High Wind in Montana, January 2 to 4, 2019

Name: High Wind in Montana, January 2 to 4, 2019
Start: 2019-01-02T14:59
End: 2019-01-04T19:13
Location: Montana

January 2 to 4, 2019 · NWS TFX · 14 events in 11 counties and zones

A strong surface pressure gradient combined with passing disturbances embedded within strong westerly flow aloft created the conditions for a multi-day high wind event along the Rocky Mountain Front and the north-central plains.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 14

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 TFX 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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 2, 2:33 PM MST, 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 2, 2:33 PM MST, 26 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
233 PM MST Wed Jan 2 2019

.SYNOPSIS...

High pressure over the Western United States will maintain dry
conditions across most of Montana through Friday. Strong winds
along the east slopes of the Rockies will persist and expand east
into adjacent portions of central Montana Thursday night and
Friday as the high pressure ridge weakens. Temperatures will
continue to warm to above average levels over the plains with
slower warming for the valleys of western and southwest Montana.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Tonight through Friday...

The upper level ridge over the NW US will gradually flatten over
the next several days as a series of shortwave troughs from the
Pacific move into western Canada with the associated upper level
jet sagging south into the region by Friday. Strong winds have
developed along the Rocky Mtn Front as well as eastern portions of
Glacier county primarily due to a strong pressure gradient already
in place across the Rockies as well as favorable conditions for
downslope wind enhancement. Passage of individual shortwaves and
mountain wave activity could provide some lulls in strong winds
but the overall threat for high winds will continue through Friday
and the high wind warning has been extended through Friday
afternoon. While windy conditions already exist on the plains
primarily due to the strong pressure gradient across the region,
winds will further increase late tonight and Thursday as the upper
level jet and strong flow aloft sag south into the area. A High
Wind Warning will be issued for additional portions of central MT
from Toole and Liberty counties south to Cascade and Judith Basin
Counties for Thursday and Friday where wind gusts of 55-65mph
will be possible. This is a particularly long-lived period of
strong winds across much of north-central MT. The incoming mild
airmass from the Pacific combined with downslope wind will keep
temperatures fairly mild across north-central MT with many of
these areas likely to remain above freezing through Friday
afternoon. Meanwhile cool air remains trapped in SW MT valleys and
this combined with a temperature inversion from warming aloft
will make it difficult for both winds and warmer temperatures to
penetrate, resulting in a much slower moderation in temperatures
through Friday. Hoenisch

Friday Night through Wednesday...Medium range models remain in
good agreement that Montana will not be affected by any major
weather systems during this period. Pattern continues to indicate
that precipitation will mainly impact the mountains near the
Continental Divide while the plains and lower elevation valleys
remain mostly dry. Temperatures through the entire forecast period
are expected to remain above seasonal normals with breezy to
windy conditions over the plains. Biggest differences between the
models show up Monday into Tuesday when the GFS pushes a Canadian
airmass and some light precipitation into north central Montana.
However, this is currently the only model that shows this
solution. The ECMWF, Canadian, SuperBlend and National Blend of
Models all support continuing the mostly dry and windy scenario.
As such, have kept the forecast in-line with this solution which
mirrors the previous model package and is favored for persistence.
mpj

&&

.AVIATION...
Updated 1800Z.

NW flow aloft transitions to westerly today and increases as an
upper level ridge over the region is flattened. Cloud deck at around
8000ft MSL lingers over much of SW MT but should begin to dissipate
this afternoon as drier air aloft moves into the region. Until then,
some MVFR ceilings are possible along with Mtn obscuration. To the
north, gusty SW winds and VFR conditions will prevail under
scattered high cloud-cover. Gusts in excess of 50kts become possible
this afternoon/evening along the Rocky Mtn Front and at the KCTB
terminal with gusts 35-45kts possible further east at KGTF and KHVR.
In addition to the gusty surface winds, Mtn wave turbulence and low
level wind shear will increase along the east slopes of the Rockies.
Low level wind shear may be particularly troublesome the KHLN
terminal with light winds at the surface increasing to 45kts at 6000
ft MSL. Hoenisch

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF  37  53  35  50 /   0   0   0   0
CTB  35  49  31  47 /   0   0   0   0
HLN  21  39  24  43 /   0   0   0   0
BZN   9  34  17  41 /   0   0   0   0
WEY   1  20   6  30 /  10  10  10  10
DLN  13  33  19  38 /   0   0   0   0
HVR  33  51  34  50 /   0   0   0   0
LWT  32  51  31  48 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning from 3 AM Thursday to 5 PM MST Friday
Cascade...Eastern Pondera...Eastern Teton...Judith Basin...
Liberty...Toole.

High Wind Warning until 5 PM MST Friday Northern Rocky Mountain
Front...Southern Rocky Mountain Front.

High Wind Warning until 9 PM MST this evening Central and
Southern Lewis and Clark.

High Wind Warning until 5 PM MST Friday Eastern Glacier.

&&

http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 2, 10:28 AM MST, 4 hours 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1028 AM MST WED JAN 2 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1015 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 14 W BYNUM              47.98N 112.61W
01/02/2019  M57 MPH          TETON              MT   MESONET

&&

Local storm report, Jan 2, 11:03 AM MST, 3 hours 56 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1103 AM MST WED JAN 2 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1021 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 8 SE EAST GLACIER PARK  48.36N 113.11W
01/02/2019  M88 MPH          GLACIER            MT   MESONET

&&

Local storm report, Jan 2, 12:09 PM MST, 2 hours 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1209 PM MST WED JAN 2 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1124 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SE BROWNING           48.54N 112.98W
01/02/2019  M65 MPH          GLACIER            MT   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

Local storm report, Jan 2, 1:16 PM MST, 1 hour 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
116 PM MST WED JAN 2 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0100 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  3 SW CUT BANK           48.60N 112.38W
01/02/2019  M41 MPH          GLACIER            MT   ASOS

            A SUSTAINED WIND SPEED OF 41 MPH WAS
            MEASURED FROM 1200 TO 1300.

&&

Local storm report, Jan 2, 1:31 PM MST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
131 PM MST WED JAN 2 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0121 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  8 SE EAST GLACIER PARK  48.36N 113.11W
01/02/2019  M90 MPH          GLACIER            MT   MESONET

&&

Local storm report, Jan 2, 1:35 PM MST, 1 hour 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
135 PM MST WED JAN 2 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0121 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 8 SE EAST GLACIER PARK  48.36N 113.11W
01/02/2019  M90 MPH          GLACIER            MT   MESONET

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS HIGH SUST WINDS REPORT
            FROM 8 SE EAST GLACIER PARK.

&&

Event by event

14 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Southern Rocky Mountain Front

When: January 2, 2:59 PM MST
Where: Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Station 16 WSW Bynum reported a wind gust of 66 mph.

High Wind, Southern Rocky Mountain Front

When: January 2, 6:44 PM MST
Where: Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Station 14 W Bynum reported a wind gust of 71 mph.

High Wind, Judith Basin

When: January 3, 12:58 AM MST
Where: Judith Basin forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Station 2 NW Windham reported a wind gust of 58 mph.

High Wind, Cascade

When: January 3, 4:25 AM MST
Where: Cascade forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS

KGTF ASOS reported a wind gust of 64 mph. Later that day traffic signals were not working at 15th ST N and 1rst Ave N due to a fallen tree branch.

High Wind, Madison

When: January 3, 10:44 AM MST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Station 2 SSW Cameron reported a wind gust of 64 mph.

High Wind, Chouteau

When: January 3, 5:29 PM MST
Where: Chouteau forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Station 17 WNW Big Sandy reported a wind gust of 59 mph.

High Wind, North Rocky Mountain Front

When: January 3, 11:11 PM MST
Where: North Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS

St. Mary RAWS station reported a wind gust of 57 mph.

High Wind, North Rocky Mountain Front

When: January 4, 1:07 AM MST
Where: North Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 72 kt (83 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways

MT DOT Two Medicine Bridge station reported a wind gust of 83 mph.

High Wind, Eastern Glacier

When: January 4, 10:56 AM MST
Where: Eastern Glacier forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS

Cut Bank Airport ASOS reported a wind gust of 69 mph.

High Wind, Toole

When: January 4, 12:28 PM MST
Where: Toole forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways

MT DOT Sunburst reported a wind gust of 57 mph.

High Wind, Liberty

When: January 4, 1:00 PM MST
Where: Liberty forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotter in Joplin reported a wind gust of 60 mph.

High Wind, Blaine

When: January 4, 1:00 PM MST
Where: Blaine forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS

Fort Belknap RAWS station reported a wind gust of 59 mph.

High Wind, Hill

When: January 4, 2:29 PM MST
Where: Hill forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station 17 NW Big Sandy reported a wind gust of 70 mph.

High Wind, North Rocky Mountain Front

When: January 4, 7:13 PM MST
Where: North Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways

MT DOT Browning station reported a wind gust of 80 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

Every storm in Montana in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, January 2019

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: 794840, 794841, 794839, 794800, 794842, 794836, 794784, 794787, 794789, 794792, 794793, 794799, 794797, 794781.