 

* WHERE...Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys.

* WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 6 AM MDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. 
  Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may 
  result.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

&&

$$
5 follow-up statements
576 
WWUS75 KMSO 131357
NPWMSO

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
757 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2020

MTZ001-141400-
/O.CON.KMSO.HW.W.0004.200313T2100Z-200314T1500Z/
Kootenai/Cabinet Region-
757 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON
TO 9 AM MDT SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Northeast winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts over 50 mph are
  expected between Eureka and Whitefish. 

* WHERE...Highway 2 south of Libby to Happy's Inn, Highway 37
  Eureka to Libby, Highway 56 Bull Lake Road, and Highway 93
  Eureka to Whitefish.

* WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 9 AM MDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. 
  Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be 
  difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.

&&

$$

MTZ005-141200-
/O.CON.KMSO.WI.Y.0005.200313T2100Z-200314T1200Z/
Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys-
757 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2020

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
6 AM MDT SATURDAY...

* WHAT...East winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 40 mph likely. 
  Stronger gusts to 45 mph will be possible near the mouth of 
  Hellgate Canyon.

* WHERE...Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys.

* WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 6 AM MDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. 
  Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may 
  result.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

&&

$$
454 
WWUS75 KMSO 131521
NPWMSO

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
921 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2020

MTZ003-141500-
/O.EXA.KMSO.HW.W.0004.200313T2100Z-200314T1500Z/
Flathead/Mission Valleys-
921 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 AM
MDT SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Northeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph
  expected. Wind gusts over 60 mph possible along the Mission
  mountains, Echo Lake and Lake Blaine areas, and along Highways
  206 and 35. A winter weather advisory is also in effect for 
  this area mainly focused in the areas with dangerous winds.

* WHERE...Flathead Lake, Flathead Valley, Mission Valley, and
  Polson. Strongest winds expected along the east shores of
  Flathead Lake north through Lake Blaine.

* WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 9 AM MDT Saturday. Strongest
  winds are expected this evening through about midnight.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. 
  Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be 
  difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.

&&

$$

MTZ001-141500-
/O.CON.KMSO.HW.W.0004.200313T2100Z-200314T1500Z/
Kootenai/Cabinet Region-
921 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON
TO 9 AM MDT SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Northeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 40 mph
  expected across most of the area. West of the Whitefish Range,
  between Eureka and Whitefish, wind gusts around 60 mph are 
  possible today.

* WHERE...Highway 2 Kalispell to Libby, Highway 37 Eureka to
  Libby, Highway 56 Bull Lake Road, and Highway 93 Eureka to
  Whitefish. Strongest winds are expected Highway 93 Eureka to
  Whitefish.

* WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 9 AM MDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. 
  Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be 
  difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.

&&

$$

MTZ005-141200-
/O.CON.KMSO.WI.Y.0005.200313T2100Z-200314T1200Z/
Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys-
921 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2020

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
6 AM MDT SATURDAY...

* WHAT...East winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 35 mph expected.
  Mountain locations and near Hellgate Canyon will see stronger 
  winds.

* WHERE...Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys.

* WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 6 AM MDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. 
  Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may 
  result.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

&&

$$
176 
WWUS75 KMSO 140846
NPWMSO

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
246 AM MDT Sat Mar 14 2020

MTZ001-141000-
/O.CAN.KMSO.HW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-200314T1500Z/
Kootenai/Cabinet Region-
246 AM MDT Sat Mar 14 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING IS CANCELLED...

Blustery winds will continue through the morning.

$$

MTZ005-141000-
/O.CAN.KMSO.WI.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-200314T1200Z/
Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys-
246 AM MDT Sat Mar 14 2020

...WIND ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

Blustery winds will continue through the morning.

$$

MTZ003-141500-
/O.CON.KMSO.HW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-200314T1500Z/
Flathead/Mission Valleys-
246 AM MDT Sat Mar 14 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM MDT THIS
MORNING...

* WHAT...Northeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph
  expected. Wind gusts over 60 mph possible along the Mission
  mountains, Echo Lake and Lake Blaine areas, and along Highways
  206 and 35. 

* WHERE...Flathead Lake, Flathead Valley, Mission Valley, and 
  Polson. Strongest winds expected along the east shores of 
  Flathead Lake north through Lake Blaine.

* WHEN...Until 9 AM MDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. 
  Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be 
  difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

&&

$$
055 
WWUS75 KMSO 141452
NPWMSO

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
852 AM MDT Sat Mar 14 2020

MTZ003-141700-
/O.EXT.KMSO.HW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-200314T1700Z/
Flathead/Mission Valleys-
852 AM MDT Sat Mar 14 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MDT THIS MORNING...

* WHAT...Northeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph
  expected. Wind gusts over 50 mph possible along the Mission 
  mountains, Echo Lake and Lake Blaine areas, and along Highways 
  206 and 35.

* WHERE...Flathead Lake, Flathead Valley, Mission Valley, and 
  Polson. Strongest winds expected along the east shores of 
  Flathead Lake north through Lake Blaine.

* WHEN...Until 11 AM MDT this morning.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. 
  Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be 
  difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.

&&

$$
900 
WWUS75 KMSO 141647
NPWMSO

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
1047 AM MDT Sat Mar 14 2020

MTZ003-141800-
/O.EXP.KMSO.HW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-200314T1700Z/
Flathead/Mission Valleys-
1047 AM MDT Sat Mar 14 2020

...HIGH WIND WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM MDT THIS MORNING...

Nearby observations have shown a decrease in wind speeds this
morning. High winds above 50 mph are not expected for the 
remainder of the day.

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Missoula, MT issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 13, 3:26 AM MDTWind AdvisoryMSOMissoula, Ravalli23 hr

Nearby

High Wind Warnings in Montana, 2020Every high wind warning in 2020

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.