Strong Wind in Montana, January 4, 2020

Name: Strong Wind in Montana, January 4, 2020
Start: 2020-01-04T07:00
End: 2020-01-04T18:30
Location: Montana

January 4, 2020 · NWS MSO · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A cold front brought strong winds to Northwest Montana particularly in the afternoon hours.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $6,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

A cold front brought strong winds to Northwest Montana particularly in the afternoon hours.

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 Jan 4, 4:01 AM MST, 2 hours 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 4, 4:01 AM MST, 2 hours 59 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
401 AM MST Sat Jan 4 2020

.DISCUSSION...A strong cold will move into the Northern Rockies a
little after daybreak. It will bring with it numerous snow showers
and strong gusty winds. Nothing has really changed since yesterday
in terms of the forecast. There is still the chance that damaging
winds will mix down to a few places where high wind warnings have
been hoisted. Snow showers will persist in the mountains later
today and tonight. The atmosphere will moisten up a little bit
more by Sunday afternoon to bring more snow showers to the area.

This active weather pattern will continue over the Northern
Rockies for the foreseeable future. A disturbance will move
through the region Sunday night into Monday kicking off another
round of precipitation especially for the higher terrain along the
Montana/Idaho border. Once again strong winds will be over the
region causing blowing snow in the higher terrain. Uncertainty
lies on how much wind will be able to mix to the valleys floors by
Monday afternoon.

After the passage of this system, the Northern Rockies will be
under northwesterly flow. Portions of north central Idaho into
northwest Montana could experience fairly steady snow through at
least mid week. Lookout Pass has the potential to experience snow
starting Sunday night with minimal breaks until the end of the
work week. Snow accumulations by the end of the week could be in
the feet for the mountains along the Montana/Idaho border.

A significant trough of low pressure is anticipated to dig over
the western half of the United States by the latter part of the
work week. This trough has the potential to bring in arctic air
into the Northern Rockies. The models diverge slightly on the
strength and timing of this cold air, but anticipated colder
temperatures by Thursday or Friday. This cold air appears to
linger well into the following week.

&&

.AVIATION...The big impact for terminals will be increasing
strong southwest-west winds at all terminals developing by
04/1700Z this morning. Sustained winds 25-35 knots with gusts up
to 40-45 knots are possible at KGPI and KMSO between 04/1700z and
04/2200z. Sustained winds 15-20 knots with gusts up to 35 knots
are expected between 04/1700z and 04/2200z. Also snow showers
combined with the strong winds will bring localized white-out
conditions at times especially this morning. Snow showers will
continue in the mountains tonight through Sunday. Snow will be
possible at GPI and SMN on Sunday.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Wind Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 11 PM MST this evening
     Butte/Blackfoot Region.

     Wind Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 11 PM MST this evening
     Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains...Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys.

     Wind Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 11 PM MST this evening
     Lower Clark Fork Region...Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.

     Wind Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 11 PM MST this evening
     Flathead/Mission Valleys.

     High Wind Warning from 8 AM this morning to 11 PM MST this
     evening West Glacier Region.

     High Wind Warning from 8 AM this morning to 11 PM MST this
     evening Kootenai/Cabinet Region.

ID...None.
&&

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, West Glacier Region

When: January 4, 7:00 AM MST to 6:30 PM MST
Where: West Glacier Region forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong wind gusts to 50 miles per hour in the valleys and to 70 miles per hour on the terrain were observed. Several areas experienced power outages including a stretch of US Highway 2 from West Glacier to Essex, as well as in the town of Hungry Horse, and the south end of Swan Lake.

What these are

Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, January 2020

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: 866926.