Wind Advisory 3, NWS Missoula, MT

125 
WWUS75 KMSO 111524
NPWMSO

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
924 AM MDT Wed Mar 11 2026

MTZ007-111630-
/O.CAN.KMSO.HW.W.0002.260312T0600Z-260313T0600Z/
Butte/Blackfoot Region-
924 AM MDT Wed Mar 11 2026

...HIGH WIND WARNING IS CANCELLED...

The High Wind Warning has been replaced with a Winter Storm Warning 
for this area. Confidence for a significant wind event remains high.

$$

IDZ009-010-121530-
/O.CON.KMSO.HW.W.0002.260312T0600Z-260313T0600Z/
Western Lemhi County-Eastern Lemhi County-
924 AM MDT Wed Mar 11 2026

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 
MIDNIGHT MDT THURSDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected.

* WHERE...Eastern Lemhi County and Western Lemhi County.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to midnight MDT Thursday Night.

* 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...

Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and 
avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution 
if you must drive.

&&

$$

MTZ001-121530-
/O.CON.KMSO.HW.W.0002.260312T0600Z-260313T0000Z/
Kootenai/Cabinet Region-
924 AM MDT Wed Mar 11 2026

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM 
MDT THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 70 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Kootenai/Cabinet Region.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 6 PM MDT Thursday.

* 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...

Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and 
avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution 
if you must drive.

&&

$$

MTZ003-121530-
/O.CON.KMSO.HW.W.0002.260312T0600Z-260313T0000Z/
Flathead/Mission Valleys-
924 AM MDT Wed Mar 11 2026

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM 
MDT THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 70 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Flathead/Mission Valleys.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 6 PM MDT Thursday.

* 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...

Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and 
avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution 
if you must drive.

&&

$$

MTZ005-121530-
/O.CON.KMSO.HW.W.0002.260312T0600Z-260313T0000Z/
Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys-
924 AM MDT Wed Mar 11 2026

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM 
MDT THURSDAY...

* WHAT...West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph in the 
  Missoula Valley and gusts up to 70 mph in the Bitterroot Valley 
  expected.

* WHERE...Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 6 PM MDT Thursday.

* 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...

Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and 
avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution 
if you must drive.

&&

$$

MTZ043-121530-
/O.CON.KMSO.HW.W.0002.260312T0600Z-260313T0000Z/
Potomac/Seeley Lake Region-
924 AM MDT Wed Mar 11 2026

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM 
MDT THURSDAY...

* WHAT...West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 65 mph expected.

* WHERE...Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 6 PM MDT Thursday.

* 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...

Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and 
avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution 
if you must drive.

&&

$$

IDZ007-008-121530-
/O.CON.KMSO.WI.Y.0003.260312T0300Z-260312T1800Z/
Orofino/Grangeville Region-Lower Hells Canyon/Salmon River Region-
824 AM PDT Wed Mar 11 2026

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM 
PDT THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 50 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Lower Hells Canyon/Salmon River Region and 
  Orofino/Grangeville Region.

* WHEN...From 8 PM this evening to 11 AM PDT Thursday.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high 
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

&&

$$

AL

038 
WWUS75 KMSO 121055
NPWMSO

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
455 AM MDT Thu Mar 12 2026

IDZ009-010-130600-
/O.CON.KMSO.HW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260313T0600Z/
Western Lemhi County-Eastern Lemhi County-
455 AM MDT Thu Mar 12 2026

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT...

* WHAT...West winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 70 mph.

* WHERE...Eastern Lemhi County and Western Lemhi County.

* WHEN...Until midnight MDT tonight.

* 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...

Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and 
avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution 
if you must drive.

&&

$$

MTZ001-130000-
/O.CON.KMSO.HW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260313T0000Z/
Kootenai/Cabinet Region-
455 AM MDT Thu Mar 12 2026

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 70 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Kootenai/Cabinet Region.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM MDT this evening.

* 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...

Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and 
avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution 
if you must drive.

&&

$$

MTZ003-130000-
/O.CON.KMSO.HW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260313T0000Z/
Flathead/Mission Valleys-
455 AM MDT Thu Mar 12 2026

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 70 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Flathead/Mission Valleys.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM MDT this evening.

* 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...

Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and 
avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution 
if you must drive.

&&

$$

MTZ005-130000-
/O.CON.KMSO.HW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260313T0000Z/
Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys-
455 AM MDT Thu Mar 12 2026

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph in the 
  Missoula Valley and gusts up to 70 mph in the Bitterroot Valley 
  expected.

* WHERE...Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM MDT this evening.

* 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...

Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and 
avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution 
if you must drive.

&&

$$

MTZ043-130000-
/O.CON.KMSO.HW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260313T0000Z/
Potomac/Seeley Lake Region-
455 AM MDT Thu Mar 12 2026

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 80 mph.

* WHERE...Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM MDT this evening.

* 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...

Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and 
avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution 
if you must drive.

&&

$$

IDZ007-008-121800-
/O.CON.KMSO.WI.Y.0003.000000T0000Z-260312T1800Z/
Orofino/Grangeville Region-Lower Hells Canyon/Salmon River Region-
355 AM PDT Thu Mar 12 2026

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 50 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Lower Hells Canyon/Salmon River Region and 
  Orofino/Grangeville Region.

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

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high 
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

&&

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
231 PM MDT Tue Mar 10 2026

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGES:

  - Prolonged atmospheric river event from Wednesday night through
    Saturday.

   -Strong and potentially damaging winds late Wednesday night
    through Thursday, with the strongest gusts expected across
    northwest Montana and along the Continental Divide.

   -Very difficult backcountry conditions due to strong winds and
    heavy snow, leading to localized blizzard conditions.

The Northern Rockies will remain under a westerly (zonal) flow
for the next 24 to 36 hours, bringing breezy westerly winds and
intermittent light snow showers. The exception will be around the
Glacier National Park area, where relatively light but persistent
snow is expected to bring an additional 1 to 7 inches of
accumulation.

An atmospheric river will start to push into the region on
Wednesday, increasing the coverage and intensity of precipitation.
Snow levels will steadily rise during this period, reaching
around 4,000 feet in northwest Montana and 6,000 feet in Lemhi
County by Thursday morning. Late Wednesday night into Thursday, a
strong low-pressure system will slide along the Canadian border,
pushing a cold front south across the region. This cold front will
bring extremely strong westerly winds, especially across
northwest Montana and along the Continental Divide.

The latest high-resolution ensemble guidance shows a 40% to 100%
probability of wind gusts exceeding 50 mph across western Montana
and Lemhi County on Thursday. The higher terrain around Glacier
National Park has a 30% to 80% chance of experiencing wind gusts
in excess of 70 mph by Thursday morning. The combination of strong
winds and heavy snow in the higher terrain has led to the
issuance of Winter Storm Warnings for elevated areas, though a few
of these locations are being monitored for potential upgrades to
Blizzard Warnings.

Areas expected to experience strong winds with minimal snow
impacts are currently under a High Wind Warning. However, a few
localized areas within these High Wind Warning zones such as
Condon Summit on Highway 83, the Georgetown Lake region, and the
Happys Inn to Marion corridor on Highway 2 could still experience
winter storm conditions on Thursday. As the cold front pushes the
moisture feed southward on Thursday, Lookout and Marias Passes
will experience a decrease in snowfall intensity.

The moisture plume will continue to stream into the Northern
Rockies from Thursday night through Saturday, with the moisture
feed slowly making its way northward again. The Clearwater,
Bitterroot, and Sapphire Mountains appear to be under the heaviest
portion of this moisture feed during this prolonged event. Snow
levels will continue to be the most challenging aspect of the
forecast; models show levels hovering near 2,000 feet in northwest
Montana and around 6,000 feet over Lemhi County after the cold
front passes.

Confidence is high that the higher terrain and mountain passes
will receive 2 to 5 feet of new snow by Saturday morning. However,
valley impacts, especially in Idaho and Clearwater counties,
remain uncertain. If snow levels remain high, flooding of small
streams and creeks will be a primary concern. Conversely, if snow
levels fall, the flood risk diminishes, but snow accumulations on
roadways will become a significant travel issue.

The moisture plume appears to exit the region by late Saturday,
but the Northern Rockies will remain in a breezy and active
weather pattern through the remainder of the weekend and into next
week.

&&

.AVIATION...The Northern Rockies will remain under westerly flow
for the next 24 to 36 hours. Breezy westerly winds will continue
at regional terminals during the afternoon and early evening
hours today. Additionally, numerous snow showers will impact the
region this afternoon, potentially causing periods of IFR
conditions at affected terminals. Both wind and shower activity
are expected to diminish after sunset this evening.

An atmospheric river is expected to push into the region on
Wednesday, bringing increased precipitation coverage.
Precipitation is expected to start as snow before transitioning to
rain as snow levels rise. Gusty westerly winds are expected to
develop once again during the afternoon hours.

Late Wednesday through Saturday, the Northern Rockies airspace
will be impacted by a high intensity Atmospheric River system.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Storm Warning from 6 PM Wednesday to noon MDT Saturday
     for Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains...Lower Clark Fork
     Region...West Glacier Region.

     High Wind Warning from midnight Wednesday night to midnight MDT
     Thursday night for Butte/Blackfoot Region.

     High Wind Warning from midnight Wednesday night to 6 PM MDT
     Thursday for Flathead/Mission Valleys...Kootenai/Cabinet
     Region...Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys...Potomac/Seeley Lake
     Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM MDT Wednesday for West
     Glacier Region.

ID...Winter Storm Warning from 5 PM Wednesday to 11 AM PDT Saturday
     for Northern Clearwater Mountains...Southern Clearwater
     Mountains.

     High Wind Warning from midnight Wednesday night to midnight MDT
     Thursday night for Eastern Lemhi County...Western Lemhi
     County.

&&