Montana, 2002

High Wind in Montana, August 16, 2002

August 16, 2002 · NWS TFX · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

9 high wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
9

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 forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Aug 16, 8:45 AM MST, 1 hour earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 16, 8:45 AM MST, 1 hour before
SOUTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
945 AM MDT FRI AUG 16 2002

.SHORT TERM...WILL UPDATE THIS MORNING. STRONG SHORT WAVE MOVING
ACROSS THE NORTH AS EXPECTED. GUSTY WINDS AND SNOW BEING REPORTED
WITH A FEW LIGHTNING STRIKES AS WELL. WILL NEED TO RAISE POPS AT
CUT BANK AND LOWER THE AFTERNOON TEMPERATURE. RADAR IMAGERY CLEARLY
SHOWING WARM FRONTAL PRECIPITATION  MOVING THROUGH BLAINE COUNTY AT
THIS TIME WITH COLD FRONTAL PRECIPITATION MOVING THROUGH GLACIER...
PONDERA...AND TOOLE COUNTIES. AREAL EXTENT OF THE PRECIPITATION IS
RATHER SMALL WITH CONTINUED UNCERTAINTY AS TO HOW FAR SOUTH RAIN
WILL GET. MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE THIS IS A FAST MOVING STORM
WITH CONDITIONS IMPROVING FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON. EMANUEL

.EXTENDED...WILL NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED. MODELS IN
GENERALLY GOOD AGREEMENT SHOWING ZONAL FLOW ALOFT OVER MONTANA
MONDAY AND TUESDAY...WITH A PERSISTENT TROUGH OVER THE PACIFIC
COAST. CONTINUED COOL TEMPS AND SLIGHT CHANCE POPS LOOK GOOD.
EXTENDED AVN BUILDS A STRONG RIDGE INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST BY
THURSDAY...BRINGING WARMER TEMPS AND DRY CONDITIONS. VILLANI

.CCF NUMBERS
GTF WB 062/040 075/043 074 16600
    BBBBB 045/072 042/070 042/072 044/078 046 01111111111
CTB WB 056/036 070/041 069 16700
    BBBBB 042/069 040/067 040/068 042/074 046 11111111111
HLN NB 068/044 077/045 077 16200
    BBBBB 045/075 044/073 044/075 044/080 046 00111111111
BZN NB 074/036 077/038 076 16000
    BBBBB 036/075 038/075 042/077 044/080 044 00111111111
WEY NB 068/033 070/034 070 16000
    BBBBB 033/070 034/070 038/072 039/075 039 00111111111
DLN NB 075/038 077/042 077 16000
    BBBBB 040/076 041/076 044/078 045/080 045 00111111111
HVR WB 058/038 074/042 073 16+00
    BBBBB 044/072 040/069 042/072 044/078 046 11111111111
LWT WB 063/038 072/041 070 16600
    BBBBB 043/072 041/070 041/072 044/078 045 01111111111=

.TFX...NONE.

Event by event

9 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Hill

When
August 16, 9:45 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where
Hill forecast zone
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

A strong Canadian cold front pushed through North Central MT during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 16th. Strong sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph, with gusts over 70 mph accompanied the front. Enough cold air filtered in behind this cold front to produce light snow along the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. There was widespread wind damage with this event. Over 50 power lines were knocked down in the Great Falls area. Major tree damage was reported in Cascade, Teton and Lewis and Clark counties. Here is a list of some of the top wind speeds recorded during the event:Augusta 10W 80 mph at 1135 MST; Choteau 73 mph at 0920 MST; Vaughn 70 mph at 0955 MST; Fort Shaw 70 mph at 1020 MST; Great Falls 70 mph at 1020 MST; Hobson 66 mph at 0930 MST; Helena 15S 66 mph at 1030 MST; Cascade 5W 65 mph at 1030 MST; Lewistown 10N 60 mph at 1035 MST; Lewistown 20S 59 mph at 1100 MST; Inverness 45-50 mph sustained winds from 1000-1100 MST; Hays 42 mph sustained winds at 1224; Sweetgrass 42 mph sustained winds at 0945 MST.

High Wind, Cascade

When
August 16, 9:45 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where
Cascade forecast zone
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

A strong Canadian cold front pushed through North Central MT during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 16th. Strong sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph, with gusts over 70 mph accompanied the front. Enough cold air filtered in behind this cold front to produce light snow along the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. There was widespread wind damage with this event. Over 50 power lines were knocked down in the Great Falls area. Major tree damage was reported in Cascade, Teton and Lewis and Clark counties. Here is a list of some of the top wind speeds recorded during the event:Augusta 10W 80 mph at 1135 MST; Choteau 73 mph at 0920 MST; Vaughn 70 mph at 0955 MST; Fort Shaw 70 mph at 1020 MST; Great Falls 70 mph at 1020 MST; Hobson 66 mph at 0930 MST; Helena 15S 66 mph at 1030 MST; Cascade 5W 65 mph at 1030 MST; Lewistown 10N 60 mph at 1035 MST; Lewistown 20S 59 mph at 1100 MST; Inverness 45-50 mph sustained winds from 1000-1100 MST; Hays 42 mph sustained winds at 1224; Sweetgrass 42 mph sustained winds at 0945 MST.

High Wind, Southern Lewis and Clark

When
August 16, 9:45 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where
Southern Lewis and Clark forecast zone
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

A strong Canadian cold front pushed through North Central MT during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 16th. Strong sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph, with gusts over 70 mph accompanied the front. Enough cold air filtered in behind this cold front to produce light snow along the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. There was widespread wind damage with this event. Over 50 power lines were knocked down in the Great Falls area. Major tree damage was reported in Cascade, Teton and Lewis and Clark counties. Here is a list of some of the top wind speeds recorded during the event:Augusta 10W 80 mph at 1135 MST; Choteau 73 mph at 0920 MST; Vaughn 70 mph at 0955 MST; Fort Shaw 70 mph at 1020 MST; Great Falls 70 mph at 1020 MST; Hobson 66 mph at 0930 MST; Helena 15S 66 mph at 1030 MST; Cascade 5W 65 mph at 1030 MST; Lewistown 10N 60 mph at 1035 MST; Lewistown 20S 59 mph at 1100 MST; Inverness 45-50 mph sustained winds from 1000-1100 MST; Hays 42 mph sustained winds at 1224; Sweetgrass 42 mph sustained winds at 0945 MST.

High Wind, Toole

When
August 16, 9:45 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where
Toole forecast zone
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

A strong Canadian cold front pushed through North Central MT during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 16th. Strong sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph, with gusts over 70 mph accompanied the front. Enough cold air filtered in behind this cold front to produce light snow along the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. There was widespread wind damage with this event. Over 50 power lines were knocked down in the Great Falls area. Major tree damage was reported in Cascade, Teton and Lewis and Clark counties. Here is a list of some of the top wind speeds recorded during the event:Augusta 10W 80 mph at 1135 MST; Choteau 73 mph at 0920 MST; Vaughn 70 mph at 0955 MST; Fort Shaw 70 mph at 1020 MST; Great Falls 70 mph at 1020 MST; Hobson 66 mph at 0930 MST; Helena 15S 66 mph at 1030 MST; Cascade 5W 65 mph at 1030 MST; Lewistown 10N 60 mph at 1035 MST; Lewistown 20S 59 mph at 1100 MST; Inverness 45-50 mph sustained winds from 1000-1100 MST; Hays 42 mph sustained winds at 1224; Sweetgrass 42 mph sustained winds at 0945 MST.

High Wind, Liberty

When
August 16, 9:45 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where
Liberty forecast zone
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

A strong Canadian cold front pushed through North Central MT during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 16th. Strong sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph, with gusts over 70 mph accompanied the front. Enough cold air filtered in behind this cold front to produce light snow along the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. There was widespread wind damage with this event. Over 50 power lines were knocked down in the Great Falls area. Major tree damage was reported in Cascade, Teton and Lewis and Clark counties. Here is a list of some of the top wind speeds recorded during the event:Augusta 10W 80 mph at 1135 MST; Choteau 73 mph at 0920 MST; Vaughn 70 mph at 0955 MST; Fort Shaw 70 mph at 1020 MST; Great Falls 70 mph at 1020 MST; Hobson 66 mph at 0930 MST; Helena 15S 66 mph at 1030 MST; Cascade 5W 65 mph at 1030 MST; Lewistown 10N 60 mph at 1035 MST; Lewistown 20S 59 mph at 1100 MST; Inverness 45-50 mph sustained winds from 1000-1100 MST; Hays 42 mph sustained winds at 1224; Sweetgrass 42 mph sustained winds at 0945 MST.

High Wind, Blaine

When
August 16, 9:45 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where
Blaine forecast zone
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

A strong Canadian cold front pushed through North Central MT during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 16th. Strong sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph, with gusts over 70 mph accompanied the front. Enough cold air filtered in behind this cold front to produce light snow along the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. There was widespread wind damage with this event. Over 50 power lines were knocked down in the Great Falls area. Major tree damage was reported in Cascade, Teton and Lewis and Clark counties. Here is a list of some of the top wind speeds recorded during the event:Augusta 10W 80 mph at 1135 MST; Choteau 73 mph at 0920 MST; Vaughn 70 mph at 0955 MST; Fort Shaw 70 mph at 1020 MST; Great Falls 70 mph at 1020 MST; Hobson 66 mph at 0930 MST; Helena 15S 66 mph at 1030 MST; Cascade 5W 65 mph at 1030 MST; Lewistown 10N 60 mph at 1035 MST; Lewistown 20S 59 mph at 1100 MST; Inverness 45-50 mph sustained winds from 1000-1100 MST; Hays 42 mph sustained winds at 1224; Sweetgrass 42 mph sustained winds at 0945 MST.

High Wind, Eastern Teton

When
August 16, 9:45 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where
Eastern Teton forecast zone
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

A strong Canadian cold front pushed through North Central MT during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 16th. Strong sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph, with gusts over 70 mph accompanied the front. Enough cold air filtered in behind this cold front to produce light snow along the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. There was widespread wind damage with this event. Over 50 power lines were knocked down in the Great Falls area. Major tree damage was reported in Cascade, Teton and Lewis and Clark counties. Here is a list of some of the top wind speeds recorded during the event:Augusta 10W 80 mph at 1135 MST; Choteau 73 mph at 0920 MST; Vaughn 70 mph at 0955 MST; Fort Shaw 70 mph at 1020 MST; Great Falls 70 mph at 1020 MST; Hobson 66 mph at 0930 MST; Helena 15S 66 mph at 1030 MST; Cascade 5W 65 mph at 1030 MST; Lewistown 10N 60 mph at 1035 MST; Lewistown 20S 59 mph at 1100 MST; Inverness 45-50 mph sustained winds from 1000-1100 MST; Hays 42 mph sustained winds at 1224; Sweetgrass 42 mph sustained winds at 0945 MST.

High Wind, Judith Basin

When
August 16, 9:45 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where
Judith Basin forecast zone
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

A strong Canadian cold front pushed through North Central MT during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 16th. Strong sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph, with gusts over 70 mph accompanied the front. Enough cold air filtered in behind this cold front to produce light snow along the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. There was widespread wind damage with this event. Over 50 power lines were knocked down in the Great Falls area. Major tree damage was reported in Cascade, Teton and Lewis and Clark counties. Here is a list of some of the top wind speeds recorded during the event:Augusta 10W 80 mph at 1135 MST; Choteau 73 mph at 0920 MST; Vaughn 70 mph at 0955 MST; Fort Shaw 70 mph at 1020 MST; Great Falls 70 mph at 1020 MST; Hobson 66 mph at 0930 MST; Helena 15S 66 mph at 1030 MST; Cascade 5W 65 mph at 1030 MST; Lewistown 10N 60 mph at 1035 MST; Lewistown 20S 59 mph at 1100 MST; Inverness 45-50 mph sustained winds from 1000-1100 MST; Hays 42 mph sustained winds at 1224; Sweetgrass 42 mph sustained winds at 0945 MST.

High Wind, Fergus

When
August 16, 9:45 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where
Fergus forecast zone
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

A strong Canadian cold front pushed through North Central MT during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 16th. Strong sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph, with gusts over 70 mph accompanied the front. Enough cold air filtered in behind this cold front to produce light snow along the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. There was widespread wind damage with this event. Over 50 power lines were knocked down in the Great Falls area. Major tree damage was reported in Cascade, Teton and Lewis and Clark counties. Here is a list of some of the top wind speeds recorded during the event:Augusta 10W 80 mph at 1135 MST; Choteau 73 mph at 0920 MST; Vaughn 70 mph at 0955 MST; Fort Shaw 70 mph at 1020 MST; Great Falls 70 mph at 1020 MST; Hobson 66 mph at 0930 MST; Helena 15S 66 mph at 1030 MST; Cascade 5W 65 mph at 1030 MST; Lewistown 10N 60 mph at 1035 MST; Lewistown 20S 59 mph at 1100 MST; Inverness 45-50 mph sustained winds from 1000-1100 MST; Hays 42 mph sustained winds at 1224; Sweetgrass 42 mph sustained winds at 0945 MST.

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 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, August 2002

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: 5317670, 5317671, 5317672, 5317765, 5317766, 5317767, 5317854, 5317855, 5317856.