Alert archive / Montana / Wind Advisories in 2026
Wind Advisory 9, NWS Missoula, MT
NWS Missoula, MT issued this wind advisory at Sep 24, 2026, 10:18 AM MDT for 6 counties in Montana. It took effect at Sep 25, 2026, 2:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 6 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Sep 24, 2026, 10:18 AM MDT (16:18 UTC)
- In effect from
- Sep 25, 2026, 2:00 PM MDT
- Expired
- Sep 25, 2026, 8:29 PM MDT
- In force
- 6 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Missoula, MT
Counties Flathead County, MT, Lake County, MT, Lincoln County, MT, Missoula County, MT, Ravalli County, MT, Sanders County, MT
The radar
The Missoula radar (KMSX), 66 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:21 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.
The text
As transmitted.
277 WWUS75 KMSO 241618 NPWMSO URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Missoula MT 1018 AM MDT Thu Sep 24 2026 MTZ001-003-260600- /O.NEW.KMSO.WI.Y.0009.260925T2000Z-260926T0600Z/ Kootenai/Cabinet Region-Flathead/Mission Valleys- 1018 AM MDT Thu Sep 24 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM FRIDAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT FRIDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph expected. * WHERE...Flathead/Mission Valleys and Kootenai/Cabinet Region. * WHEN...From 2 PM Friday to midnight MDT Friday Night. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...There's a 70 to 90 percent chance of gusting over 40 mph from Happy's Inn down to Hot Springs between 4PM and 6PM MDT. During the same period there's a 60 percent chance of gusting over 40 mph west of Kalispell, near Kila, and a 40 percent chance along the west side of the Mission valley and along the western shore of Flathead Lake. There's a 90 percent chance of gusts over 40 mph above 6,000 ft in the mountains. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. && $$
2 follow-up statements
665 WWUS75 KMSO 251317 NPWMSO URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Missoula MT 717 AM MDT Fri Sep 25 2026 MTZ005-260600- /O.EXA.KMSO.WI.Y.0009.260925T2000Z-260926T0600Z/ Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys- 717 AM MDT Fri Sep 25 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT... * WHAT...West winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected. * WHERE...Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys. * WHEN...From 2 PM this afternoon to midnight MDT tonight. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Strongest winds are expected west of Highway 93 through the Bitterroot valley. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. && $$ MTZ001-003-260600- /O.CON.KMSO.WI.Y.0009.260925T2000Z-260926T0600Z/ Kootenai/Cabinet Region-Flathead/Mission Valleys- 717 AM MDT Fri Sep 25 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT... * WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected. * WHERE...Flathead/Mission Valleys and Kootenai/Cabinet Region. * WHEN...From 2 PM this afternoon to midnight MDT tonight. * 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. && $$
351 WWUS75 KMSO 260229 NPWMSO URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Missoula MT 829 PM MDT Fri Sep 25 2026 MTZ001-003-005-260330- /O.CAN.KMSO.WI.Y.0009.000000T0000Z-260926T0600Z/ Kootenai/Cabinet Region-Flathead/Mission Valleys- Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys- 829 PM MDT Fri Sep 25 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY IS CANCELLED... The threat has ended. $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this wind advisory went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Missoula, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before this wind advisory went out at Sep 24, 3:20 AM MDT, 6 hours 58 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 24, 3:20 AM MDT, 6 hours 58 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Missoula MT 320 AM MDT Thu Sep 24 2026 .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGES: - Unseasonably warm today, with temperatures 10-15 degrees above normal. - Cold front Friday afternoon brings strong west winds, choppy lakes, and elevated fire weather concerns. - Cutoff low this weekend brings rain showers to Northwest Montana and snow to high peaks of Glacier National Park. The Northern Rockies will be under the influence of a southwesterly flow pattern aloft today, with temperatures running 10-15 degrees above normal. An upper level ridge axis along and east of the divide will lead to dry conditions, with plenty of sunshine. Southerly winds will develop by the afternoon, as a low pressure system reaches the Oregon coastline. The strongest gusts (20-30 mph) will be felt across the higher elevations and southern Idaho County, ID. A significant change arrives Friday as a dry cold front approaches from the west, associated with the aforementioned low pressure system. The front will bring gusty to locally strong winds across western Montana, crossing the US-93 corridor between 400-700 PM MDT. Most locations will see peak wind gusts of 30-40 mph, with localized gusts of 45 mph or greater across the Bitterroot Valley and in southwest Montana. The Bitterroot Valley in particular will experience localized wind channeling effects as stronger gusts (45+ mph) descent from narrow west-east orientated canyons towards the valley floor. These stronger gusts may lead to localized power outages Friday evening. Higher gusts of 45-60 mph will be felt across mountain ridgetops and the higher peaks Friday evening. Furthermore, choppy conditions on regional lakes and elevated fire weather conditions are expected. A brief line of high-based showers will accompany the front, along and north of the I-90 corridor, but little to any precipitation is expected. A shortwave trough will track along the USA-Canada border Friday night into Saturday morning, focusing shower activity across northwest Montana and in Clearwater County, Idaho. Snow levels will lower to around 6,000 feet by Saturday morning. Snow showers will bring localized snow accumulations to mountain ranges in northwest Montana, and the higher terrain of Glacier National Park, including Logan Pass. This system will bring a significant weather change, increasing the risk of hypothermia from colder temperatures and snowfall following recent warm and dry conditions. Seasonably cool and breezy conditions will persist through Sunday. && .AVIATION...The Northern Rockies airspace will be under the influence of a warm and dry southwesterly flow pattern today. South-southeast winds will develop by this afternoon for most terminals, with gusts of 10-15 kts from 24/2000-25/0000Z. High clouds will periodically pass through the area, with VFR conditions expected. && .MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. ID...None. &&
Nearby
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.