Montana, 2002High Wind in Montana, January 20, 2002
January 20, 2002 · NWS TFX · 6 events in 6 counties and zones
6 high wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.
- 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 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 20, 3:00 AM MST, 6 hours earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 20, 3:00 AM MST, 6 hours before
SOUTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
300 AM MST SUN JAN 20 2002
.SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY...
FAA COMMS PROBLEM CONTINUE WITH SEVERAL ASOS SITES. THEY ARE WORKING
ON THE PROBLEM...BUT DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE FIXED. FAST MOVING
SURFACE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL RACE ACROSS SOUTHERN ALBERTA THIS
AFTERNOON. EXPECT STRONG WEST WINDS TO DEVELOP OVER THE ROCKY
MOUNTAIN FRONT BY 18Z AND SPREAD EAST THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WINDS
WILL SLOWLY BEGIN TO SUBSIDE TONIGHT...FROM WEST TO EAST...AS THE
SYSTEM PULLS INTO THE PLAINS. PRECIPITATION SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE
WESTERN MOUNTAINS AND ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST...MAINLY DUE TO OROGRAPHIC
EFFECTS. FOR MONDAY UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE TO MOVE ACROSS THE
NORTHERN TIER OF THE STATE...BUT DOWNSLOPE WINDS STILL EXPECTED. NEXT
BEST CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION IS OVER FAR SOUTHWEST MONTANA MONDAY
NIGHT AND TUESDAY AS SURFACE LOW MOVES ACROSS NORTHERN UTAH. THIS
PUTS SW MT ON THE NORTHERN FRINGES...AND NEEDS TO BE WATCHED. FOR
TUESDAY...COLDER AIR WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION AS A COLD FRONT MOVES
THROUGH THE AREA. THIS AIR WILL BE MODIFIED THOUGH...AS WESTERLY
WINDS CONTINUE.
.EXTENDED...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...OVERALL EXTEND LOOKS ON
TRACK. NO MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MODELS. TEMPERATURES BEGIN TO
WARM UP ON WEDNESDAY DUE TO WARM AIR ADVECTION. VERY WINDY THURSDAY
INTO FRIDAY...AS THE GREAT BASIN HIGH SETS UP...COMBINED WITH A
STRONG AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER CENTRAL ALBERTA. ANY SHOWER
ACTIVITY SHOULD BE CONFINED TO THE MOUNTAINS. FOR SATURDAY...
ANOTHER PUSH OF A BIT COOLER AIR EXPECTED TO WORK ITS WAY INTO
NORTHERN MONTANA...BUT PRECIPITATION SHOULD BE LIMITED DUE TO
WESTERLY WINDS. BRUSDA
.CCF NUMBERS
GTF NN 040/028 036/018 030 17111
BNNNE 017/033 016/042 025/040 025/040 025 11122111111
CTB NN 037/027 034/016 027 17111
BNNNE 014/031 012/038 020/039 020/035 020 11222111111
HLN EE 040/024 035/018 030 17222
EEEEE 016/030 016/035 016/036 016/036 016 22233222222
BZN EE 034/018 034/018 026 17222
EEEEE 010/028 014/033 016/034 016/034 015 23233333322
WEY EE 020/004 021/008 018 17333
JEEEE 001/018 005/023 006/021 006/021 001 45555555533
DLN EE 032/018 031/014 025 17112
CEEEE 014/028 014/030 018/033 018/031 018 23332222222
HVR BN 040/025 036/017 031 17111
BNNNE 010/034 011/040 015/040 017/035 010 11122111111
LWT NN 035/024 033/018 031 17111
BNNNE 012/031 013/038 023/040 023/037 020 11121111111
.TFX...HIGH WIND WARNING LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH TONIGHT ZONES
9...10...AND 48...
...HIGH WIND WARNING THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT ZONES 12...44...
46...49...AND 50...
...HIGH WIND WATCH FOR TONIGHT FOR ZONES 11...13...45...AND 51...High Wind, Southern Rocky Mountain Front
- When
- January 20, 9:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over north central Montana on the 20th. It affected the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. It began around 900 MST and then continued through the late afternoon hours. Sustained winds of 40 mph were reported by 1000 MST along the Rocky Mountain front. These winds then spread eastward throughout the late morning and early afternoon hours.The strongest peak winds occurred from 1100 MST to 1500 MST and generally had wind speeds of 60 to 70 mph. Visibilities were also reduced in many areas due to blowing snow over the Rocky Mountain Front, and blowing dust over the plains.Here are some of the top wind speeds on the 20th, East Glacier 2 NE 73 mph at 1155 MST, Choteau 2 NE 68 mph at 1230 MST, Pendroy 66 mph at 1230 MST, Cut Bank 62 mph at 1309 MST, Cascade 5 S 81 mph at 1340 MST.
High Wind, Cascade
- When
- January 20, 9:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Cascade forecast zone
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over north central Montana on the 20th. It affected the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. It began around 900 MST and then continued through the late afternoon hours. Sustained winds of 40 mph were reported by 1000 MST along the Rocky Mountain front. These winds then spread eastward throughout the late morning and early afternoon hours.The strongest peak winds occurred from 1100 MST to 1500 MST and generally had wind speeds of 60 to 70 mph. Visibilities were also reduced in many areas due to blowing snow over the Rocky Mountain Front, and blowing dust over the plains.Here are some of the top wind speeds on the 20th, East Glacier 2 NE 73 mph at 1155 MST, Choteau 2 NE 68 mph at 1230 MST, Pendroy 66 mph at 1230 MST, Cut Bank 62 mph at 1309 MST, Cascade 5 S 81 mph at 1340 MST.
High Wind, Eastern Glacier
- When
- January 20, 9:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Eastern Glacier forecast zone
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over north central Montana on the 20th. It affected the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. It began around 900 MST and then continued through the late afternoon hours. Sustained winds of 40 mph were reported by 1000 MST along the Rocky Mountain front. These winds then spread eastward throughout the late morning and early afternoon hours.The strongest peak winds occurred from 1100 MST to 1500 MST and generally had wind speeds of 60 to 70 mph. Visibilities were also reduced in many areas due to blowing snow over the Rocky Mountain Front, and blowing dust over the plains.Here are some of the top wind speeds on the 20th, East Glacier 2 NE 73 mph at 1155 MST, Choteau 2 NE 68 mph at 1230 MST, Pendroy 66 mph at 1230 MST, Cut Bank 62 mph at 1309 MST, Cascade 5 S 81 mph at 1340 MST.
High Wind, Eastern Pondera
- When
- January 20, 9:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Eastern Pondera forecast zone
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over north central Montana on the 20th. It affected the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. It began around 900 MST and then continued through the late afternoon hours. Sustained winds of 40 mph were reported by 1000 MST along the Rocky Mountain front. These winds then spread eastward throughout the late morning and early afternoon hours.The strongest peak winds occurred from 1100 MST to 1500 MST and generally had wind speeds of 60 to 70 mph. Visibilities were also reduced in many areas due to blowing snow over the Rocky Mountain Front, and blowing dust over the plains.Here are some of the top wind speeds on the 20th, East Glacier 2 NE 73 mph at 1155 MST, Choteau 2 NE 68 mph at 1230 MST, Pendroy 66 mph at 1230 MST, Cut Bank 62 mph at 1309 MST, Cascade 5 S 81 mph at 1340 MST.
High Wind, Eastern Teton
- When
- January 20, 9:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Eastern Teton forecast zone
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over north central Montana on the 20th. It affected the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. It began around 900 MST and then continued through the late afternoon hours. Sustained winds of 40 mph were reported by 1000 MST along the Rocky Mountain front. These winds then spread eastward throughout the late morning and early afternoon hours.The strongest peak winds occurred from 1100 MST to 1500 MST and generally had wind speeds of 60 to 70 mph. Visibilities were also reduced in many areas due to blowing snow over the Rocky Mountain Front, and blowing dust over the plains.Here are some of the top wind speeds on the 20th, East Glacier 2 NE 73 mph at 1155 MST, Choteau 2 NE 68 mph at 1230 MST, Pendroy 66 mph at 1230 MST, Cut Bank 62 mph at 1309 MST, Cascade 5 S 81 mph at 1340 MST.
High Wind, North Rocky Mountain Front
- When
- January 20, 9:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- North Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over north central Montana on the 20th. It affected the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. It began around 900 MST and then continued through the late afternoon hours. Sustained winds of 40 mph were reported by 1000 MST along the Rocky Mountain front. These winds then spread eastward throughout the late morning and early afternoon hours.The strongest peak winds occurred from 1100 MST to 1500 MST and generally had wind speeds of 60 to 70 mph. Visibilities were also reduced in many areas due to blowing snow over the Rocky Mountain Front, and blowing dust over the plains.Here are some of the top wind speeds on the 20th, East Glacier 2 NE 73 mph at 1155 MST, Choteau 2 NE 68 mph at 1230 MST, Pendroy 66 mph at 1230 MST, Cut Bank 62 mph at 1309 MST, Cascade 5 S 81 mph at 1340 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.
- High Wind in Wyoming, January 20 to 21, 2002$100,000 · 74 kt wind · 4 events
- High Wind in Washington, January 20, 2002$40,000 · 66 kt wind · 2 events
- Dense Fog in Florida, January 20, 200215 events
- High Wind in Colorado, January 20 to 21, 200290 kt wind · 4 events
- Winter Storm in Wyoming, January 20 to 22, 20023 events
- Winter Storm in New York, January 20, 20022 events
- Frost and Freeze in North Carolina, January 20, 20022 events
- Heavy Snow in Idaho, January 20, 20022 events
- High Surf in Hawaii, January 20 to 24, 20022 events
- Heavy Rain in Hawaii, January 20, 20021 event
- Frost and Freeze in North Carolina, January 20, 20021 event
- High Wind in Montana, January 20, 200251 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: 5279491, 5279492, 5279493, 5279584, 5279585, 5279586.