High Wind in Montana, December 26, 1998

Name: High Wind in Montana, December 26, 1998
Start: 1998-12-26T02:00
End: 1998-12-26T16:00
Location: Montana

December 26, 1998 · NWS BYZ · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A strong low pressure system produced strong southwest winds across South Central Montana as it tracked across the state. Livingston had sustained winds at 55 mph with gusts up to 69 mph.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BYZ wrote it up.

A strong low pressure system produced strong southwest winds across South Central Montana as it tracked across the state. Livingston had sustained winds at 55 mph with gusts up to 69 mph. A missile site near Harlowton reported gusts to 63 mph, and an off-duty National Weather Service employee reported gusts up to 70 mph in Billings.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Wheatland/Park/Sweet Grass

When: December 26, 2:00 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: Wheatland/Park/Sweet Grass forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

High Wind, Yellowstone

When: December 26, 8:00 AM MST to 4:00 PM MST
Where: Yellowstone forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

High Wind, Stillwater/Carbon

When: December 26, 8:00 AM MST to 4:00 PM MST
Where: Stillwater/Carbon forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 45.669, -109.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, December 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5677123, 5677124, 5677125.