High Wind and Strong Wind in Montana, October 15 to 16, 2012

Name: High Wind and Strong Wind in Montana, October 15 to 16, 2012
Start: 2012-10-15T10:30
End: 2012-10-16T12:45
Location: Montana

October 15 to 16, 2012 · NWS MSO · 17 events in 9 counties and zones

A vigorous Pacific storm system moved into western Montana, with an associated strong upper jet. Large scale lift and a surface cold front caused widespread strong surface winds and significant precipitation totals.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 13 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $67,000
Crop damage: $38,000
Events: 17

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.

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 Oct 15, 2:57 AM MST, 7 hours 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 15, 2:57 AM MST, 7 hours 33 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

11 strong wind, 4 heavy rain, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Lincoln

When: October 15, 10:30 AM MST to October 16, 10:30 AM MST
Where: Lincoln County, 13.91 mi SSW of Kootenai Falls
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.230, -115.850

The rainfall total for 24 hours was 2.10 inches. This was measured 13 miles north northeast of Heron.

Heavy Rain, Ravalli

When: October 16, 6:00 AM MST to 7:02 AM MST
Where: Ravalli County, 4 mi WNW of Victor
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.442, -114.228

A RAWS station 4 miles west northwest of Victor measured 0.31 inch rainfall in 1 hour.

Heavy Rain, Lake

When: October 16, 6:00 AM MST to 7:01 AM MST
Where: Lake County, 1 mi SSE of Swan Lake
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.907, -113.842

A spotter measured 0.34 inch rainfall in 1 hour.

Heavy Rain, Flathead

When: October 16, 9:34 AM MST to 10:34 AM MST
Where: Flathead County, Evergreen
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.220, -114.270

The AWS station in the Kalispell School District building at Evergreen measured 0.44 inch rainfall in an hour.

Strong Wind, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: October 16, 10:00 AM MST to 10:35 AM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A tree fell and blocked southbound Old Highway 93 at the intersection with West Carlton Creek Road 3 miles north of Florence.

Strong Wind, Potomac / Seeley Lake Region

When: October 16, 10:00 AM MST to 10:05 AM MST
Where: Potomac / Seeley Lake Region forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 46.986, -113.597 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind damage was reported near Seeley Lake. A tree fell over a power line near the lumber yard, 1 mile south southeast of Seeley Lake, and a tree fell across the road near the Seeley Lake community center south of town.

Strong Wind, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: October 16, 10:06 AM MST to 10:14 AM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A large construction sign was blown onto I-90 at mile marker 103, 2 miles north northwest of Missoula.

High Wind, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: October 16, 10:30 AM MST to 10:59 AM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 67 kt (77 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A wind gust of 77 mph was measured 5 miles west of Missoula by a Davis weather station. Lawn furniture weighing about 150 pounds was moved about 20 feet.

Strong Wind, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: October 16, 10:39 AM MST to 11:00 AM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The roof was torn off of a business on the south end of Hamilton by wind gusts.

Strong Wind, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: October 16, 11:00 AM MST to 11:18 AM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $7,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A tree fell on a house in Florence.

High Wind, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When: October 16, 11:10 AM MST to 11:32 AM MST
Where: Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A non thunderstorm wind gust of 57 mph was measured 7 miles west of Kalispell.

Strong Wind, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: October 16, 11:11 AM MST to 11:40 AM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $6,000
Crop damage: $10,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Power was knocked out from Hamilton to Corvallis.

Strong Wind, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When: October 16, 11:15 AM MST to 11:30 AM MST
Where: Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $4,000
Crop damage: $8,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

There were multiple reports of trees down on power lines in and around Columbia Falls. The power went out at 1130 am and was still out at 1 pm.

Strong Wind, Butte / Blackfoot Region

When: October 16, 11:15 AM MST to 11:56 AM MST
Where: Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: $4,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Multiple trees were blown down on lower Rock Creek Road near exit 126. Also a small rock slide fell on the road between mile markers 3 and 4.

Strong Wind, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When: October 16, 11:26 AM MST to 11:45 AM MST
Where: Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Power was knocked out in Arlee.

Strong Wind, Kootenai/Cabinet Region

When: October 16, 12:15 PM MST to 12:35 PM MST
Where: Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $9,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 48.171, -114.863 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

There were multiple reports of tree damage with trees on power lines and blocking some roads in and around Libby. The elementary school was with out power.

Strong Wind, Potomac / Seeley Lake Region

When: October 16, 12:30 PM MST to 12:45 PM MST
Where: Potomac / Seeley Lake Region forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 46.986, -113.597 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong wind gusts were observed in the canyons along I-90, with white caps on the Clark fork river 1 mile south southwest of Bearmouth.

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
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 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, October 2012

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 415386, 415556, 415557, 415385, 415383, 415551, 415550, 415382, 415381, 415380, 415378, 415377, 415366, 415373, 415376, 415371, 415370.