Montana, 2011

High Wind in Montana, March 31, 2011

March 31, 2011 · NWS MSO · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A strong jetstream with wind speeds of over 120 knots was over western Montana and north central Idaho. During the day, some of the stronger winds aloft mixed down to the surface.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
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  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
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  • Cold
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  • Marine and coastal
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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 MSO wrote it up.

A strong jetstream with wind speeds of over 120 knots was over western Montana and north central Idaho. During the day, some of the stronger winds aloft mixed down to the surface.

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 Missoula, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 31, 9:15 AM MST, 2 hours 37 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 9:15 AM MST, 2 hours 37 minutes before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, West Glacier Region

When
March 31, 11:52 AM MST to 12:09 PM MST
Where
West Glacier Region forecast zone
Measured
82 kt (94 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Logan Pass visitors center in Glacier National Park at an elevation of 6775 feet, reported west winds of 51 mph with gusts to 94 mph.

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 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, March 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: 284787.