Montana, 1999

High Wind in Montana, February 1 to 3, 1999

February 1 to 3, 1999 · NWS BYZ · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

The combination of a strong high pressure area over the great basin and an intense low pressure system which tacked eastward across southwestern Canada produced strong southwest to west winds across South Central and southeastern Montana. Livingston reported sustained winds greater than 50 mph and wind gusts as high as 89 mph.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

The combination of a strong high pressure area over the great basin and an intense low pressure system which tacked eastward across southwestern Canada produced strong southwest to west winds across South Central and southeastern Montana. Livingston reported sustained winds greater than 50 mph and wind gusts as high as 89 mph. A gust of 92 mph was reported 6 miles south of Livingston. Several trees and power lines were downed in Park County and power was lost to over 1500 homes for two hours. In Stillwater County, wind gusts as high as 91 mph were reported near Nye. In Yellowstone County, wind gusts as high as 68 mph were reported in Billings, and in Laurel the canopy was blown off of the Town Pump Service Station.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Wheatland/Park/Sweet Grass

When
February 1, 8:00 PM MST to February 3, 1:00 AM MST
Where
Wheatland/Park/Sweet Grass forecast zone
Measured
80 kt (92 mph)
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

High Wind, Rosebud

When
February 2, 7:00 PM MST to February 3, 2:00 AM MST
Where
Rosebud forecast zone
Measured
58 kt (67 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
46.230, -106.731 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Big Horn

When
February 2, 8:00 PM MST to February 3, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Big Horn forecast zone
Measured
75 kt (86 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Yellowstone

When
February 2, 8:00 PM MST to February 3, 2:00 AM MST
Where
Yellowstone forecast zone
Measured
59 kt (68 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Stillwater/Carbon

When
February 2, 8:00 PM MST to February 3, 2:00 AM MST
Where
Stillwater/Carbon forecast zone
Measured
79 kt (91 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

More

Every storm in Montana in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, February 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: 5684573, 5684664, 5684574, 5684575, 5684665.