Alert archive / Montana / High Wind Warnings in 2026
High Wind Warning 13, NWS Billings, MT
NWS Billings, MT issued this high wind warning at Apr 6, 2026, 12:13 PM MDT for 4 counties in Montana. It took effect at Apr 7, 2026, 9:00 AM MDT. It was in force for 14 hr. 8 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
- Apr 6, 2026, 12:13 PM MDT (18:13 UTC)
- In effect from
- Apr 7, 2026, 9:00 AM MDT
- Expired
- Apr 7, 2026, 10:57 PM MDT
- In force
- 14 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Billings, MT
Counties Golden Valley County, MT, Park County, MT, Sweet Grass County, MT, Wheatland County, MT
The radar
The Billings radar (KBLX), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:17 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 7, 12:30 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 58 | 7 Wnw Twodot, MT | |
| Apr 7, 1:45 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 60 | 1 Sw Springdale, MT | Mesonet station MTSPD Springdale I-90 Mp 352.3. |
| Apr 7, 1:55 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 60 | 2 Ssw Big Timber, MT | AWOS station K6S0 Big Timber. |
| Apr 7, 3:15 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 58 | Judith Gap, MT | Mesonet station MTJUD Judith Gap (MT DOT). |
| Apr 7, 4:05 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 62 | 7 Ene Livingston, MT | ASOS station KLVM Livingston. |
| Apr 7, 4:12 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 63 | 17 Ne Wilsall, MT | Mesonet station TT453 Crazy. |
| Apr 7, 5:44 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 64 | 2 Ene Harlowton, MT | AWOS station K1KM 2 ENE Harlowton. |
| Apr 7, 6:35 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 57 | 9 N Limestone, MT | Mesonet station DBYM8 Derby Mountain. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The nearest sounding before it
Glasgow Intl Airport, MT (KGGW), launched 12:00Z, 6.2 hours before the alert went out and 347 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1421 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 66 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 34 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 210 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
827 WWUS75 KBYZ 061813 NPWBYZ URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Billings MT 1213 PM MDT Mon Apr 6 2026 MTZ063-141-172-228-071815- /O.UPG.KBYZ.HW.A.0012.260407T1500Z-260408T0600Z/ /O.NEW.KBYZ.HW.W.0013.260407T1500Z-260408T0600Z/ Judith Gap-Northern Sweet Grass-Melville Foothills-Southern Wheatland- Including the locations of Judith Gap, Harlowton, Melville, and Big Timber 1213 PM MDT Mon Apr 6 2026 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TUESDAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT TUESDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...Judith Gap, Southern Wheatland, Melville Foothills, and Northern Sweet Grass. * WHEN...From 9 AM Tuesday to midnight MDT Tuesday Night. * IMPACTS...Strong crosswinds will make travel difficult along Highway 191 from Big Timber through Judith Gap. Warm and dry conditions could cause rapid grass fire spread. Use caution with any burning activities. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution and consider postponing travel until winds subside, or take an alternate route. Grass fires can spark and spread quickly in these conditions. Use extra caution as to not cause a spark. && $$ MTZ068-071815- /O.NEW.KBYZ.HW.W.0013.260407T1500Z-260408T0600Z/ Crazy Mountains- 1213 PM MDT Mon Apr 6 2026 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TUESDAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT TUESDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...West winds 45 to 55 mph with gusts up to 75 mph expected. * WHERE...Crazy Mountains. * WHEN...From 9 AM Tuesday to midnight MDT Tuesday Night. * IMPACTS...Recreation in the high country will be impacted by strong winds. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use caution if you have plans to recreate in the mountains Tuesday. && $$ MTZ065-066-071815- /O.NEW.KBYZ.WI.Y.0013.260407T1500Z-260408T0600Z/ Livingston Area-Beartooth Foothills- Including the locations of Limestone, Fishtail, Nye, Livingston, Dean, and Mc Leod 1213 PM MDT Mon Apr 6 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TUESDAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT TUESDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...West winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...Beartooth Foothills and Livingston Area. * WHEN...From 9 AM Tuesday to midnight MDT Tuesday Night. * IMPACTS...Strong winds will make travel difficult along Interstate 90 from Livingston to Big Timber and roads along the Beartooth Foothills. Warm and dry conditions could cause rapid grass fire spread. Use caution with any burning activities. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The strongest winds are expected along and near I-90. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution and consider postponing travel until winds subside, or take an alternate route. Grass fires can spark and spread quickly in these conditions. Use extra caution as to not cause a spark. && $$ Additional graphics for this hazard can be found at http://www.weather.gov/billings McKeown-Robbie
3 follow-up statements
133 WWUS75 KBYZ 070508 NPWBYZ URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Billings MT 1108 PM MDT Mon Apr 6 2026 MTZ063-141-172-228-080515- /O.CON.KBYZ.HW.W.0013.260407T1500Z-260408T0600Z/ Judith Gap-Northern Sweet Grass-Melville Foothills-Southern Wheatland- Including the locations of Big Timber, Melville, Judith Gap, and Harlowton 1108 PM MDT Mon Apr 6 2026 ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TUESDAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT TUESDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...Judith Gap, Southern Wheatland, Melville Foothills, and Northern Sweet Grass. * WHEN...From 9 AM Tuesday to midnight MDT Tuesday Night. * IMPACTS...Strong crosswinds will make travel difficult along Highway 191 from Big Timber through Judith Gap. Warm and dry conditions could cause rapid grass fire spread. Use caution with any burning activities. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution and consider postponing travel until winds subside, or take an alternate route. Grass fires can spark and spread quickly in these conditions. Use extra caution as to not cause a spark. && $$ MTZ068-080515- /O.CON.KBYZ.HW.W.0013.260407T1500Z-260408T0600Z/ Crazy Mountains- 1108 PM MDT Mon Apr 6 2026 ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TUESDAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT TUESDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...West winds 45 to 55 mph with gusts up to 75 mph expected. * WHERE...Crazy Mountains. * WHEN...From 9 AM Tuesday to midnight MDT Tuesday Night. * IMPACTS...Recreation in the high country will be impacted by strong winds. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use caution if you have plans to recreate in the mountains Tuesday. && $$ MTZ065-066-080515- /O.CON.KBYZ.WI.Y.0013.260407T1500Z-260408T0600Z/ Livingston Area-Beartooth Foothills- Including the locations of Livingston, Limestone, Dean, Nye, Mc Leod, and Fishtail 1108 PM MDT Mon Apr 6 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TUESDAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT TUESDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...West winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...Beartooth Foothills and Livingston Area. * WHEN...From 9 AM Tuesday to midnight MDT Tuesday Night. * IMPACTS...Strong winds will make travel difficult along Interstate 90 from Livingston to Big Timber and roads along the Beartooth Foothills. Warm and dry conditions could cause rapid grass fire spread. Use caution with any burning activities. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The strongest winds are expected along and near I-90. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution and consider postponing travel until winds subside, or take an alternate route. Grass fires can spark and spread quickly in these conditions. Use extra caution as to not cause a spark. && $$ Additional graphics for this hazard can be found at http://www.weather.gov/billings Chambers
167 WWUS75 KBYZ 071844 NPWBYZ URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Billings MT 1244 PM MDT Tue Apr 7 2026 MTZ063-141-172-228-080600- /O.CON.KBYZ.HW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260408T0600Z/ Judith Gap-Northern Sweet Grass-Melville Foothills-Southern Wheatland- Including the locations of Big Timber, Judith Gap, Harlowton, and Melville 1244 PM MDT Tue Apr 7 2026 ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT... * WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...Judith Gap, Southern Wheatland, Melville Foothills, and Northern Sweet Grass. * WHEN...Until midnight MDT tonight. * IMPACTS...Strong crosswinds will make travel difficult along Highway 191 from Big Timber through Judith Gap. Warm and dry conditions could cause rapid grass fire spread. Use caution with any burning activities. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution and consider postponing travel until winds subside, or take an alternate route. Grass fires can spark and spread quickly in these conditions. Use extra caution as to not cause a spark. && $$ MTZ068-080600- /O.CON.KBYZ.HW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260408T0600Z/ Crazy Mountains- 1244 PM MDT Tue Apr 7 2026 ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT... * WHAT...West winds 45 to 55 mph with gusts up to 75 mph expected. * WHERE...Crazy Mountains. * WHEN...Until midnight MDT tonight. * IMPACTS...Recreation in the high country will be impacted by strong winds. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use caution if you have plans to recreate in the mountains. && $$ MTZ065-066-080600- /O.CON.KBYZ.WI.Y.0013.000000T0000Z-260408T0600Z/ Livingston Area-Beartooth Foothills- Including the locations of Limestone, Fishtail, Mc Leod, Nye, Dean, and Livingston 1244 PM MDT Tue Apr 7 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT... * WHAT...West winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...Beartooth Foothills and Livingston Area. * WHEN...Until midnight MDT tonight. * IMPACTS...Strong winds will make travel difficult along Interstate 90 from Livingston to Big Timber and roads along the Beartooth Foothills. Warm and dry conditions could cause rapid grass fire spread. Use caution with any burning activities. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The strongest winds are expected along and near I-90. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution and consider postponing travel until winds subside, or take an alternate route. Grass fires can spark and spread quickly in these conditions. Use extra caution as to not cause a spark. && $$ Additional graphics for this hazard can be found at http://www.weather.gov/billings Stetzer
199 WWUS75 KBYZ 080457 NPWBYZ URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Billings MT 1057 PM MDT Tue Apr 7 2026 MTZ063-068-141-172-228-080600- /O.CAN.KBYZ.HW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260408T0600Z/ Judith Gap-Crazy Mountains-Northern Sweet Grass-Melville Foothills-Southern Wheatland- Including the locations of Big Timber, Judith Gap, Harlowton, and Melville 1057 PM MDT Tue Apr 7 2026 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IS CANCELLED... Potentially damaging winds are not longer expected. $$ MTZ065-066-080600- /O.CAN.KBYZ.WI.Y.0013.000000T0000Z-260408T0600Z/ Livingston Area-Beartooth Foothills- Including the locations of Limestone, Livingston, Dean, Fishtail, Mc Leod, and Nye 1057 PM MDT Tue Apr 7 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY IS CANCELLED... Potentially damaging winds are not longer expected. $$ Additional graphics for this hazard can be found at http://www.weather.gov/billings Torgerson
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this high wind warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Billings, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before this high wind warning went out at Apr 6, 4:33 AM MDT, 7 hours 40 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Warm and dry ahead of a cold front on Tuesday. Low to moderate chance of showers with the front.
- Brief period of gusty to strong crosswinds accompany the front, across the foothills west of Billings Tuesday afternoon/evening.
- Gusty to strong winds in southeast MT, greatest along the Dakotas border on Wednesday. Moderate chance of gusts exceeding 50 mph.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 6, 4:33 AM MDT, 7 hours 40 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Billings MT
433 AM MDT Mon Apr 6 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Warm and dry ahead of a cold front on Tuesday. Low to moderate
chance of showers with the front.
- Brief period of gusty to strong crosswinds accompany the front,
across the foothills west of Billings Tuesday afternoon/evening.
- Gusty to strong winds in southeast MT, greatest along the
Dakotas border on Wednesday. Moderate chance of gusts exceeding
50 mph.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Through Sunday...
Ridging continues into Tuesday, with mostly dry conditions. There
is a backdoor cold front dropping into the east, models are
showing a low chance for showers there today. Any accumulations
with precipitation will be negligible though. Look for high
temperatures in the upper 30s to mid 50sF today (coolest in the
east). With the backdoor front, breezy conditions will be felt in
the east today into Tuesday afternoon with winds gusting 20 to 30
mph out of the south-southeast.
An upper low developing over Canada will bring the next system to
the region, Tuesday through Wednesday. A cold front associated
with the low will bring a brief period of gusty to strong winds
across the foothills west of Billings Tuesday evening. Pre-frontal
temperatures will be 10-20F above normal, with highs in the 60s
and 70sF. This is a tricky wind setup, as ensembles have a strong
signal for wind gusts exceeding 50 mph Tuesday afternoon/evening
for the foothills west of Billings. Because this is less of a
synoptic setup, the likelihood of gusty to strong crosswinds all
day on Tuesday is lower. The east-west gradient that generally
aids a strong crosswind event for the US-191 corridor, looks to be
fairly weak. Additionally, 700mb winds are not all that strong
ahead of the front, 35 to 45 knots. Mixing does not seem to be an
issue, with lapse rates in excess of 7.5C/km. Soundings do show 50
knot winds or greater above 700mb ahead of the front for Big
Timber and Harlowton, though the westerly direction is less
favorable for Harlowton. For Livingston, this will be a hybrid
event with strong mixing and westerly 700mb winds. The probability
for gusts of 50 mph or greater for Livingston is moderate at this
time. The main push of strong winds looks to be with the fronts
arrival, currently late Tuesday afternoon/ early Tuesday evening.
Because of this, a High Wind Watch remains in effect from Big
Timber through Judith Gap for gusts to 60 mph.
Across the rest of the area, look for gusts in the 20s to 40 mph
range. Low relative humidities are also forecast with the windy
and warm conditions. As a result of this, there will be elevated
grass fire concerns for the plains/foothills around and west of
Billings where recent precipitation was generally a tenth of an
inch or less.
As the upper low moves through southern Canada / into northern
Montana Tuesday evening, the cold front will move across the rest
of the forecast area, bringing a low to moderate chance of
showers. This will not bring significant, widespread rainfall. The
chance for appreciable moisture is low, though heavier showers
could bring a tenth of an inch of rain or more. A few rumbles of
thunder may accompany the front as well.
The upper low looks to continue it's journey through the Canadian
Plains and Dakotan Plains, NW winds wrapping around the low look
to bring gusty to strong winds to eastern MT Wednesday afternoon.
The latest model guidance has at least a 60% chance of 50+ mph
wind gusts in Custer, Fallon, and Carter Counties.
Thursday and beyond, a return to ridging or perhaps slightly
unsettled flow appears likely, though the chance for precipitation
is currently low. High temperatures are currently forecast to be
in the 40s and 50sF to end the week before 60s and 70sF arrive for
the weekend.
Matos
.AVIATION...
10Z update...
There is a chance of fog (15%) in the Bighorn Foothills in the
vicinity of KSHR through 15Z this morning. IFR/LIFR conditions can
be expected with any fog that does form. Elsewhere, scattered
MVFR decks have developed from K6SO to K1KM...and may spread over
other sections of the forecast area, including KBIL. These decks
are expected to slowly lift or break up by 18Z. Otherwise, VFR
conditions are expected through into the evening. BT
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...
Tdy Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
-------------------------------------------------------
BIL 053 036/073 034/056 029/055 031/065 040/075 045/066
1/E 12/W 51/N 11/U 10/U 02/W 35/W
LVM 054 036/068 032/054 029/058 030/065 041/070 041/063
1/E 12/W 31/N 11/U 11/B 13/W 45/W
HDN 057 032/074 033/056 027/057 030/068 038/077 043/069
1/E 12/W 81/N 11/B 11/U 12/W 35/W
MLS 047 031/072 034/046 023/050 028/064 040/075 043/066
1/E 02/W 61/N 01/B 10/U 01/U 23/W
4BQ 047 032/070 034/050 025/053 030/064 042/075 045/068
1/E 01/B 71/N 11/B 10/U 11/B 23/W
BHK 039 026/063 030/043 021/049 025/060 037/071 042/066
2/E 01/B 71/N 01/B 10/U 01/B 13/W
SHR 054 031/068 028/051 024/054 028/065 038/073 040/066
1/E 11/B 82/J 11/U 11/B 12/W 25/W
&&
.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...High Wind Watch in effect from Tuesday morning through
Tuesday evening FOR ZONES 63-141-172-228.
WY...None.
&&
weather.gov/billingsThe office that day
Everything else NWS Billings, MT issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 6, 12:13 PM MDT | Wind Advisory | BYZ | Park, Stillwater, Sweet Grass | 35 hr |
Nearby
High Wind Warnings in Montana, 2026Every high wind warning in 2026
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.