High Wind in Montana, November 17, 2019

Name: High Wind in Montana, November 17, 2019
Start: 2019-11-17T00:59
End: 2019-11-17T16:00
Location: Montana

November 17, 2019 · NWS TFX · 9 events in 5 counties and zones

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 9

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.

An area of higher heights is located in the Pacific Ocean off of the west coast of California. With the associated ridge axis moving on shore, height gradients are |tightening and a westerly flow is setting up across the Treasure State. High winds develop along the Rocky Mountain Front as well as over the plains of North Central Montana. These high winds continue throughout the day on Sunday. Ridgetop winds across the Northern Rockies may exceed 60 mph. Additional downslope acceleration could favor 80 mph winds at the surface at favored locations along the Rocky Mountain Front. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph may be possible elsewhere across central/north-central Montana by this afternoon. There is a chance for some precipitation, today; however, most moisture will evaporate before reaching the ground at lower levels. The best chance for precipitation occurs over the Continental Divide, as well as the central mountain ranges.

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 Nov 16, 3:03 PM MST, 9 hours 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 16, 3:03 PM MST, 9 hours 56 minutes before

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Event by event

9 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Eastern Teton

When: November 17, 12:59 AM MST
Where: Eastern Teton forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet weather underground site - 52 Meltwater Cabin 17 WSW Bynum.

High Wind, Eastern Glacier

When: November 17, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Eastern Glacier forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

High wind gust of 59 mph measured at the St. Mary RAWS location. Time of event is estimated.

High Wind, Eastern Teton

When: November 17, 2:44 AM MST
Where: Eastern Teton forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Peak wind gust. Weather underground site - 52 Meltwater cabin 17 WSW Bynum.

High Wind, Eastern Glacier

When: November 17, 3:40 AM MST
Where: Eastern Glacier forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Measured at mesonet station 629005 2 ESE Browning.

High Wind, Cascade

When: November 17, 7:15 AM MST
Where: Cascade forecast zone
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet measured 4 E Cascade.

High Wind, Fergus

When: November 17, 7:45 AM MST
Where: Fergus forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Measured at mesonet station 4 NW Coffee Creek.

High Wind, Fergus

When: November 17, 7:52 AM MST
Where: Fergus forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public

Public reported 7 ESE Hilger.

High Wind, Chouteau

When: November 17, 9:24 AM MST
Where: Chouteau forecast zone
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet measured 14 WNW Big Sandy.

High Wind, Cascade

When: November 17, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Cascade forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Measured at mesonet station mtm76 4 E Cascade.

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, November 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 862429, 862431, 862423, 862425, 862428, 862426, 862427, 862424, 862430.