High Wind in Montana, January 17, 2011

Name: High Wind in Montana, January 17, 2011
Start: 2011-01-17T00:53
End: 2011-01-17T00:53
Location: Montana

January 17, 2011 · NWS TFX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Strong westerly winds aloft produced high winds over Southern Lewis and Clark County. Wind gusts to 58 mph were reported.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 happened

The episode as NWS TFX wrote it up.

Strong westerly winds aloft produced high winds over Southern Lewis and Clark County. Wind gusts to 58 mph were reported.

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 16, 10:59 PM MST, 1 hour 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 16, 10:59 PM MST, 1 hour 54 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1059 PM MST SUN JAN 16 2011

.UPDATE...
A STRONG COLD FRONT IS MOVING SOUTH OVER THE PLAINS. HAVE RECEIVED
REPORTS OF RAIN AND EVEN HEAVY RAIN AHEAD OF THE FRONT. PASSAGE OF
THE FRONT WILL RESULT IN A SHARP DROP IN TEMPERATURES AND FREEZE
THIS RECENT RAINFALL AS WELL AS STANDING WATER ON ROADWAYS AND
WALKWAYS FROM THE RECENT WARM SPELL. WILL ISSUE A WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY FOR A FLASH FREEZE OVER CENTRAL MONTANA. BLANK

&&

.AVIATION...
UPDATED 0545Z.
COLD ARCTIC AIR IS PUSHING SOUTH ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA.
ANOTHER SURGE OF MID LEVEL MOISTURE IN NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL
MOVE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA OVERNIGHT WITH AREAS -SN/-RA/-FZRA/BR
EXPECTED ALONG WITH IFR/MVFR CONDITIONS AT TIMES. MODELS SUGGEST THE
ARCTIC AIR WILL MOVE EAST ONCE AGAIN BY LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON WITH
ANOTHER ROUND OF DOWNSLOPE WINDS INCREASING EAST OF THE CONTINENTAL
DIVIDE. MPJ

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
MADISON COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE REPORTED THAT AN ICE JAM ALONG THE
BEAVERHEAD RIVER NEAR TWIN BRIDGES HAS MOVED AND IS CAUSING THE
RIVER TO FLOOD NEAR THE TOWN OF TWIN BRIDGES. A FLOOD WARNING HAS
BEEN RE-ISSUED FOR THE BEAVERHEAD RIVER NEAR TWIN BRIDGES AND WILL
REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THIS SITUATION WILL
CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED AN UPDATED AS NECESSARY.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
/ISSUED 1045 PM MST SUN JAN 16 2011/
FXUS65 KTFX 170542
AFDTFX

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1045 PM MST SUN JAN 16 2011

..UPDATE TO AVIATION...

UPDATE...
ANOTHER SURGE OF CANADIAN AIR WILL MOVE SOUTHWARD THROUGH NORTH
CENTRAL MONTANA TONIGHT. EXPECT TEMPERATURES TO FALL FROM THE MID
40S AHEAD OF THE FRONT...TO NEAR 10 ABOVE AFTER THE COLD FRONT
MOVES THROUGH. THIS TEMPERATURE CHANGE WILL OCCUR IN LESS THAN ONE
HOUR AFTER FRONTAL PASSAGE. EXPECT ANY STANDING WATER TO FREEZE
QUICKLY...AND UNTREATED ROADWAYS COULD BECOME SLIPPERY.
ADDITIONALLY...WIND CHILL VALUES WILL RANGE FROM 10 BELOW TO 20
BELOW ZERO ONCE THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH.
ADDITIONALLY...FREEZING RAIN IS STILL POSSIBLE IN THE HAVRE AND
HARLEM AREAS...AS ONE MORE AREA OF MIXED PRECIPITATION MOVES
SOUTHEASTWARD OUT OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA...THUS THE ADVISORY WILL
CONTINUE FOR THIS REGION. SCATTERED RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE
ELSEWHERE DEPENDING ON THE CURRENT TEMPERATURE. STRONG WINDS HAVE
DIMINISHED OVER THE REGION...THUS THE HIGH WIND WARNING HAS BEEN
CANCELLED. A SUMMARY LSR HAS BEEN SENT. IN TERMS OF TEMPERATURES
TONIGHT THE COLD FRONT SHOULD BE IN THE GREAT FALLS AREA BY
11 PM AND THE LEWISTOWN AREA BY 1 AM MONDAY MORNING. THE COLD
FRONT WILL GENERALLY STALL OUT WHERE IT HAS BEEN STALLING OUT...IN
THE DEARBORN...MONARCH...SOUTH OF STANDFORD...SOUTH OF LEWISTOWN
REGION. THE MODELS PROG THE COLD FRONT TO MOVE NORTHWARD ON MONDAY
AFTERNOON...THIS IS VERY TRICKY...THUS I KEPT THE GREAT FALLS
AIRPORT ON THE WARM SIDE...BUT I DID LOWER THE TEMPERATURES FOR
THE CITY OF GREAT FALLS...KEEPING HIGH TEMPERATURES ONLY NEAR 10
ABOVE IN THE CITY OF GREAT FALLS. MIDNIGHT SHIFT WILL LOOK AT THIS
FURTHER.

LOOKING AHEAD...SCATTERED SHOWERS CONTINUE OVER THE REGION ON
MONDAY...WITH A BETTER CHANCE FOR MORE WIDESPREAD LIGHT SNOW TO
AFFECT SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL MONTANA TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT.
GENERALLY REMAINING COLD UP IN THE CUT BANK AND HAVRE AREAS
THROUGH TUESDAY. BRUSDA

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF   6  34   8  18 /  80  60  50  50
CTB  -2  14   0   8 /  50  40  60  50
HLN  39  46  28  30 /  20  30  20  30
BZN  35  44  26  31 /  40  50  30  20
WEY  27  32  17  24 /  90  80  50  50
DLN  35  39  25  31 /  60  30  20  20
HVR   1   4  -3   6 /  90  40  60  50
LWT  16  34  11  17 /  70  60  60  40

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM MST MONDAY CASCADE...EASTERN
TETON...FERGUS...JUDITH BASIN...SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT.

FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM MST MONDAY BLAINE...HILL.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM MST MONDAY GALLATIN.

FLOOD WARNING FOR THE BEAVERHEAD RIVER NEAR TWIN BRIDGES UNTIL
FURTHER NOTICE.

&&

SHORT TERM...BLANK
LONG TERM...COULSTON
AVIATION...COULSTON

WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 17, 12:20 AM MST, 33 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1220 AM MST MON JAN 17 2011

MTZ012-048>051-171300-
CASCADE-SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN TETON-JUDITH BASIN-
FERGUS-
1158 PM MST SUN JAN 16 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MONTANA
AND NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR A FLASH FREEZE IS IN EFFECT FOR
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MONTANA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MST MONDAY.

OTHERWISE...THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS
LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MTZ011-047-171300-
HILL-BLAINE-
1158 PM MST SUN JAN 16 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH
CENTRAL MONTANA UNTIL 5 AM MST MONDAY MORNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MTZ008-015-055-171300-
BEAVERHEAD-MADISON-GALLATIN-
1158 PM MST SUN JAN 16 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST
MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE BEAVERHEAD RIVER NEAR TWIN
BRIDGES IN MADISON COUNTY.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WEST
YELLOWSTONE AREA IN SOUTHERN GALLATIN COUNTY THROUGH 5 AM MST
MONDAY MORNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THE FLOOD WARNING FOR THE BEAVERHEAD RIVER NEAR TWIN BRIDGES IN
MADISON COUNTY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

OTHERWISE...THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS
LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MTZ014-052>054-171300-
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-JEFFERSON-BROADWATER-MEAGHER-
1220 AM MST MON JAN 17 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST
MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST MONTANA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THE HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST MONTANA UNTIL 11 AM MST MONDAY.

OTHERWISE...THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS
LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MTZ009-010-013-044>046-171300-
NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN GLACIER-CHOUTEAU-TOOLE-
LIBERTY-EASTERN PONDERA-
1158 PM MST SUN JAN 16 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

ANOTHER SURGE OF CANADIAN AIR WILL MOVE SOUTHWARD THROUGH NORTH
CENTRAL MONTANA TONIGHT. EXPECT TEMPERATURES TO FALL FROM THE MID
40S AHEAD OF THE FRONT...TO NEAR 10 ABOVE AFTER THE COLD FRONT MOVES
THROUGH. THIS TEMPERATURE CHANGE WILL OCCUR IN LESS THAN ONE HOUR
AFTER FRONTAL PASSAGE. EXPECT ANY STANDING WATER TO FREEZE
QUICKLY...AND UNTREATED ROADWAYS COULD BECOME SLIPPERY.
ADDITIONALLY...WIND CHILL VALUES WILL RANGE FROM 10 BELOW TO 20
BELOW ZERO ONCE THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH. HOWEVER...GUSTY
WESTERLY WINDS WILL GENERALLY PERSIST OVER RIDGE TOPS AND THROUGH
MOUNTAIN PASSES ALONG THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 16, 7:23 PM MST, 5 hours 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
723 PM MST SUN JAN 16 2011

..TIME..    ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE..    ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 PM     SNOW             16 SSW JACKSON          45.17N 113.58W
01/16/2011  E10.0 INCH       BEAVERHEAD         MT   MESONET

            ESTIMATED 10 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN THE PAST 24 HOURS.
            LOCATION IS DARKHORSE LAKE SNOTEL. ELEVATION IS 8700
            FEET.

&&

BRUSDA

Local storm report, Jan 16, 7:25 PM MST, 5 hours 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
725 PM MST SUN JAN 16 2011

..TIME..    ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE..    ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 PM     SNOW             15 SSW CAMERON          45.02N 111.85W
01/16/2011  E6.0 INCH        MADISON            MT   MESONET

            ESTIMATED 6 INCHES OF NEW SNOW AT THE CLOVER MEADOW
            SNOTEL. ELEVATION IS 8800 FEET.

&&

BRUSDA

Local storm report, Jan 16, 7:28 PM MST, 5 hours 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
728 PM MST SUN JAN 16 2011

..TIME..    ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE..    ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 PM     SNOW             11 S WEST YELLOWSTONE   44.51N 111.11W
01/16/2011  E7.0 INCH        GALLATIN           MT   MESONET

            ESTIMATED 7 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN THE PAST 24 HOURS.
            LOCATION IS BLACK BEAR SNOTEL. ELEVATION IS 7949 FEET.

&&

BRUSDA

Local storm report, Jan 16, 7:30 PM MST, 5 hours 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
730 PM MST SUN JAN 16 2011

..TIME..    ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE..    ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 8 SE EAST GLACIER PARK  48.37N 113.10W
01/16/2011  M69 MPH          GLACIER            MT   MESONET

            69 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DEEP CREEK RAWS.

0600 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 8 SE EAST GLACIER PARK  48.37N 113.10W
01/16/2011  M73 MPH          GLACIER            MT   MESONET

            73 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DEEP CREEK RAWS.

1153 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  1 E EAST GLACIER PARK   48.45N 113.20W
01/16/2011  M45 MPH          GLACIER            MT   MESONET

            SUSTAINED WINDS OF 45 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 52 MPH AT THE
            DOT SENSOR JUST EAST OF EAST GLACIER PARK.

1245 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 13 W BYNUM              47.98N 112.59W
01/16/2011  M59 MPH          TETON              MT   MESONET

            59 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DELLWO RAWS LOCATION.

0200 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST HEART BUTTE             48.29N 112.84W
01/16/2011  M54 MPH          PONDERA            MT   MESONET

            54 MPH WIND GUST IN HEARTBUTTE.

0200 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 13 W BYNUM              47.98N 112.59W
01/16/2011  M61 MPH          TETON              MT   MESONET

            61 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DELLWO RAWS LOCATION.

0300 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NE CHOTEAU            47.82N 112.16W
01/16/2011  M71 MPH          TETON              MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            71 MPH PEAK WIND GUST AT THE CHOTEAU AIRPORT.

0310 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  CHOTEAU                 47.81N 112.18W
01/16/2011  M56 MPH          TETON              MT   PUBLIC

            WINDS SUSTAINED AT 56 MPH NEAR CHOTEAU AIRPORT

0400 PM     SNOW             16 SSW JACKSON          45.17N 113.58W
01/16/2011  E10.0 INCH       BEAVERHEAD         MT   MESONET

            ESTIMATED 10 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN THE PAST 24 HOURS.
            LOCATION IS DARKHORSE LAKE SNOTEL. ELEVATION IS 8700
            FEET.

0400 PM     SNOW             15 SSW CAMERON          45.02N 111.85W
01/16/2011  E6.0 INCH        MADISON            MT   MESONET

            ESTIMATED 6 INCHES OF NEW SNOW AT THE CLOVER MEADOW
            SNOTEL. ELEVATION IS 8800 FEET.

0400 PM     SNOW             11 S WEST YELLOWSTONE   44.51N 111.11W
01/16/2011  E7.0 INCH        GALLATIN           MT   MESONET

            ESTIMATED 7 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN THE PAST 24 HOURS.
            LOCATION IS BLACK BEAR SNOTEL. ELEVATION IS 7949 FEET.

0530 PM     FREEZING RAIN    4 NE KREMLIN            48.61N 110.02W
01/16/2011  E0.01 INCH       HILL               MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FREEZING RAIN HAS COATED THE GROUND. LOCATION IS JUST
            NORTHEAST OF KREMLIN.

0625 PM     FREEZING RAIN    FORT BELKNAP            48.48N 108.77W
01/16/2011  E0.00 INCH       BLAINE             MT   PUBLIC

            LIGHT TO MODERATE FREEZING RAIN WITH AN AIR TEMPERATURE
            OF 16 DEGREES.

&&

BRUSDA

Local storm report, Jan 16, 11:34 PM MST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1134 PM MST SUN JAN 16 2011

..TIME..    ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE..    ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1120 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 W WINSTON             46.48N 111.68W
01/16/2011  M61 MPH          BROADWATER         MT   PUBLIC

&&

BLANK

Event by event

1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Southern Lewis and Clark

When: January 17, 12:53 AM MST
Where: Southern Lewis and Clark forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust to 58 mph was reported at Helena 8N (the Helena RAWS site).

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

Every storm in Montana in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, January 2011

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: 273705.