Montana, 2002High Wind in Montana, January 12, 2002
January 12, 2002 · NWS TFX · 11 events in 11 counties and zones
11 high wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.
- Deaths
- 2
- Injuries
- 4
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 11
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 Jan 12, 8:54 AM MST, 2 hours 6 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 12, 8:54 AM MST, 2 hours 6 minutes before
SOUTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
854 AM MST SAT JAN 12 2002
...MINOR UPDATES PLANNED TO ZONES AND STATE...
.SHORT TERM...CURRENT FORECAST HAS SITUATION HANDLED WELL. LIGHT
RAIN SHOWERS EXITING THE NORTHEAST ZONES...SO WILL ADJUST FORECAST
ACCORDINGLY THERE. CLOUDS DECREASING ALSO...AND TREND IS IN THE
FORECAST. MAY SEE MORE SUN THAN CURRENTLY ADVERTISED...BUT NO SENSE
IN SPLITTING HAIRS BETWEEN MOSTLY SUNNY AND PARTLY CLOUDY WORDING.
HIGH WIND WARNING WILL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE ZONES ADJACENT TO
ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT. WINDS TAME AT THIS POINT...BUT WILL INCREASE
LATER THIS MORNING AS POORLY DEFINED COLD FRONT MOVES INTO CWA. WITH
COLD AIR ADVECTION AND INSTABILITY...BELIEVE THERE WILL BE EFFICIENT
MIXING DOWN TO SURFACE OF FORECAST 55 TO 60 KT WINDS BETWEEN 700 AND
750 MB.
POST COLD FRONT INSTABILITY THIS AFTERNOON IS IMPRESSIVE...WITH
MESOETA CROSS SECTIONS SHOWING VERTICAL VELOCITY VALUES AS HIGH AS
HAS BEEN SEEN FOR A WHILE. BUT AS NOTED IN PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS...AIR
MASS WILL BE DEVOID OF MOISTURE...SO LACK OF POPS OVER LOWER
ELEVATIONS IS APPROPRIATE. ISOLATED INSTABILITY SHOWERS SHOWING UP ON
MSX RADAR THIS MORNING...BUT DOWNSLOPE ON OUR SIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS
WILL KILL THIS ACTIVITY.
.EXTENDED...ALL MODELS AGREE ON A NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT OVER THE
REGION THROUGH OUT THE EXTENDED PERIOD AND THATS ABOUT ALL THEY
AGREE ON. THE ECMWF...CANADIAN AND THE UKMET ALL INDICATED A QUITE
NORTHWEST FLOW WITH LITTLE ACTIVITY FOR SHORT WAVES. MEANWHILE...THE
AVN AND THE MRF ADVERTISE A MORE ACTIVE NORTHWEST FLOW. NOT
CONFIDENT IN ANY SOLUTION...THEREFORE WITH THE NORTHWEST FLOW WILL
KEEP A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND HAVE
TEMPERATURES NEAR NORMAL. MEIER
.CCF NUMBERS
GTF NN 050/027 035/016 033 04112
BBEEE 014/026 012/033 017/035 017/035 015 11011122222
CTB NN 044/023 034/012 030 04111
BBEEE 012/023 012/032 015/035 015/035 015 11011122222
HLN NE 045/026 034/014 030 04121
BEEEE 014/023 013/025 015/027 017/028 017 11122222222
BZN EE 042/020 034/008 030 04221
BEEEE 012/023 012/024 013/025 015/025 015 11222222222
WEY CE 028/008 020/904 018 04422
BJEEE 000/015 901/018 001/019 002/022 002 21662222222
DLN NE 040/020 032/006 025 04221
BEEEE 008/022 013/024 014/026 015/026 015 11322222222
HVR NN 046/024 033/014 030 04122
EBEEE 012/022 008/028 012/032 012/034 014 22111122222
LWT NN 049/024 033/014 030 04122
EBEEE 012/024 009/030 014/034 015/035 015 22211122222=
.TFX...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH
THIS EVENING FOR THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT AND ADJACENT PLAINS.
ZONES INCLUDED ARE 9-10-44-46-48-49.High Wind, Eastern Teton
- When
- January 12, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Eastern Teton forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event moved across north central Montana on the 12th. Sustained wind speeds of 40 to 50 mph were very common throughout the afternoon, and into the evening hours. Wind gusts were near 70 mph during the peak of the event. These winds started to increase in strength around 1100 MST and then they did not diminish until 2000 MST. The peak wind speeds occurred between 1300 MST and 1600 MST. Due to the very strong winds, blowing dust became a real hazard. The blowing dust reduced visibilities to near zero in many locations for a period of time. As a result of the near zero visibilities, a 12 vehicle accident occurred about 13 miles Southeast of Great Falls near 1330 MST, resulting in 2 fatalities and 4 injuries.Power was knocked out to over 1500 customer in the Great Falls metro area. A few trees were uprooted and several roofs were blown off as well. Near 1745 MST a train was blown off the tracks, just west of East Glacier, at the Midvale trestle. A total of 20 cars and 24 box containers were blown off the track. Wind speeds were estimated to be near 80 mph at the time of the accident.Some of the peak wind speeds recorded during the day were; Great Falls 68 mph at 1330 MST: Conrad 20 SE 68 mph at 1330 MST; Browning 62 mph at 1555 MST; Havre 50 mph at 1756 MST; Boulder 64 mph at 1951 MST, and Lewistown 51 mph at 1954 MST.
High Wind, Fergus
- When
- January 12, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Fergus forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event moved across north central Montana on the 12th. Sustained wind speeds of 40 to 50 mph were very common throughout the afternoon, and into the evening hours. Wind gusts were near 70 mph during the peak of the event. These winds started to increase in strength around 1100 MST and then they did not diminish until 2000 MST. The peak wind speeds occurred between 1300 MST and 1600 MST. Due to the very strong winds, blowing dust became a real hazard. The blowing dust reduced visibilities to near zero in many locations for a period of time. As a result of the near zero visibilities, a 12 vehicle accident occurred about 13 miles Southeast of Great Falls near 1330 MST, resulting in 2 fatalities and 4 injuries.Power was knocked out to over 1500 customer in the Great Falls metro area. A few trees were uprooted and several roofs were blown off as well. Near 1745 MST a train was blown off the tracks, just west of East Glacier, at the Midvale trestle. A total of 20 cars and 24 box containers were blown off the track. Wind speeds were estimated to be near 80 mph at the time of the accident.Some of the peak wind speeds recorded during the day were; Great Falls 68 mph at 1330 MST: Conrad 20 SE 68 mph at 1330 MST; Browning 62 mph at 1555 MST; Havre 50 mph at 1756 MST; Boulder 64 mph at 1951 MST, and Lewistown 51 mph at 1954 MST.
High Wind, Cascade
- When
- January 12, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Cascade forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph)
- Deaths
- 2 direct, 0 indirect
- Injuries
- 4 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event moved across north central Montana on the 12th. Sustained wind speeds of 40 to 50 mph were very common throughout the afternoon, and into the evening hours. Wind gusts were near 70 mph during the peak of the event. These winds started to increase in strength around 1100 MST and then they did not diminish until 2000 MST. The peak wind speeds occurred between 1300 MST and 1600 MST. Due to the very strong winds, blowing dust became a real hazard. The blowing dust reduced visibilities to near zero in many locations for a period of time. As a result of the near zero visibilities, a 12 vehicle accident occurred about 13 miles Southeast of Great Falls near 1330 MST, resulting in 2 fatalities and 4 injuries.Power was knocked out to over 1500 customer in the Great Falls metro area. A few trees were uprooted and several roofs were blown off as well. Near 1745 MST a train was blown off the tracks, just west of East Glacier, at the Midvale trestle. A total of 20 cars and 24 box containers were blown off the track. Wind speeds were estimated to be near 80 mph at the time of the accident.Some of the peak wind speeds recorded during the day were; Great Falls 68 mph at 1330 MST: Conrad 20 SE 68 mph at 1330 MST; Browning 62 mph at 1555 MST; Havre 50 mph at 1756 MST; Boulder 64 mph at 1951 MST, and Lewistown 51 mph at 1954 MST.
High Wind, Hill
- When
- January 12, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Hill forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event moved across north central Montana on the 12th. Sustained wind speeds of 40 to 50 mph were very common throughout the afternoon, and into the evening hours. Wind gusts were near 70 mph during the peak of the event. These winds started to increase in strength around 1100 MST and then they did not diminish until 2000 MST. The peak wind speeds occurred between 1300 MST and 1600 MST. Due to the very strong winds, blowing dust became a real hazard. The blowing dust reduced visibilities to near zero in many locations for a period of time. As a result of the near zero visibilities, a 12 vehicle accident occurred about 13 miles Southeast of Great Falls near 1330 MST, resulting in 2 fatalities and 4 injuries.Power was knocked out to over 1500 customer in the Great Falls metro area. A few trees were uprooted and several roofs were blown off as well. Near 1745 MST a train was blown off the tracks, just west of East Glacier, at the Midvale trestle. A total of 20 cars and 24 box containers were blown off the track. Wind speeds were estimated to be near 80 mph at the time of the accident.Some of the peak wind speeds recorded during the day were; Great Falls 68 mph at 1330 MST: Conrad 20 SE 68 mph at 1330 MST; Browning 62 mph at 1555 MST; Havre 50 mph at 1756 MST; Boulder 64 mph at 1951 MST, and Lewistown 51 mph at 1954 MST.
High Wind, Judith Basin
- When
- January 12, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Judith Basin forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event moved across north central Montana on the 12th. Sustained wind speeds of 40 to 50 mph were very common throughout the afternoon, and into the evening hours. Wind gusts were near 70 mph during the peak of the event. These winds started to increase in strength around 1100 MST and then they did not diminish until 2000 MST. The peak wind speeds occurred between 1300 MST and 1600 MST. Due to the very strong winds, blowing dust became a real hazard. The blowing dust reduced visibilities to near zero in many locations for a period of time. As a result of the near zero visibilities, a 12 vehicle accident occurred about 13 miles Southeast of Great Falls near 1330 MST, resulting in 2 fatalities and 4 injuries.Power was knocked out to over 1500 customer in the Great Falls metro area. A few trees were uprooted and several roofs were blown off as well. Near 1745 MST a train was blown off the tracks, just west of East Glacier, at the Midvale trestle. A total of 20 cars and 24 box containers were blown off the track. Wind speeds were estimated to be near 80 mph at the time of the accident.Some of the peak wind speeds recorded during the day were; Great Falls 68 mph at 1330 MST: Conrad 20 SE 68 mph at 1330 MST; Browning 62 mph at 1555 MST; Havre 50 mph at 1756 MST; Boulder 64 mph at 1951 MST, and Lewistown 51 mph at 1954 MST.
High Wind, Liberty
- When
- January 12, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Liberty forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event moved across north central Montana on the 12th. Sustained wind speeds of 40 to 50 mph were very common throughout the afternoon, and into the evening hours. Wind gusts were near 70 mph during the peak of the event. These winds started to increase in strength around 1100 MST and then they did not diminish until 2000 MST. The peak wind speeds occurred between 1300 MST and 1600 MST. Due to the very strong winds, blowing dust became a real hazard. The blowing dust reduced visibilities to near zero in many locations for a period of time. As a result of the near zero visibilities, a 12 vehicle accident occurred about 13 miles Southeast of Great Falls near 1330 MST, resulting in 2 fatalities and 4 injuries.Power was knocked out to over 1500 customer in the Great Falls metro area. A few trees were uprooted and several roofs were blown off as well. Near 1745 MST a train was blown off the tracks, just west of East Glacier, at the Midvale trestle. A total of 20 cars and 24 box containers were blown off the track. Wind speeds were estimated to be near 80 mph at the time of the accident.Some of the peak wind speeds recorded during the day were; Great Falls 68 mph at 1330 MST: Conrad 20 SE 68 mph at 1330 MST; Browning 62 mph at 1555 MST; Havre 50 mph at 1756 MST; Boulder 64 mph at 1951 MST, and Lewistown 51 mph at 1954 MST.
High Wind, North Rocky Mountain Front
- When
- January 12, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- North Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event moved across north central Montana on the 12th. Sustained wind speeds of 40 to 50 mph were very common throughout the afternoon, and into the evening hours. Wind gusts were near 70 mph during the peak of the event. These winds started to increase in strength around 1100 MST and then they did not diminish until 2000 MST. The peak wind speeds occurred between 1300 MST and 1600 MST. Due to the very strong winds, blowing dust became a real hazard. The blowing dust reduced visibilities to near zero in many locations for a period of time. As a result of the near zero visibilities, a 12 vehicle accident occurred about 13 miles Southeast of Great Falls near 1330 MST, resulting in 2 fatalities and 4 injuries.Power was knocked out to over 1500 customer in the Great Falls metro area. A few trees were uprooted and several roofs were blown off as well. Near 1745 MST a train was blown off the tracks, just west of East Glacier, at the Midvale trestle. A total of 20 cars and 24 box containers were blown off the track. Wind speeds were estimated to be near 80 mph at the time of the accident.Some of the peak wind speeds recorded during the day were; Great Falls 68 mph at 1330 MST: Conrad 20 SE 68 mph at 1330 MST; Browning 62 mph at 1555 MST; Havre 50 mph at 1756 MST; Boulder 64 mph at 1951 MST, and Lewistown 51 mph at 1954 MST.
High Wind, Southern Lewis and Clark
- When
- January 12, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Southern Lewis and Clark forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event moved across north central Montana on the 12th. Sustained wind speeds of 40 to 50 mph were very common throughout the afternoon, and into the evening hours. Wind gusts were near 70 mph during the peak of the event. These winds started to increase in strength around 1100 MST and then they did not diminish until 2000 MST. The peak wind speeds occurred between 1300 MST and 1600 MST. Due to the very strong winds, blowing dust became a real hazard. The blowing dust reduced visibilities to near zero in many locations for a period of time. As a result of the near zero visibilities, a 12 vehicle accident occurred about 13 miles Southeast of Great Falls near 1330 MST, resulting in 2 fatalities and 4 injuries.Power was knocked out to over 1500 customer in the Great Falls metro area. A few trees were uprooted and several roofs were blown off as well. Near 1745 MST a train was blown off the tracks, just west of East Glacier, at the Midvale trestle. A total of 20 cars and 24 box containers were blown off the track. Wind speeds were estimated to be near 80 mph at the time of the accident.Some of the peak wind speeds recorded during the day were; Great Falls 68 mph at 1330 MST: Conrad 20 SE 68 mph at 1330 MST; Browning 62 mph at 1555 MST; Havre 50 mph at 1756 MST; Boulder 64 mph at 1951 MST, and Lewistown 51 mph at 1954 MST.
High Wind, Southern Rocky Mountain Front
- When
- January 12, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event moved across north central Montana on the 12th. Sustained wind speeds of 40 to 50 mph were very common throughout the afternoon, and into the evening hours. Wind gusts were near 70 mph during the peak of the event. These winds started to increase in strength around 1100 MST and then they did not diminish until 2000 MST. The peak wind speeds occurred between 1300 MST and 1600 MST. Due to the very strong winds, blowing dust became a real hazard. The blowing dust reduced visibilities to near zero in many locations for a period of time. As a result of the near zero visibilities, a 12 vehicle accident occurred about 13 miles Southeast of Great Falls near 1330 MST, resulting in 2 fatalities and 4 injuries.Power was knocked out to over 1500 customer in the Great Falls metro area. A few trees were uprooted and several roofs were blown off as well. Near 1745 MST a train was blown off the tracks, just west of East Glacier, at the Midvale trestle. A total of 20 cars and 24 box containers were blown off the track. Wind speeds were estimated to be near 80 mph at the time of the accident.Some of the peak wind speeds recorded during the day were; Great Falls 68 mph at 1330 MST: Conrad 20 SE 68 mph at 1330 MST; Browning 62 mph at 1555 MST; Havre 50 mph at 1756 MST; Boulder 64 mph at 1951 MST, and Lewistown 51 mph at 1954 MST.
High Wind, Toole
- When
- January 12, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Toole forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event moved across north central Montana on the 12th. Sustained wind speeds of 40 to 50 mph were very common throughout the afternoon, and into the evening hours. Wind gusts were near 70 mph during the peak of the event. These winds started to increase in strength around 1100 MST and then they did not diminish until 2000 MST. The peak wind speeds occurred between 1300 MST and 1600 MST. Due to the very strong winds, blowing dust became a real hazard. The blowing dust reduced visibilities to near zero in many locations for a period of time. As a result of the near zero visibilities, a 12 vehicle accident occurred about 13 miles Southeast of Great Falls near 1330 MST, resulting in 2 fatalities and 4 injuries.Power was knocked out to over 1500 customer in the Great Falls metro area. A few trees were uprooted and several roofs were blown off as well. Near 1745 MST a train was blown off the tracks, just west of East Glacier, at the Midvale trestle. A total of 20 cars and 24 box containers were blown off the track. Wind speeds were estimated to be near 80 mph at the time of the accident.Some of the peak wind speeds recorded during the day were; Great Falls 68 mph at 1330 MST: Conrad 20 SE 68 mph at 1330 MST; Browning 62 mph at 1555 MST; Havre 50 mph at 1756 MST; Boulder 64 mph at 1951 MST, and Lewistown 51 mph at 1954 MST.
High Wind, Jefferson
- When
- January 12, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Jefferson forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event moved across north central Montana on the 12th. Sustained wind speeds of 40 to 50 mph were very common throughout the afternoon, and into the evening hours. Wind gusts were near 70 mph during the peak of the event. These winds started to increase in strength around 1100 MST and then they did not diminish until 2000 MST. The peak wind speeds occurred between 1300 MST and 1600 MST. Due to the very strong winds, blowing dust became a real hazard. The blowing dust reduced visibilities to near zero in many locations for a period of time. As a result of the near zero visibilities, a 12 vehicle accident occurred about 13 miles Southeast of Great Falls near 1330 MST, resulting in 2 fatalities and 4 injuries.Power was knocked out to over 1500 customer in the Great Falls metro area. A few trees were uprooted and several roofs were blown off as well. Near 1745 MST a train was blown off the tracks, just west of East Glacier, at the Midvale trestle. A total of 20 cars and 24 box containers were blown off the track. Wind speeds were estimated to be near 80 mph at the time of the accident.Some of the peak wind speeds recorded during the day were; Great Falls 68 mph at 1330 MST: Conrad 20 SE 68 mph at 1330 MST; Browning 62 mph at 1555 MST; Havre 50 mph at 1756 MST; Boulder 64 mph at 1951 MST, and Lewistown 51 mph at 1954 MST.
- 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.
- Avalanche in Alaska, January 12, 20022 deaths · 1 injured · $6,000 · 1 event
- High Wind in Wyoming, January 12 to 13, 2002$10,000 · 68 kt wind · 3 events
- High Wind in Montana, January 12 to 13, 200253 kt wind · 3 events
- Blizzard in Alaska, January 12 to 13, 20021 event
- High Wind in Oregon, January 12, 20021 event
- High Wind in Oregon, January 12, 200252 kt wind · 1 event
- High Wind in Washington, January 12, 2002$5,000 · 50 kt wind · 1 event
- High Wind in Montana, January 12, 200270 kt wind · 1 event
- High Wind in Montana, January 12, 200270 kt wind · 1 event
- High Wind in Montana, January 12, 200260 kt wind · 1 event
- High Wind in Colorado, January 12, 200271 kt wind · 1 event
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: 5276893, 5276894, 5276997, 5279051, 5279052, 5279175, 5279176, 5279286, 5279287, 5279387, 5279388.