Montana, 2003

High Wind in Montana, January 26 to 27, 2003

January 26 to 27, 2003 · NWS TFX · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

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

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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.

Event by event

7 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, North Rocky Mountain Front

When
January 26, 12:40 PM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where
North Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured
57 kt (66 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

A high wind event occurred over the western half of North Central Montana on the 26th. Strong winds developed over the northern Rocky Mountain Front during the morning hours, and then moved eastward over the Plains during the late morning and early afternoon hours. The winds began to diminish in strength during the late evening hours of the 26th. Most areas reported wind gusts near 60 mph, with sustained winds between 35 and 45 mph. Here is a list of some of the peak wind gusts reported:East Glacier 2E 66 mph at 1240 MST; Choteau 62 mph at 1445 MST; Sweetgrass 60 mph at 1906 MST; Cut Bank 59 mph at 1538 MST; Pendroy 59 mph at 1820 MST; and Loma had sustained winds of 44 mph at 1315 MST. Gold Butte 7N 61 mph at 0055 MST on 1/27/03.

High Wind, Chouteau

When
January 26, 1:15 PM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where
Chouteau forecast zone
Measured
38 kt (44 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

A high wind event occurred over the western half of North Central Montana on the 26th. Strong winds developed over the northern Rocky Mountain Front during the morning hours, and then moved eastward over the Plains during the late morning and early afternoon hours. The winds began to diminish in strength during the late evening hours of the 26th. Most areas reported wind gusts near 60 mph, with sustained winds between 35 and 45 mph. Here is a list of some of the peak wind gusts reported:East Glacier 2E 66 mph at 1240 MST; Choteau 62 mph at 1445 MST; Sweetgrass 60 mph at 1906 MST; Cut Bank 59 mph at 1538 MST; Pendroy 59 mph at 1820 MST; and Loma had sustained winds of 44 mph at 1315 MST. Gold Butte 7N 61 mph at 0055 MST on 1/27/03.

High Wind, Southern Rocky Mountain Front

When
January 26, 2:45 PM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where
Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

A high wind event occurred over the western half of North Central Montana on the 26th. Strong winds developed over the northern Rocky Mountain Front during the morning hours, and then moved eastward over the Plains during the late morning and early afternoon hours. The winds began to diminish in strength during the late evening hours of the 26th. Most areas reported wind gusts near 60 mph, with sustained winds between 35 and 45 mph. Here is a list of some of the peak wind gusts reported:East Glacier 2E 66 mph at 1240 MST; Choteau 62 mph at 1445 MST; Sweetgrass 60 mph at 1906 MST; Cut Bank 59 mph at 1538 MST; Pendroy 59 mph at 1820 MST; and Loma had sustained winds of 44 mph at 1315 MST. Gold Butte 7N 61 mph at 0055 MST on 1/27/03.

High Wind, Eastern Teton

When
January 26, 2:45 PM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where
Eastern Teton forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

A high wind event occurred over the western half of North Central Montana on the 26th. Strong winds developed over the northern Rocky Mountain Front during the morning hours, and then moved eastward over the Plains during the late morning and early afternoon hours. The winds began to diminish in strength during the late evening hours of the 26th. Most areas reported wind gusts near 60 mph, with sustained winds between 35 and 45 mph. Here is a list of some of the peak wind gusts reported:East Glacier 2E 66 mph at 1240 MST; Choteau 62 mph at 1445 MST; Sweetgrass 60 mph at 1906 MST; Cut Bank 59 mph at 1538 MST; Pendroy 59 mph at 1820 MST; and Loma had sustained winds of 44 mph at 1315 MST. Gold Butte 7N 61 mph at 0055 MST on 1/27/03.

High Wind, Eastern Glacier

When
January 26, 3:38 PM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where
Eastern Glacier forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

A high wind event occurred over the western half of North Central Montana on the 26th. Strong winds developed over the northern Rocky Mountain Front during the morning hours, and then moved eastward over the Plains during the late morning and early afternoon hours. The winds began to diminish in strength during the late evening hours of the 26th. Most areas reported wind gusts near 60 mph, with sustained winds between 35 and 45 mph. Here is a list of some of the peak wind gusts reported:East Glacier 2E 66 mph at 1240 MST; Choteau 62 mph at 1445 MST; Sweetgrass 60 mph at 1906 MST; Cut Bank 59 mph at 1538 MST; Pendroy 59 mph at 1820 MST; and Loma had sustained winds of 44 mph at 1315 MST. Gold Butte 7N 61 mph at 0055 MST on 1/27/03.

High Wind, Eastern Pondera

When
January 26, 6:20 PM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where
Eastern Pondera forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

A high wind event occurred over the western half of North Central Montana on the 26th. Strong winds developed over the northern Rocky Mountain Front during the morning hours, and then moved eastward over the Plains during the late morning and early afternoon hours. The winds began to diminish in strength during the late evening hours of the 26th. Most areas reported wind gusts near 60 mph, with sustained winds between 35 and 45 mph. Here is a list of some of the peak wind gusts reported:East Glacier 2E 66 mph at 1240 MST; Choteau 62 mph at 1445 MST; Sweetgrass 60 mph at 1906 MST; Cut Bank 59 mph at 1538 MST; Pendroy 59 mph at 1820 MST; and Loma had sustained winds of 44 mph at 1315 MST. Gold Butte 7N 61 mph at 0055 MST on 1/27/03.

High Wind, Toole

When
January 26, 7:06 PM MST to January 27, 1:00 AM MST
Where
Toole forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

A high wind event occurred over the western half of North Central Montana on the 26th. Strong winds developed over the northern Rocky Mountain Front during the morning hours, and then moved eastward over the Plains during the late morning and early afternoon hours. The winds began to diminish in strength during the late evening hours of the 26th. Most areas reported wind gusts near 60 mph, with sustained winds between 35 and 45 mph. Here is a list of some of the peak wind gusts reported:East Glacier 2E 66 mph at 1240 MST; Choteau 62 mph at 1445 MST; Sweetgrass 60 mph at 1906 MST; Cut Bank 59 mph at 1538 MST; Pendroy 59 mph at 1820 MST; and Loma had sustained winds of 44 mph at 1315 MST. Gold Butte 7N 61 mph at 0055 MST on 1/27/03.

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 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, January 2003

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5339863, 5338355, 5338249, 5338250, 5339864, 5338248, 5338247.