A strong westerly flow aloft brought high winds to portions of the Rocky Mountain Front as well as portions of the Hi-Line. Wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were reported.
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.
The episode as NWS TFX wrote it up.
A strong westerly flow aloft brought high winds to portions of the Rocky Mountain Front as well as portions of the Hi-Line. Wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were reported.
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 Mar 20, 9:00 AM MST, 37 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 10 AM MDT TUE MAR 20 2012 .DISCUSSION... UPDATE FORTHCOMING. HAVE ADDED MADISON COUNTY TO THE HIGH WIND WARNING AND HAVE ADDED SOME LOW POPS TO THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY WARNING AREA. REMAINDER OF FORECAST LOOKS ON TRACK. EMANUEL && .AVIATION... UPDATED 1102Z. STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE IN STRENGTH DURING THE MORNING ACROSS MUCH OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE ACROSS THE NORTHERN ROCKIES AND ADJACENT PLAINS WHERE SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 45 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 70 KTS ARE EXPECTED. IFR CONDS ARE EXPECTED OVER PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN ROCKIES WHERE MOUNTAINS COULD BE OBSCURED. ELSEWHERE VFR CONDS SHOULD PREVAIL THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS. && .PREV DISCUSSION...ISSUED 357 AM MDT TUE MAR 20 2012 TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY...HIGH PRESSURE IS BUILDING ALOFT BUT THE RIDGE WILL GET FLATTENED TODAY AS A SERIES OF DISTURBANCES MOVE ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND NORTHERN ROCKIES. STRONG WEST WINDS ALOFT WILL CROSS THE ROCKIES AND BRING GUSTY SURFACE WINDS TO THE MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT PLAINS. GOOD MIXING WILL BRING VERY STRONG WINDS TO THE SURFACE AND WILL ADD TOOLE COUNTY TO THE CURRENT HIGH WIND WARNING WHICH INCLUDES THE NORTHERN ROCKIES AND EASTERN GLACIER COUNTY. THE AIRMASS WILL GRADUALLY WARM UNDERNEATH THE INFLUENCE OF THE RIDGE BUT REMAIN QUITE DRY. MOST PRECIP WILL BE RESTRICTED TO THE WESTERN AND SOUTHWESTERN MOUNTAINS THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL RISE ENOUGH BY THURSDAY TO CAUSE THE AIRMASS TO BECOME UNSTABLE BY AFTERNOON. RELATIVELY DRY CONDITIONS WILL INHIBIT CONVECTION BUT THE PRESENCE OF A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN ZONES LATE IN THE DAY WILL CAUSE LIFT FOR AT LEAST A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. ZELZER THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY...LINGERING SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT IN THE MOUNTAINS BEHIND A WEAK COLD FRONT THAT WILL BRING SEASONAL TEMPERATURES ON FRIDAY. MODELS SHOW SEVERAL DIFFERENCES DURING THIS TIME PERIOD AND CONFIDENCE IS LOW REGARDING PRECIPITATION AND STORM TRACK. ON FRIDAY...SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL PERSIST WITH WEAK WINDS AT THE SURFACE AND FOR NOW HAVE KEPT A DRY TREND BUT THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS FOR LIGHT UPSLOPE PRECIPITATION OVER NORTH-CENTRAL MONTANA. FURTHER COMPLICATING THE FORECAST FOR NEXT WEEKEND IS THE TRACK OF A STRONG UPPER-LEVEL LOW PROGGED TO MOVE OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ON SATURDAY. MODELS ARE CONSISTENT WITH BRINGING A STRONG LOW INTO THIS AREA...HOWEVER THERE ARE DIFFERENCES REGARDING EMBEDDED SHORTWAVES THAT MAY BE CARRIED INTO SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL MONTANA. SOME MODELS BRING PRECIPITATION INTO SOUTHWEST MONTANA WHILE OTHERS ARE FAIRLY DRY. THIS UPPER-LEVEL LOW WILL MOVE INTO THE SIERRA NEVADA BY SUNDAY AND POTENTIALLY INTO SOUTHERN MONTANA BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. IF THIS CURRENT TRACK PERSISTS...THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION IN THE FORECAST AREA. SHOULD THE LOW PROPAGATE FURTHER SOUTH...CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA CAN EXPECT MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS. GIVEN THE INCONSISTENCIES HAVE KEPT SLIGHT CHANCE POPS IN THE PLAINS WITH CHANCE POPS IN THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL GENERALLY BE NEAR TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE SEASONAL AVERAGES. MLV && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 47 32 55 36 / 10 10 10 10 CTB 45 27 46 29 / 10 10 10 20 HLN 46 30 54 34 / 10 10 10 10 BZN 43 29 54 31 / 10 10 10 0 WEY 29 21 40 23 / 20 30 30 20 DLN 41 31 49 33 / 10 20 10 10 HVR 46 26 50 28 / 10 10 10 10 LWT 42 30 51 34 / 0 10 10 0 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT EASTERN GLACIER...NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT...SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT...MADISON...TOOLE. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO NOON MDT WEDNESDAY FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5000 FEET FOR NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT...SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT. && WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 1030 AM MDT TUE MAR 20 2012 MTZ009-010-044-048-211630- NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN GLACIER-TOOLE- SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT- 1030 AM MDT TUE MAR 20 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT BEGINNING AT NOON TODAY FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5000 FEET. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5000 FEET UNTIL NOON MDT WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED. REPORTS OF SNOWFALL...ICE ACCUMULATION OR SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTIONS TO VISIBILITY WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AS WELL AS REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE. MTZ015-211630- MADISON- 1030 AM MDT TUE MAR 20 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. MTZ008-011>014-045>047-049>055-211630- BEAVERHEAD-HILL-CASCADE-CHOUTEAU- CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-LIBERTY-EASTERN PONDERA- BLAINE-EASTERN TETON-JUDITH BASIN-FERGUS-JEFFERSON-BROADWATER- MEAGHER-GALLATIN- 1030 AM MDT TUE MAR 20 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MONTANA...NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
642 AM MDT TUE MAR 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM HEAVY SNOW CHINOOK 48.59N 109.23W
03/19/2012 E10.0 INCH BLAINE MT PUBLIC
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL
&&
BLANKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
822 AM MDT TUE MAR 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0806 AM HEAVY SNOW DILLON 45.22N 112.63W
03/19/2012 M6.0 INCH BEAVERHEAD MT PUBLIC
STILL SNOWING
0813 AM HEAVY SNOW 6 SSW BELT 47.30N 110.98W
03/19/2012 M12.0 INCH CASCADE MT TRAINED SPOTTER
0836 AM HEAVY SNOW HOBSON 47.00N 109.87W
03/19/2012 M8.0 INCH JUDITH BASIN MT TRAINED SPOTTER
0849 AM HEAVY SNOW 8 SE DANVERS 47.13N 109.62W
03/19/2012 E6.0 INCH FERGUS MT TRAINED SPOTTER
0925 AM HEAVY SNOW RAYNESFORD 47.27N 110.73W
03/19/2012 M7.0 INCH JUDITH BASIN MT PUBLIC
1012 AM HEAVY SNOW HAVRE 48.55N 109.67W
03/19/2012 E8.0 INCH HILL MT TRAINED SPOTTER
WINDS STARTING TO PICK UP IN SPEED
1017 AM SNOW 5 SSE GRANT 44.94N 113.03W
03/19/2012 M4.0 INCH BEAVERHEAD MT TRAINED SPOTTER
1020 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 SE LEWISTOWN 47.05N 109.41W
03/19/2012 M7.0 INCH FERGUS MT TRAINED SPOTTER
1036 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 WNW WHITLASH 48.96N 111.37W
03/19/2012 E45 MPH TOOLE MT TRAINED SPOTTER
1036 AM HEAVY SNOW 6 WNW WHITLASH 48.96N 111.37W
03/19/2012 E6.0 INCH TOOLE MT TRAINED SPOTTER
1040 AM SNOW CHESTER 48.51N 110.96W
03/19/2012 E4.0 INCH LIBERTY MT LAW ENFORCEMENT
1100 AM HEAVY SNOW GRASS RANGE 47.03N 108.80W
03/19/2012 E6.0 INCH FERGUS MT TRAINED SPOTTER
SNOW DRIFTS UP TO 3 FEET
1100 AM HEAVY SNOW 7 SE ROCKY BOY 48.18N 109.69W
03/19/2012 E12.0 INCH HILL MT TRAINED SPOTTER
NEW STORM TOTAL SNOW IS 12 INCHES
1114 AM HEAVY SNOW 5 SSE ULM 47.37N 111.48W
03/19/2012 M8.0 INCH CASCADE MT TRAINED SPOTTER
SNOW WATER EQUIVALENT 0.90 INCHES OF LIQUID
1149 AM HEAVY SNOW 11 N GRASS RANGE 47.18N 108.78W
03/19/2012 M8.0 INCH FERGUS MT TRAINED SPOTTER
VISIBILITY LESS THAN 200 YARDS. SNOW DRIFTS 5 FEET DEEP
OR MORE
1149 AM BLIZZARD 11 N GRASS RANGE 47.18N 108.78W
03/19/2012 FERGUS MT TRAINED SPOTTER
VISIBILITY LESS THAN 200 YARDS. SNOW DRIFTS 5 FEET DEEP
OR MORE
0126 PM HEAVY SNOW 3 SSE RAYNESFORD 47.23N 110.71W
03/19/2012 E12.0 INCH JUDITH BASIN MT TRAINED SPOTTER
5 FOOT DEEP SNOW DRIFTS
0215 PM HEAVY SNOW HAVRE 48.54N 109.68W
03/19/2012 E12.0 INCH HILL MT TRAINED SPOTTER
POWER OUTAGES DUE TO POWER POLES DOWN NEAR CHINOOK.
0439 PM HEAVY SNOW 5 SW BOZEMAN 45.63N 111.12W
03/19/2012 M9.0 INCH GALLATIN MT TRAINED SPOTTER
TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED 9 INCHES OF SNOWFALL IN THE
LAST 24 HOURS. LIQUID EQUIVALENT OF .54 INCHES WHEN
MELTED.
0530 PM HEAVY SNOW 11 ESE HIGHWOOD 47.53N 110.58W
03/19/2012 M26.0 INCH CHOUTEAU MT CO-OP OBSERVER
26.0 INCHES OF SNOWFALL OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AS OF
530 PM AT SHONKIN 7 S CO-OP SITE...YIELDING 1.60 INCHES
OF LIQUID PRECIPITATION EQUIVALENT. NOT SNOWING NOW.
ELEVATION 4300 FEET MSL.
0600 PM HEAVY SNOW CHINOOK 48.59N 109.23W
03/19/2012 E10.0 INCH BLAINE MT PUBLIC
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL
0630 PM HEAVY SNOW 10 E LLOYD 48.27N 109.15W
03/19/2012 E16.0 INCH BLAINE MT PUBLIC
ESTIMATED 24-HOUR SNOWFALL OF 16.0 INCHES.
0630 PM HEAVY SNOW CHINOOK 48.59N 109.23W
03/19/2012 M8.0 INCH BLAINE MT PUBLIC
ESTIMATED 24-HOUR SNOWFALL OF 8.0 INCHES.
0630 PM HEAVY SNOW 7 ENE ROCKY BOY 48.29N 109.65W
03/19/2012 E24.0 INCH HILL MT PUBLIC
ESTIMATED 24-HOUR SNOWFALL OF 2 FEET.
&&
EMANUEL3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind gust to 60 mph was reported at East Glacier Park 1E (the Two Medicine Bridge DOT site).
Sustained wind speeds of 46 mph were reported at Whitlash 8WNW for several hours.
A wind gust to 63 mph was reported at McAllister 4NNE (the Norris Hill DOT site). Also, sustained wind speed of 45 mph were reported for several hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, March 2012
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: 367019, 367021, 367020.