Northwest flow, with a strong jet stream aloft, persisted over the Continental Divide. Strong down-slope winds were felt along the Northern Rockies and adjacent plains.
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.
Northwest flow, with a strong jet stream aloft, persisted over the Continental Divide. Strong down-slope winds were felt along the Northern Rockies and adjacent plains.
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 Dec 23, 10:45 AM MST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 1045 AM MST Mon Dec 23 2013 Aviation Section Updated. .UPDATE... Next upper level shortwave trough to move into the region is currently seen in satellite imagery moving SE into southern BC with plenty of cloud-cover and mid/hi level moisture streaming east over the northern Rockies ahead of this feature. At the surface, Cold high pressure over the Dakotas extends into eastern MT with shallow cold air still entrenched over portions of North Central MT from Cut Bank southeast to Fort Benton and points north and east from there. Sharp temperature rises have occurred this morning over areas along and west of I15 as west winds and warmer air aloft scour out the shallow cold air at this surface, and expect similar sharp temperatures rises later this morning as the west winds spread east across north central MT in response to the incoming shortwave trough and deepening low pressure over AB/SK. Radar indicates some light precip below a broad Chinook arch/Warm advection cloud shield over portions of the area. Much of this is not making it to the surface at elevations below 4000 ft, however the central MT mtns and Bridger range should see periods of snow through the day from this feature with scattered snow showers in the valleys from White Sulphur Springs south through the Gallatin Valley. Winds increase through this afternoon with strong winds likely along the Rocky Mtn Front and adjacent plains. Increasing winds will also continue to warm temperatures with most areas seeing afternoon temps about 15 degrees above seasonal averages. Have made some minor adjustments to PoP/Wx today otherwise, remainder of the forecast is in good shape. Hoenisch && .AVIATION... UPDATED 1745Z. An upper level disturbance has spread low to mid level overcast across the region with scattered snow showers mainly near higher terrain. Westerly winds will increase in speed and move across much of Central and North Central Montana throughout the period. Sheltered mountain valleys in Southwest Montana will see weaker winds near surface...however the turbulence will be present aloft. A second round of precipitation is expected over the north central plains tonight as a cold front pushes through, with clearing from the northwest early Tuesday. VFR/MVFR conditions are expected through the period with persistent mountain obscuration through Tuesday morning. PAN && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 505 AM MST Mon Dec 23 2013/ Today through Wednesday...Northwest flow aloft will persist as the area remains on the eastern flank of a west coast upper ridge. The ridge axis moves east and across the area today ahead of an upper trof that approaches western Montana tonight. A lee side trof develops this morning as strong warm advection sweeps across the area. Much warmer air will push afternoon temperatures into the 40s. The northeast corner of the county warning area will eventually see the warmer air but will remain in the 30s today. Westerly winds aloft will increase today and will be strongest along the Rocky Mountain Front. A high Wind Warning will remain for this area through tonight. The coldest air this morning remains along the eastern Hi-Line where wind chill readings are colder than -20 degrees. Hence, the wind chill advisory will continue until 8 am this morning. Isolated rain and/or showers are possible this afternoon as Pacific moisture begins to arrive ahead of the upper trof.The upper trof moves quickly across the area overnight. Scattered rain and/or snow showers will result this evening before turning to all snow after midnight. Top down analysis continues to indicate a slight chance for freezing precipitation over the northeast this evening but any effects will likely be not significant. Snow accumulations over the plains will also be light, likely an inch or less. Conditions improve Tuesday afternoon as the trof exits to the east and the ridge rebuilds over the west coast. Christmas Day will be dry. Temperatures will be 10 degrees or so above seasonal averages today but dropping back to near seasonal averages Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday night through Monday...Model solutions continue to forecast a large scale ridge of high pressure off the Pacific Coast that will slowly move inland through the week. This will be the main reason for the mild and dry conditions experienced through the remainder of the work week. Thursday morning a weak impulse of instability will drift down the edge of the ridge...however this is will likely be pushed to the east of our area by the ridge and will not have any major effect locally. The first shortwave that will move over the area is still forecast to occur early on Saturday. Have continued to increase pops for this event since multiple model runs show a similar location and timing for this event. Precipitation amounts do not look impressive or widespread at this point, with upper elevations receiving the only significant amounts. Suk && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 46 24 37 10 / 10 40 20 10 CTB 46 27 38 13 / 10 30 10 10 HLN 41 25 35 13 / 20 40 20 10 BZN 40 14 32 4 / 30 40 20 10 WEY 29 7 24 -1 / 60 70 60 10 DLN 40 18 32 8 / 10 40 10 10 HVR 37 22 34 11 / 20 40 10 10 LWT 44 25 36 13 / 30 50 20 10 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING until 11 PM MST this evening Northern Rocky Mountain Front...Southern Rocky Mountain Front. && weather.gov/greatfalls www.twitter.com/NWSGreatFalls www.facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.GreatFalls.gov
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 555 AM MST MON DEC 23 2013 MTZ009-048-241300- NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT- 555 AM MST MON DEC 23 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING UNTIL 11 PM MST TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER TONIGHT IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED FOR ANY REPORTS OF WIND GUSTS OR WIND DAMAGE. MTZ011-013-045-047-241300- HILL-CHOUTEAU-LIBERTY-BLAINE- 555 AM MST MON DEC 23 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM MST THIS MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. MTZ008-010-012-014-015-044-046-049>055-241300- BEAVERHEAD-EASTERN GLACIER-CASCADE- CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-MADISON-TOOLE- EASTERN PONDERA-EASTERN TETON-JUDITH BASIN-FERGUS-JEFFERSON- BROADWATER-MEAGHER-GALLATIN- 555 AM MST MON DEC 23 2013 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 TONIGHT IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
24 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
High winds measuring 56KT (65MPH) were reported 1 mi E of East Glacier Park, MT at the Two Medicine Bridge DOT sensor.
High winds measuring 50KT (58MPH) were reported 21 mi SE of Cascade, MT at the Millegan sensor.
High winds measuring 53KT (61MPH) were reported 6 mi SE of Jackson, MT at the Big Hole Pass DOT sensor.
High winds measuring 59KT (68MPH) were reported 11 mi E of Bozeman, MT.
High winds measuring 55KT (63MPH) were reported 1 mi E of East Glacier Park, MT at the Two Medicine Bridge DOT sensor.
High winds measuring 55KT (63MPH) were reported 1 mi E of East Glacier Park, MT.
High sustained winds measuring 36KT (42MPH) were reported 13 mi W of Bynum, MT at the Dellwo site.
High winds measuring 55KT (63MPH) were reported 13 mi W of Bynum, MT.
High winds measuring 51KT (59MPH) were reported 21 mi SE of Cascade, MT at the Millegan sensor.
High winds measuring 56KT (65MPH) were reported 1 mi E of East Glacier Park, MT at the Two Medicine Bridge DOT sensor.
High winds measuring 56KT (65MPH) were reported 13 mi W of Bynum, MT at the Dellwo site.
High winds measuring 50KT (58MPH) were reported 6 mi WNW of Browning, MT at the Starr-Browning Airstrip.
High winds measuring 66KT (76MPH) were reported 24 mi WSW of Choteau, MT.
High sustained winds measuring 37KT (43MPH) were reported 14 mi NNW of Joplin, MT. Peak sustained wind was 42KT (48 MPH).
High sustained winds measuring 35KT (40MPH) were reported 8 mi WNW of Whitlash, MT.
High sustained winds measuring 39KT (45MPH) were reported 21 mi SE of Cascade, MT at the Millegan sensor.
High sustained winds measuring 37KT (43MPH) were reported at the Cut Bank, MT ASOS.
High winds measuring 53KT (61MPH) were reported 21 mi SE of Cascade, MT at the Millegan sensor.
High winds measuring 56KT (65MPH) were reported 9 mi E of Ferdig, MT.
High winds measuring 50KT (58MPH) were reported 13 mi W of Bynum, MT at the Dellwo site.
High sustained winds measuring 36KT (42MPH) were reported 8 mi WNW of Whitlash, MT, at the Sunburst DOT sensor.
High winds measuring 64KT (74MPH) were reported 8 mi SE of East Glacier Park, MT at the Deep Creek RAWS.
High sustained winds measuring 37KT (42MPH) were reported 6 mi NE of Whitlash, MT.
High winds measuring 54KT (62MPH) were reported at the Cut Bank, MT ASOS.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, December 2013
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: 490570, 490571, 490572, 490573, 490968, 490578, 490969, 490576, 490967, 490970, 490971, 490972, 490973, 490963, 490579, 490581, 490964, 490974, 490975, 490976, 490978, 490977, 490980, 490981.