Alert archive / Montana / High Wind Warnings in 2026
High Wind Warning 30, NWS Great Falls, MT
NWS Great Falls, MT issued this high wind warning at Sep 12, 2026, 10:43 PM MDT for Madison County, Montana. It took effect at Sep 13, 2026, 12:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 6 hr. 6 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
- Sep 12, 2026, 10:43 PM MDT (04:43 UTC)
- In effect from
- Sep 13, 2026, 12:00 PM MDT
- Expired
- Sep 13, 2026, 6:00 PM MDT
- In force
- 6 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Great Falls, MT
County Madison County, MT
The radar
The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 244 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 1:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 51 | 6 Wsw Big Sky, MT | Mesonet station YCTIM Yellowstone Club - Avalanche. |
| Sep 13, 2:55 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 53 | 5 Nne Cameron, MT | AWOS station KEKS Ennis Big Sky AWOS. |
| Sep 13, 3:16 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 51 | 3 Ssw Ennis, MT | Mesonet station ENNM8 Ennis RAWS. |
| Sep 13, 3:40 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 59 | 2 Ssw Virginia City, MT | 59 mph wind gust at Cornucopia Rd, MT (NW-ENERGY). |
| Sep 13, 5:00 PM MDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 55 | 4 Nne Mcallister, MT | Mesonet station MTNOR Norris Hill (MT DOT). |
| Sep 13, 5:30 PM MDT | HIGH SUST WINDS 40 | 4 Nne Mcallister, MT | Mesonet station MTNOR Norris Hill (MT DOT). |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The nearest sounding before it
Great_falls, MT (KTFX), launched 00:00Z, 4.7 hours before the alert went out and 261 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
- 1044 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 63 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 86 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 263 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
761 WWUS75 KTFX 130443 NPWTFX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Great Falls MT 1043 PM MDT Sat Sep 12 2026 MTZ325-140000- /O.UPG.KTFX.HW.A.0026.260913T1800Z-260914T0300Z/ /O.NEW.KTFX.HW.W.0030.260913T1800Z-260914T0000Z/ Madison River Valley- Including the cities of Cameron, McAllister, Jeffers, Norris, and Ennis 1043 PM MDT Sat Sep 12 2026 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 6 PM MDT SUNDAY... * WHAT...Southwest winds 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...Madison River Valley. Including the Highway 287 corridor from Ennis to Norris Hill. * WHEN...From Noon to 6 PM MDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. && $$ MTZ313-140000- /O.EXA.KTFX.HW.A.0027.260914T1500Z-260915T0000Z/ Judith Basin County and Judith Gap- Including the cities of Hobson, Stanford, Windham, Benchland, Raynesford, Moccasin, and Geyser 1043 PM MDT Sat Sep 12 2026 ...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...West winds 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...Judith Basin County and Judith Gap. * WHEN...From Monday morning through Monday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates. && $$ MTZ314-318-140000- /O.CON.KTFX.HW.A.0027.260914T1500Z-260915T0000Z/ Fergus County below 4500ft-Snowy and Judith Mountains- Including the cities of Lewistown and Hilger 1043 PM MDT Sat Sep 12 2026 ...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...West winds 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...Snowy and Judith Mountains and Fergus County below 4500ft. * WHEN...From Monday morning through Monday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates. && $$ Brusda
3 follow-up statements
632 WWUS75 KTFX 130632 NPWTFX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Great Falls MT 1232 AM MDT Sun Sep 13 2026 MTZ325-132145- /O.CON.KTFX.HW.W.0030.260913T1800Z-260914T0000Z/ Madison River Valley- Including the cities of Cameron, McAllister, Jeffers, Norris, and Ennis 1232 AM MDT Sun Sep 13 2026 ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...South winds 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...Madison River Valley. Including the Highway 287 corridor from Ennis to Norris Hill. * WHEN...From noon today to 6 PM MDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. && $$ MTZ313-314-318-132145- /O.CON.KTFX.HW.A.0027.260914T1500Z-260915T0000Z/ Judith Basin County and Judith Gap-Fergus County below 4500ft- Snowy and Judith Mountains- Including the cities of Hobson, Stanford, Windham, Benchland, Lewistown, Raynesford, Moccasin, Hilger, and Geyser 1232 AM MDT Sun Sep 13 2026 ...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...West winds 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...Snowy and Judith Mountains, Fergus County below 4500ft, and Judith Basin County and Judith Gap. * WHEN...From Monday morning through Monday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates. && $$ Brusda
309 WWUS75 KTFX 131844 NPWTFX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Great Falls MT 1244 PM MDT Sun Sep 13 2026 MTZ325-140000- /O.CON.KTFX.HW.W.0030.000000T0000Z-260914T0000Z/ Madison River Valley- Including the cities of Norris, Jeffers, Ennis, McAllister, and Cameron 1244 PM MDT Sun Sep 13 2026 ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...South winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. * WHERE...Madison River Valley. Including the Highway 287 corridor from Ennis to Norris Hill. * WHEN...Until 6 PM MDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. && $$ MTZ313-314-318-141100- /O.CON.KTFX.HW.A.0027.260914T1500Z-260915T0000Z/ Judith Basin County and Judith Gap-Fergus County below 4500ft- Snowy and Judith Mountains- Including the cities of Benchland, Stanford, Hobson, Hilger, Geyser, Raynesford, Moccasin, Windham, and Lewistown 1244 PM MDT Sun Sep 13 2026 ...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...Snowy and Judith Mountains, Fergus County below 4500ft, and Judith Basin County and Judith Gap. * WHEN...From Monday morning through Monday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates. && $$ BH
562 WWUS75 KTFX 132348 NPWTFX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Great Falls MT 548 PM MDT Sun Sep 13 2026 MTZ325-140100- /O.EXP.KTFX.HW.W.0030.000000T0000Z-260914T0000Z/ Madison River Valley- Including the cities of Jeffers, McAllister, Ennis, Cameron, and Norris 548 PM MDT Sun Sep 13 2026 ...HIGH WIND WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING... Strong winds over the Madison Valley will begin decreasing this evening. The high wind warning will be allowed to expire at 6 PM MDT; however, continue to use caution if traveling due winds continuing to gust over 40 mph for the next couple of hours. $$ MTZ313-314-318-141500- /O.CON.KTFX.HW.A.0027.260914T1500Z-260915T0000Z/ Judith Basin County and Judith Gap-Fergus County below 4500ft- Snowy and Judith Mountains- Including the cities of Hobson, Lewistown, Raynesford, Hilger, Geyser, Benchland, Windham, Moccasin, and Stanford 548 PM MDT Sun Sep 13 2026 ...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...West to northwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...Snowy and Judith Mountains, Fergus County below 4500ft, and Judith Basin County and Judith Gap. * WHEN...From Monday morning through Monday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates. && $$ RCG
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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before this high wind warning went out at Sep 12, 5:18 PM MDT, 5 hours 25 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- This afternoon it will be cool with isolated showers along the Hi-Line.
- On Sunday there will be snow along the Rocky Mountain Front with isolated rain showers/thunderstorms across the rest of North-central Montana.
- On Sunday it will be windy across the north-south orientated valleys of Southwestern Montana.
- On Monday precipitation will linger with windy conditions across the plains of North-central Montana.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 12, 5:18 PM MDT, 5 hours 25 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Great Falls MT 518 PM MDT Sat Sep 12 2026 Aviation Section Updated. .KEY MESSAGES... - This afternoon it will be cool with isolated showers along the Hi-Line. - On Sunday there will be snow along the Rocky Mountain Front with isolated rain showers/thunderstorms across the rest of North-central Montana. - On Sunday it will be windy across the north-south orientated valleys of Southwestern Montana. - On Monday precipitation will linger with windy conditions across the plains of North-central Montana. && .DISCUSSION... /Issued 230 PM MDT Sat Sep 12 2026/ - Meteorological Overview: This afternoon an upper-level ridge builds in briefly over North- central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will bring mostly dry weather with status quo temperatures to the area. Along the Rocky Mountain Front this afternoon there will be snow mixed with rain at times and primarily all rain at lower elevations. This afternoon/evening there will be isolated rain showers along the Hi- Line. On Sunday a closed upper-level low will move over North- central, Central, and Southwestern Montana with a 700mb low moving over southern Alberta. This will bring strong southerly flow aloft which will bring strong winds to north-south orientated valleys of Southwestern Montana. On Sunday along the higher peaks of the Rocky Mountain Front there will be snow with the rest of the Rocky Mountain Front seeing rain and/or a rain/snow mix. On Sunday across the rest of North-central Montana a frontal boundary will move from west to east and bring rain showers with embedded thunderstorms. Some of these rain showers/any thunderstorms have the potential to produce gusty winds. See the Forecast Confidence & Scenarios section for details. On Sunday warm air advection will bring seasonable temperatures to Southwestern Montana with near normal temperatures north of the I-90 corridor. On Monday the upper-level low exits North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. Precipitation will linger across North-central Montana on Monday. On Monday low-level winds will increase which will bring at least breezy conditions to North-central Montana. On Monday temperatures will remain cool. Tuesday through Thursday zonal flow with shortwave troughs moving through will affect North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will allow temperatures to be slightly below seasonal averages with isolated showers around. On Friday an upper-level ridge moves over North- central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will bring above normal temperatures with dry weather to the area. -IG - Forecast Confidence & Scenarios: On Sunday there is a 40 - 60% chance for sustained winds of 40 mph or greater and a 20 to 50% chance for wind gusts of 55 mph or greater in the Madison River Valley. As a result a High Wind Watch remains in effect for the Madison River Valley from 12 PM to 9 PM. On Sunday there is greater than a 50% chance for 55 mph wind gusts along the ridgetops of the Madison and Gallatin Mountains. On Monday there is around a 50% chance for wind gusts of 55 mph or greater across Judith Basin and Fergus Counties. Due to a lack of 700 mb support for strong winds for Judith Basin County, a High Wind Watch was only issued for Fergus County from 9 AM to 6 PM on Monday. There is a 50 - 80% chance for a tenth of an inch of snow or greater along the majority of the Rocky Mountain Front Sunday into Monday. There is currently a low chance that isolated mountain peaks will receive in excess of 3 inches of snowfall. Sunday into Monday there is a 30 - 60% chance for a quarter inch of precipitation or greater across North-central Montana. Sunday evening a line of showers will move through North-central Montana. As this line moves east of US Highway 87 between Great Falls and Havre there is a low chance for an embedded thunderstorm to produce gusty to strong winds. If temperatures continue to trend upward on Sunday that will increase the instability and lead to a greater risk for a thunderstorm to produce gusty to strong winds. On Tuesday morning there is a 30 - 60% chance for low temperatures of 36 degrees or colder across the valleys of Southwestern Montana. -IG && .AVIATION... 13/00Z TAF Period. The primary concern tonight through Sunday morning will be low stratus and even some patchy fog along the Rocky Mountain Front and over/near the central island ranges. Other than KCTB being impacted with a period of degraded cigs Sunday morning, mountain obscuration over the aforementioned areas will be the primary impact. Then a mid level closed low pressure system approaches the Northern Rockies on Sunday and brings gusty south/southwesterly winds to southwest MT. Farther north, easterly winds will gust over 25 kts at times at KHVR. There will also be scattered showers and a few thunderstorms on Sunday, mainly over central/North-central MT between 13/20 and 14/06Z. Low VFR/MVFR conditions and localized wind gusts over 35 kts will be the primary concerns. - RCG && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 42 68 46 63 / 0 20 50 10 CTB 38 57 41 57 / 0 40 30 30 HLN 43 71 44 63 / 0 30 40 0 BZN 41 78 40 64 / 0 0 50 10 WYS 36 70 26 60 / 0 0 0 0 DLN 41 76 37 65 / 0 0 0 0 HVR 38 71 45 62 / 0 0 90 50 LWT 39 72 43 59 / 0 0 60 20 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Watch from Monday morning through Monday afternoon for Fergus County below 4500ft-Snowy and Judith Mountains. High Wind Watch from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening for Madison River Valley. && http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
The office that day
Everything else NWS Great Falls, MT issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 5:40 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Cascade | 35 min |
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.