Montana, 2003High Wind in Montana, January 3, 2003
January 3, 2003 · NWS TFX · 8 events in 8 counties and zones
8 high wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 8
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 3, 3:15 AM MST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 3, 3:15 AM MST, 1 hour 15 minutes before
SOUTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
315 AM MST FRI JAN 3 2003
...CORRECTED TO ADD NEW EXTENDED DISCUSSION...
.SHORT TERM...UPPER LEVEL RIDGE IS FLATTENED BY A VIGOROUS SHORTWAVE
TODAY. DOWNSLOPE GRADIENTS TIGHTEN AND MID LEVEL WINDS PICK UP OVER
50 KNOTS. WILL UPGRADE THE WATCH TO A WARNING FOR TODAY THROUGH
EARLY THIS EVENING. ABUNDANT PACIFIC MOISTURE IN THE WESTERLY FLOW
ALOFT WILL BE WRUNG OUT OVER THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS...SO EXPECT A
GOOD LIKELIHOOD OF MOUNTAIN SNOWS AND WILL RAISE POPS ACCORDINGLY.
TEMPERATURES OVER THE ENTIRE CWA WILL REMAIN MILD AND MUCH ABOVE
SEASONAL NORMS. PROGRESSIVE FLOW ALOFT TRANSITIONS TO ANOTHER RIDGE
ON SATURDAY...FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER SHORTWAVE SATURDAY NIGHT. UPPER
LEVEL WINDS BECOME NORTHWESTERLY AS THE NEXT SHORTWAVE PASSES
THROUGH THE REGION...ALLOWING FOR SLIGHTLY BETTER OROGRAPHIC FLOW
OVER THE PLAINS...SO WILL ADD A CHANCE OF SNOW OVER THE CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS. PLAINS WILL BE WARM ENOUGH FOR A COMBINATION OF RAIN AND
SNOW SHOWERS...ALTHOUGH FREEZING RAIN MAY NOT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION
IN THE HAVRE AREA. WILL HOLD OFF ON MENTIONING FREEZING PRECIP IN
THE ZONES FOR NOW...BUT SUBSEQUENT SHIFTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO
EVALUATE THIS POSSIBILITY. MPJ
.EXTENDED...MODELS STILL CONSISTENT IN KEEPING WARM AND DRY PATTERN
OVER THE AREA THROUGH TUESDAY...AND THEN COOLING THINGS DOWN FOR
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. ONE DIFFERENCE IS THAT SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH
TUESDAY LOOKS COMPLETELY DRY...WITH A VERY STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE
BUILDING OVER THE WESTERN U.S. TEMPS WILL LIKELY REACH THE 50S
ACROSS THE PLAINS MONDAY AND TUESDAY...WITH THE SOUTHWEST REMAINING
COOLER WITH A INVERSION IN PLACE. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT IT WILL NOT
BE AS WINDY AS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT. BOTH ECMWF AND GFS HAVE BEEN
PUSHING THE BITTERLY COLD AIR FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY FURTHER
EAST WITH EACH RUN...BUT NONETHELESS TEMPS WILL COOL DOWN
CONSIDERABLY ACROSS OUR CWA. WILL LEAVE CHANCE POPS FOR WEDNESDAY
WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE COLD FRONT. WILL PUT OUT ONLY SLIGHT CHANCE
POPS FOR THE SOUTHWEST THURSDAY...SINCE THE GFS SHOWS A STRONG
CUT-OFF LOW OVER IDAHO...WHILE THE ECMWF DOES NOT. VILLANI
.CCF NUMBERS
GTF NE 054/034 055/038 050 14100
EBBEE 031/055 035/053 029/035 013/027 011 20000023000
CTB NE 051/034 049/033 046 14100
ENNEE 029/053 033/051 027/033 009/023 007 20000023000
HLN EE 047/029 050/028 047 14300
EBBEE 022/045 025/047 025/036 012/026 010 22000023000
BZN EE 047/025 047/027 045 14400
EBBEE 017/042 019/044 020/032 007/024 005 32000003222
WEY WJ 030/017 030/017 028 14523
EBBEE 007/032 009/034 010/023 902/017 904 63000003222
DLN EE 045/028 045/028 043 14400
EBBEE 019/043 021/045 024/033 011/025 009 22000003222
HVR EE 054/030 052/030 048 14100
EBNEE 020/051 027/051 025/033 006/021 004 20000023000
LWT EE 055/029 053/034 050 14100
EBBEE 025/053 031/053 027/033 011/025 009 20000023000
TFX...HIGH WIND WARNING TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...GLACIER, TOOLE, PONDERA, TETON, AND NORTHERN LEWIS
AND CLARK.Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 2, 6:15 AM MST, 22 hours 15 minutes before
MTZ008>015-044>055-030110-
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
615 AM MST THU JAN 2 2003
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA
.DAY ONE...TODAY
A HIGH WIND WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN
FRONT TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING. SUSTAINED WINDS ABOVE 40 MPH ARE
LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON...WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH POSSIBLE. PLEASE
REFER TO GTFNPWTFX FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. HOWEVER...
GUSTY WEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE EAST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE
THROUGH THE NEXT WEEK. VERY STRONG WINDS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AND
AGAIN ON MONDAY.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
High Wind, North Rocky Mountain Front
- When
- January 3, 4:30 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- North Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over much of North Central Montana on the 3rd. Winds gusted to over 60 mph during the early morning hours over the Rocky Mountain Front, and then continued through the late afternoon hours over the Plains of North Central Montana.Here is a list of the peak wind speeds reported:Chinook 11S 80 mph at 1321 MST; Sweetgrass 64 mph at 1047 MST; Pendroy 62 mph at 1100 MST; Roy 15NE 62 mph at 1545 MST; East Glacier 2E 59 mph at 0430 MST; Cut Bank 58 mph at 0818 MST. Inverness reported sustained winds of 40 mph around 1300 MST.
High Wind, Eastern Glacier
- When
- January 3, 8:18 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Eastern Glacier forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over much of North Central Montana on the 3rd. Winds gusted to over 60 mph during the early morning hours over the Rocky Mountain Front, and then continued through the late afternoon hours over the Plains of North Central Montana.Here is a list of the peak wind speeds reported:Chinook 11S 80 mph at 1321 MST; Sweetgrass 64 mph at 1047 MST; Pendroy 62 mph at 1100 MST; Roy 15NE 62 mph at 1545 MST; East Glacier 2E 59 mph at 0430 MST; Cut Bank 58 mph at 0818 MST. Inverness reported sustained winds of 40 mph around 1300 MST.
High Wind, Toole
- When
- January 3, 10:47 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Toole forecast zone
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over much of North Central Montana on the 3rd. Winds gusted to over 60 mph during the early morning hours over the Rocky Mountain Front, and then continued through the late afternoon hours over the Plains of North Central Montana.Here is a list of the peak wind speeds reported:Chinook 11S 80 mph at 1321 MST; Sweetgrass 64 mph at 1047 MST; Pendroy 62 mph at 1100 MST; Roy 15NE 62 mph at 1545 MST; East Glacier 2E 59 mph at 0430 MST; Cut Bank 58 mph at 0818 MST. Inverness reported sustained winds of 40 mph around 1300 MST.
High Wind, Eastern Pondera
- When
- January 3, 11:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Eastern Pondera forecast zone
- Measured
- 54 kt (62 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over much of North Central Montana on the 3rd. Winds gusted to over 60 mph during the early morning hours over the Rocky Mountain Front, and then continued through the late afternoon hours over the Plains of North Central Montana.Here is a list of the peak wind speeds reported:Chinook 11S 80 mph at 1321 MST; Sweetgrass 64 mph at 1047 MST; Pendroy 62 mph at 1100 MST; Roy 15NE 62 mph at 1545 MST; East Glacier 2E 59 mph at 0430 MST; Cut Bank 58 mph at 0818 MST. Inverness reported sustained winds of 40 mph around 1300 MST.
High Wind, Blaine
- When
- January 3, 1:21 PM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Blaine forecast zone
- Measured
- 69 kt (79 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over much of North Central Montana on the 3rd. Winds gusted to over 60 mph during the early morning hours over the Rocky Mountain Front, and then continued through the late afternoon hours over the Plains of North Central Montana.Here is a list of the peak wind speeds reported:Chinook 11S 80 mph at 1321 MST; Sweetgrass 64 mph at 1047 MST; Pendroy 62 mph at 1100 MST; Roy 15NE 62 mph at 1545 MST; East Glacier 2E 59 mph at 0430 MST; Cut Bank 58 mph at 0818 MST. Inverness reported sustained winds of 40 mph around 1300 MST.
High Wind, Liberty
- When
- January 3, 2:20 PM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Liberty forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over much of North Central Montana on the 3rd. Winds gusted to over 60 mph during the early morning hours over the Rocky Mountain Front, and then continued through the late afternoon hours over the Plains of North Central Montana.Here is a list of the peak wind speeds reported:Chinook 11S 80 mph at 1321 MST; Sweetgrass 64 mph at 1047 MST; Pendroy 62 mph at 1100 MST; Roy 15NE 62 mph at 1545 MST; East Glacier 2E 59 mph at 0430 MST; Cut Bank 58 mph at 0818 MST. Inverness reported sustained winds of 40 mph around 1300 MST.
High Wind, Hill
- When
- January 3, 2:20 PM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Hill forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over much of North Central Montana on the 3rd. Winds gusted to over 60 mph during the early morning hours over the Rocky Mountain Front, and then continued through the late afternoon hours over the Plains of North Central Montana.Here is a list of the peak wind speeds reported:Chinook 11S 80 mph at 1321 MST; Sweetgrass 64 mph at 1047 MST; Pendroy 62 mph at 1100 MST; Roy 15NE 62 mph at 1545 MST; East Glacier 2E 59 mph at 0430 MST; Cut Bank 58 mph at 0818 MST. Inverness reported sustained winds of 40 mph around 1300 MST.
High Wind, Fergus
- When
- January 3, 3:45 PM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Fergus forecast zone
- Measured
- 54 kt (62 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
A high wind event occurred over much of North Central Montana on the 3rd. Winds gusted to over 60 mph during the early morning hours over the Rocky Mountain Front, and then continued through the late afternoon hours over the Plains of North Central Montana.Here is a list of the peak wind speeds reported:Chinook 11S 80 mph at 1321 MST; Sweetgrass 64 mph at 1047 MST; Pendroy 62 mph at 1100 MST; Roy 15NE 62 mph at 1545 MST; East Glacier 2E 59 mph at 0430 MST; Cut Bank 58 mph at 0818 MST. Inverness reported sustained winds of 40 mph around 1300 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.
- Heavy Snow in New York, January 3 to 4, 2003$6.0 million · 18 events
- Dense Fog in California, January 3 to 5, 20036 injured · $400,000 · 4 events
- Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, January 3 to 4, 2003$2.5 million · 7 events
- Winter Storm in New York, January 3 to 4, 2003$430,000 · 24 events
- Storm Surge and Winter Storm in Massachusetts, January 3 to 4, 2003$600,000 · 17 events
- Flooding and Heavy Snow in Maine, January 3 to 5, 200319 events
- Flood and Heavy Snow in New Hampshire, January 3 to 5, 200313 events
- Heavy Snow in New York, January 3, 2003$15,000 · 1 event
- High Wind in Montana, January 3 to 4, 200363 kt wind · 9 events
- Blizzard and High Wind in Alaska, January 3 to 5, 200362 kt wind · 7 events
- Winter Storm in New York, January 3 to 4, 20035 events
- Storm Surge in New Jersey, January 3, 20034 events