High Wind in Montana, December 18 to 19, 1999

Name: High Wind in Montana, December 18 to 19, 1999
Start: 1999-12-18T22:00
End: 1999-12-19T06:00
Location: Montana

December 18 to 19, 1999 · NWS BYZ · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

An arctic cold front crossed southern Montana on the evening of the 18th. Behind the front, gusty northwest winds were common throughout southeast Montana.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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.

An arctic cold front crossed southern Montana on the evening of the 18th. Behind the front, gusty northwest winds were common throughout southeast Montana. Gusts as high as 77 mph were reported in Broadus and 60 mph in Ekalaka. Miles City had sustained winds of 52 mph and several other locations in southeast Montana had sustained winds between 40 and 50 mph. The winds also produced blowing snow which forced the closure of several highways because of brief whiteout conditions.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Big Horn

When: December 18, 10:00 PM MST to December 19, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Big Horn forecast zone
Measured: 42 kt (48 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Rosebud

When: December 18, 10:00 PM MST to December 19, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Rosebud forecast zone
Measured: 42 kt (48 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.230, -106.731 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Custer

When: December 18, 10:00 PM MST to December 19, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Custer forecast zone
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph)
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 46.253, -105.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Fallon

When: December 18, 10:00 PM MST to December 19, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Fallon forecast zone
Measured: 42 kt (48 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.334, -104.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Powder River

When: December 18, 10:00 PM MST to December 19, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Powder River forecast zone
Measured: 67 kt (77 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 45.395, -105.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Carter

When: December 18, 10:00 PM MST to December 19, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Carter forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 45.517, -104.536 (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 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, December 1999

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: 5722578, 5722579, 5722580, 5722581, 5722582, 5722583.