Strong westerly winds aloft brought high winds to the Northern Rocky Mountain Front. Wind gusts to 58 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.
Strong westerly winds aloft brought high winds to the Northern Rocky Mountain Front. Wind gusts to 58 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 9, 4:45 PM MST, 2 hours 42 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 445 PM MST FRI MAR 9 2012 .DISCUSSION... TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...EXPECT STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES TO CONTINUE TO AFFECT MUCH OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA THIS EVENING...AS A BRISK WESTERLY FLOW CONTINUES ALOFT. AFTER THE WINDS DIMINISH THIS EVENING...FAIRLY QUIET WEATHER WILL PREVAIL OVER THE REGION UNTIL SUNDAY MORNING. AN ISOLATED SHOWER WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT SATURDAY AFTERNOON/NIGHT...BUT GENERALLY DRY WEATHER WILL PREVAIL OVER THE REGION. ON SUNDAY...AN UPPER LEVEL TROF AND DISTURBANCE APPROACH WESTERN MONTANA BY MID AFTERNOON. EXPECT INCREASED CLOUD COVER AND A BETTER CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT. THE PRECIP WILL START TO SPREAD EASTWARD OUT OVER THE PLAINS DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS. IN TERMS OF TEMPERATURES...EXPECT OVERNIGHT LOWS TO BE MILD...BUT SEASONABLE FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...EXCEPT FOR THE WEST YELLOWSTONE AREA...WHERE IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE COLD AT NIGHT. AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABOVE NORMAL...BUT EXPECT A SLOW COOLING TREND FROM SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. HIGHS ON SATURDAY WILL STILL RANGE FROM 15 TO 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL AT LOWER ELEVATIONS...AND THEN COOL TO ABOUT 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL ON SUNDAY. BRUSDA SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY...SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL DOMINATE DURING THE PERIOD. MODELS BRING A WEATHER DISTURBANCE ALOFT THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA SUNDAY NIGHT WHICH WILL BE PRECEDED BY A COLD FRONT. ALTHOUGH EXPECT THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS TO SEE SNOW EXPECT ONLY A CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW FOR MUCH OF THE REST OF THE AREA. COULD SEE A REPEAT OF THE ABOVE TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY THE AIRMASS IS FORECAST TO BE RELATIVELY DRY AND IT APPEARS ABOUT THE ONLY THREAT OF PRECIPITATION WILL BE OVER THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS. ON FRIDAY SOME OF THE MODELS DEVELOP PRECIPITATION FARTHER EAST SO DECIDED TO GO WITH CLIMATOLOGICAL CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION. AS FAR AS TEMPERATURES GO..HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLER MONDAY RELATIVE TO THOSE OF SUNDAY DUE TO THE COOLER AIRMASS BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. THEREAFTER EXPECT A WARMING TREND. BLANK && .AVIATION... UPDATED 2345Z. WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL BECOME SOUTHWESTERLY WITH MOISTURE INCREASING OVER MONTANA BY LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AS SHORTWAVE ENERGY FLATTENS THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE. STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS OVER NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA WILL DIMINISH BY 03Z SATURDAY BUT WILL BECOME BREEZY AGAIN BY 18Z. VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE PERIOD. MPJ && .FIRE WEATHER... RED FLAG WARNING WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING. WIDESPREAD HUMIDITIES BELOW 20 PERCENT...AND NUMEROUS WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH CONTINUE TO AFFECT MUCH OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA THIS AFTERNOON. CONDITIONS SHOULD SLOWLY BEGIN TO IMPROVE AROUND 8 PM THIS EVENING. BRUSDA && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 39 63 35 60 / 0 0 10 10 CTB 35 57 33 54 / 0 0 10 10 HLN 34 58 33 55 / 0 0 10 10 BZN 28 56 29 55 / 0 0 0 0 WEY -4 40 5 39 / 0 0 0 10 DLN 25 52 29 49 / 0 0 0 10 HVR 36 64 33 62 / 0 0 0 10 LWT 34 58 33 56 / 0 0 0 0 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR ELEVATIONS BELOW 5000 FEET FOR BLAINE...CASCADE...CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK...CHOUTEAU...EASTERN GLACIER...EASTERN PONDERA... EASTERN TETON...FERGUS...HILL...JUDITH BASIN...LIBERTY... NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT...SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT... TOOLE. HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT MST TONIGHT EASTERN GLACIER... NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT...SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT. && WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 443 AM MST FRI MAR 9 2012 MTZ009-010-048-101145- NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN GLACIER- SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT- 443 AM MST FRI MAR 9 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. A RED FLAG WARNING...FOR LOW HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS...IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR ELEVATIONS BELOW 5000 FEET. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ANY WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS OR NEW WILD FIRES WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED. MTZ011>014-044>047-049>051-101145- HILL-CASCADE-CHOUTEAU-CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-TOOLE- LIBERTY-EASTERN PONDERA-BLAINE-EASTERN TETON-JUDITH BASIN-FERGUS- 443 AM MST FRI MAR 9 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MONTANA...NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A RED FLAG WARNING...FOR LOW HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS...IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR ELEVATIONS BELOW 5000 FEET. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ANY WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTS OF NEW WILD FIRES WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED. MTZ008-015-052>055-101145- BEAVERHEAD-MADISON-JEFFERSON-BROADWATER-MEAGHER-GALLATIN- 443 AM MST FRI MAR 9 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY 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
535 PM MST FRI MAR 09 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0140 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SW CUT BANK 48.61N 112.38W
03/09/2012 M51 MPH GLACIER MT ASOS
51 MPH WIND GUST AT THE CUT BANK AIRPORT.
&&
BRUSDAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
537 PM MST FRI MAR 09 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0310 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 WSW GREAT FALLS 47.47N 111.38W
03/09/2012 M52 MPH CASCADE MT ASOS
52 MPH WIND GUST AT THE GREAT FALLS AIRPORT.
&&
BRUSDAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
540 PM MST FRI MAR 09 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1200 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 SE EAST GLACIER PARK 48.37N 113.10W
03/09/2012 M64 MPH GLACIER MT MESONET
64 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DEEP CREEK RAWS LOCATION.
&&
BRUSDAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
542 PM MST FRI MAR 09 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0146 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 W HAVRE 48.54N 109.76W
03/09/2012 M47 MPH HILL MT ASOS
47 MPH WIND GUST AT THE HAVRE AIRPORT.
&&
BRUSDAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
543 PM MST FRI MAR 09 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1200 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 SE EAST GLACIER PARK 48.37N 113.10W
03/09/2012 M64 MPH GLACIER MT MESONET
64 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DEEP CREEK RAWS LOCATION.
0140 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SW CUT BANK 48.61N 112.38W
03/09/2012 M51 MPH GLACIER MT ASOS
51 MPH WIND GUST AT THE CUT BANK AIRPORT.
0146 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 W HAVRE 48.54N 109.76W
03/09/2012 M47 MPH HILL MT ASOS
47 MPH WIND GUST AT THE HAVRE AIRPORT.
0310 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 WSW GREAT FALLS 47.47N 111.38W
03/09/2012 M52 MPH CASCADE MT ASOS
52 MPH WIND GUST AT THE GREAT FALLS AIRPORT.
&&
BRUSDA1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind gust to 58 mph was reported at East Glacier Park 1E (the Two Medicine Bridge DOT site).
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: 367000.