Montana, 2020High Wind and Strong Wind in Montana, March 13 to 14, 2020
March 13 to 14, 2020 · NWS MSO · 5 events in 5 counties and zones
High winds associated with a late-season arctic front and an impressive pressure gradient wreaked havoc across northwest Montana, especially in the Flathead Valley. According to the utility there, this was one of their worst wind events in several decades, with more damage observed than the Thanksgiving 2019 wind storm.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Property damage
- $131,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 5
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.
High winds associated with a late-season arctic front and an impressive pressure gradient wreaked havoc across northwest Montana, especially in the Flathead Valley. According to the utility there, this was one of their worst wind events in several decades, with more damage observed than the Thanksgiving 2019 wind storm. The high winds also contributed to several ski resort closures.
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 Mar 13, 3:02 AM MST, 7 hours 28 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 13, 3:02 AM MST, 7 hours 28 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
402 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2020
...LATE SEASON WINTER STORM TODAY THROUGH WEEKEND...
.DISCUSSION...The arctic front poised to impact the Northern
Rockies has just begun to nose its way west of the Divide
during the overnight hours. As it continues to build strength and
move further into northwest Montana this morning into this
afternoon, winds in excess of 40 mph with gusts to 50 mph will be
commonplace. Main travel corridors such as Highway 93 between
Eureka south through Flathead Lake and into the Mission valley
will see the strongest winds from this storm. Winds will gradually
weaken the further west you are (ie: Idaho/Montana border), but
will still be very blustery.
As the arctic front traverses further south through the afternoon
into tonight, west central Montana will begin to experience strong
winds. The Missoula valley, particularly near the mouth of
Hellgate Canyon, could experience a prolonged period of winds in
excess of 35 to 40 mph. Snow will also be present, as well as
quickly dropping temperatures (similar to northwest Montana).
Southwest Montana and north central Idaho will certainly feel
windy today into Saturday, but the strongest winds will largely
miss these locations.
With the arctic front in place by tonight, an influx of warm,
moist air ushering in off the Pacific Coast will create a prime
environment for snow production on Saturday. Locations such as
Clearwater and Idaho counties, and locations along the ID/MT
border, will likely pick up a few more inches of snowfall
Saturday morning. The exact placement of greatest snow amounts is
still in question, but it looks like Mineral, Missoula, and
Ravalli counties could be in this area of concern. Additional
travel impacts from snow, blowing snow, and cold temperatures will
exist well into Saturday as a result, and that goes for most - if
not all - of north central Idaho and western Montana. Additional
Winter Weather highlights may need to be issued in the future to
account for prolonged impacts.
After all is said and done, the region will then have to contend
with bitterly cold wind chill temperatures lasting through the
weekend. Precipitation will gradually diminish by Sunday, but
winds and well below normal temperatures will persist.
A gradual moderation in temperatures will take place early next
week, with no further storm systems expected through the first
half of the work week.
&&
.AVIATION... A strong arctic cold front will move into northwest
Montana today, bringing wind and blowing snow to KGPI and KMSO by
this afternoon, and KBTM by tonight. Gusts to 40 kts from the
east/northeast will be possible as a very strong surface pressure
gradient sets up west of the Continental Divide. This storm will
last through Friday into Saturday afternoon. Flight rules will
drop to IFR during periods of more intense snow/wind. Terrain will
be obscured during this period.
&&
.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Wind Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 6 AM MDT Saturday
Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys.
Winter Weather Advisory from noon today to noon MDT Saturday
Lower Clark Fork Region.
Winter Weather Advisory from 7 AM this morning to noon MDT
Saturday Flathead/Mission Valleys.
Winter Storm Warning until noon MDT Saturday West Glacier Region.
High Wind Warning from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 AM MDT Saturday
Kootenai/Cabinet Region.
Winter Weather Advisory from 7 AM this morning to noon MDT
Saturday Kootenai/Cabinet Region.
Winter Weather Advisory from noon today to noon MDT Saturday
Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.
ID...None.
&&High Wind, Flathead/Mission Valleys
- When
- March 13, 10:30 AM MST to March 14, 10:00 AM MST
- Where
- Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
- Measured
- 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $70,000
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The mesonet station FW5910, located on Lake Blaine reported multiple wind gusts to 70+ mph between 1800 and 1900MST on the 13th. Widespread wind damage was reported from along the western foothills of the Swan Range and also of the Mission Mountains. Multiple large trees fell over, and 5 power poles were snapped in half along Highway 35 from mile-markers 5, 8, 9.7 to 25. This resulted in road closure between Polson and Bigfork from 1600MST on the 13th to late morning on the 14th. Also, multiple power outages occurred in these areas that lasted well into the weekend. In this area along the eastern shore of Flathead Lake, several trees had fallen onto rooftops, and one fell on a car. A Lutheran camp, located 4 miles SE of Lakeside, reported a dozen trees down with damage to 3 cabins, a shed, and a new deck. A personal cup anemometer situated on the roof, located 8 miles east of Rollins, measured a gust to 69 mph at 1300MST on the 13th. A reporter for the Daily Interlake reported 10 large trees down near Lake Blaine. What made this wind event more difficult is that the high winds lasted longer and occurred more frequently, which made it tough for mitigation.
High Wind, West Glacier Region
- When
- March 13, 1:30 PM MST to March 14, 7:00 AM MST
- Where
- West Glacier Region forecast zone
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- Utility Company
- Coordinates
- 47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A local utility company remarked that the Red Owl area was one of the worst areas hit by the high winds. There was so much damage that it took 3 or 4 days to clear up the tree debris. They said it was difficult to mitigate during the event because there were trees falling all around them. A local said that they often get these winds coming down out of the canyon where the Red Owl Trail starts. Multiple trees had also fallen along Meadow Lake Road, Whitetail Road, and Landmark Lane downwind or west of Bear Creek Canyon. Approximately 6 trees fell across South Ferndale Road with dozens of trees down towards Highway 83. A local remarked that these were 100 year old trees that were laid down from east to west. A man was injured when a tree fell on him, near the northern part of Swan Lake.
High Wind, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys
- When
- March 13, 2:50 PM MST to March 14, 8:00 AM MST
- Where
- Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
- Measured
- 48 kt (55 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- 911 Call Center
- Coordinates
- 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Multiple trees were damaged by high winds in Missoula proper and also in the Rattlesnake area. Just before daybreak on the 14th, a 24 inch diameter tree fell onto Rattlesnake Drive, causing damage to a vehicle and blocking part of the road. A 60 to 70 foot tree snapped off about 6 feet from the base in Greenough Park, located in the Rattlesnake area, north of Missoula. Winds were gusting up to 84 mph on top of Point 6 Mountain, north of Missoula which contributed in a local ski area closing for two days straight.
High Wind, Kootenai/Cabinet Region
- When
- March 13, 5:00 PM MST to March 14, 9:00 AM MST
- Where
- Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- Utility Company
- Coordinates
- 48.171, -114.863 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Approximately 30 percent of tall spruce trees in a 20 acre swatch fell over due to the high winds at the mouth of Deep Creek Canyon, located 3 miles ENE of Fortine. Multiple trees were reported down with power outages in the following areas: Glen Lake, Grave's Creek, and Farm-to-Market Road in Whitefish. A chain-linked fence was damaged at a private residence in the Deep Creek area. Power crews were unable to mitigate initially due to the hazardous conditions.
Strong Wind, Lower Clark Fork Region
- When
- March 13, 8:00 PM MST to March 14, 8:00 AM MST
- Where
- Lower Clark Fork Region forecast zone
- Measured
- 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $500
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 47.286, -114.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Trees were reported down between mile-markers 6 and 7 on Highway 200 in Heron.
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
- 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.
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- Heavy Snow and High Wind in Idaho, March 13 to 14, 20201 injured · $301,000 · 60 kt wind · 5 events
- Damaging Wind in Texas, March 13, 2020$70,000 · 78 kt wind · 2 events
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Arizona, March 13, 2020$50,000 · 7 events
- Heavy Snow and Hail in California, March 13 to 17, 2020$750 · 0.25 in hail · 30 events
- Flash Flooding in West Virginia, March 13, 2020$28,000 · 3 events
- Winter Weather in Nebraska, March 13 to 14, 202024 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in South Dakota, March 13 to 14, 202021 events
- Tornado in New Mexico, March 13, 2020$25,000 · EF0 · 1 event
- Flooding in Missouri, March 13 to 15, 202019 events
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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: 878818, 878820, 878821, 878811, 878822.