High Wind in Montana, March 2 to 4, 2020

Name: High Wind in Montana, March 2 to 4, 2020
Start: 2020-03-02T07:11
End: 2020-03-04T16:57
Location: Montana

March 2 to 4, 2020 · NWS TFX · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

A series of shortwaves embedded within a brisk west to northwest flow aloft kept strong winds going in the upper levels, which combined with a tight surface pressure gradient to bring a prolonged period of high winds over much of North-central and Southwest Montana. Some impacts from this event included a turned over semi along interstate 15 south of Shelby along with disruptions to traffic due…

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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 Mar 2, 4:44 AM MST, 2 hours 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 2, 4:44 AM MST, 2 hours 27 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
444 AM MST Mon Mar 2 2020

...AVIATION SECTION UPDATED...

.SYNOPSIS...

Brisk westerly flow will reside over the region through mid-week.
During this time, expect windy conditions over the northern and
central plains, with a chance of snow over the central mountains.
Generally above normal temperatures are expected across the region,
with the warmest temperatures expected toward the end of the work
week. Cooler temperatures and precipitation chances return for the
weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Today through Wednesday Night...Shortwave ridging is quickly being
replaced by an unsettled northwesterly flow aloft. This has brought
some clouds and a few snow showers along the Divide, while mostly
clear skies are being observed elsewhere. A tight pressure gradient
associated with a surface low in Canada has kept warning criteria
winds over the Rocky Mountain Front and the immediate adjoining
plains. A station near browning recorded a 76 mph wind gust earlier
and the Cut Bank ASOS peaked at 64 mph. It is anticipated that this
will continue through mid to late morning, so will leave the High
Wind Warning in effect through its noon expiration time. As the
pressure gradient relaxes, H700 winds will begin to increase. This
will keep the windy condtions going along the Front and the
Central/North-central plains through this evening but not expecting
sustained winds or gusts to exceed warning criteria at this time.
Cloud cover will be on the increase today as a disturbance
approaches the region by way of the northwesterly flow aloft.
Precipitation will initially be confined to areas along the Divide
but the disturbance may bring some snow showers to the central and
southwest mountains this evening into tonight. Lower elevations
should remain dry but a stray sprinkle/flurry can't be ruled out.
Afternoon temperatures will warm into the 40s for most location,
with lows in the 20s and 30s tonight.

Tuesday then sees lingering northwest flow aloft begin to shift to a
more westerly flow. The result will be warming temperatures, some
mountain snow showers, and continued breezy to windy conditons.
Strong winds are again possible during this time period for much of
the CWA. Confidence is only moderate and not high enough for any
wind products at this time. Another passing disturbance slides in
from the north and strengthens the westerly for Tuesday night into
Wednesday. Right now this is the time period of the expected
strongest winds and the most widespread impacts. A weak frontal
boundary with this feature could also bring more mountain snow
showers, and perhaps some scattered shower activity to the lower
elevations. Impacts from snow may be found along the Rocky Mountain
Front for Tuesday into Wednesday, especially at and above pass
level. With the mentioned front temperatures Wednesday may be
slightly cooler, but still above seasonal normals.

Thursday through Sunday...The end of the work week will see warming
temperatures and mainly dry conditions. Winds may be breezy at
times, although not quite as windy as the start of the week. Friday
looks to be the warmest day of the upcoming week with highs in the
60s for many locations in the north and central. A broad scale
trough then looks to push across the western US late in the week
possible brining a cool down and the next chances for more
widespread precipitation. A cold front with this system could
transition the precipitation into snow Saturday night into Sunday
for many locations. This system will continue to be monitored for
potential impacts to travel and those outdoors. Temperatures also go
on a cooling trend for the upcoming weekend, possibly returning to
below seasonal normals by Sunday.

&&

.AVIATION...
Updated 442 AM MST Mon Mar 02 2020 (02/12Z TAF Period)

An increasingly moist northwesterly flow aloft will keep mountain
top obscuring clouds and some snow along the Continental Divide and
over the mountains of the southwest. Ceilings are expected to
gradually lower toward MVFR levels for the central/southwest by this
afternoon and evening but precipitation should most remain over
mountain areas. Scattered low level wind shear through around 17Z
and then again after 2Z. Winds over the plains will still be quite
gusty, especially for KCTB.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF  46  34  54  37 /   0  10   0   0
CTB  44  32  49  35 /   0  10  10  20
HLN  43  31  52  34 /  10  10  10   0
BZN  40  27  49  29 /   0  20   0   0
WYS  27   4  33  15 /   0  30  30  10
DLN  39  27  45  29 /   0   0   0   0
HVR  47  30  52  35 /  10  10  10  10
LWT  42  31  47  32 /   0  10  20   0

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning until noon MST today Eastern Glacier...
Northern Rocky Mountain Front.

&&

http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 2, 1:21 AM MST, 5 hours 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
121 AM MST MON MAR 2 2020

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

1242 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SW CUT BANK           48.60N 112.37W
03/02/2020  M64 MPH          GLACIER            MT   ASOS

            ASOS STATION KCTB CUT BANK AIRPORT.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 2, 1:22 AM MST, 5 hours 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
122 AM MST MON MAR 2 2020

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

1236 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NW PENDROY            48.07N 112.33W
03/02/2020  M59 MPH          TETON              MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MTPND PENDROY (MT DOT).

&&

Local storm report, Mar 2, 2:50 AM MST, 4 hours 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
250 AM MST MON MAR 2 2020

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

0225 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SE BROWNING           48.54N 112.98W
03/02/2020  M76 MPH          GLACIER            MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MTBWG BROWNING (MT DOT).

&&

Local storm report, Mar 2, 6:33 AM MST, 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
633 AM MST MON MAR 2 2020

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

1100 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 10 NNE BOZEMAN          45.80N 110.93W
03/01/2020  M53 MPH          GALLATIN           MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION BBSLH 10.2 NE BOZEMAN
            (AVALANCHE).

0100 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 N LEDGER              48.34N 111.82W
03/02/2020  M55 MPH          PONDERA            MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MTM73 LEDGER N MDA.

0131 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 10 S CUT BANK           48.49N 112.37W
03/02/2020  M62 MPH          GLACIER            MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION EW5772 CUT BANK.

0133 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 8 NNE AUGUSTA           47.60N 112.32W
03/02/2020  M54 MPH          TETON              MT   AWOS

            AWOS STATION K1FM FOXTROT.

0140 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NNE CHOTEAU           47.83N 112.17W
03/02/2020  M51 MPH          TETON              MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION KCII CHOTEAU (GTFWFO).

0200 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 NNE AUGUSTA           47.56N 112.34W
03/02/2020  M52 MPH          TETON              MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MCBMT 5.5 NE AUGUSTA
            (MCSCN).

0211 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST SAINT MARY              48.74N 113.43W
03/02/2020  M58 MPH          GLACIER            MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION SRYM8 SAINT MARY RAWS.

0300 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 NW LEDGER             48.31N 111.93W
03/02/2020  M54 MPH          PONDERA            MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MTM05 5.8 NW LEDGER
            (MT-MESO).

0309 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 18 WSW BYNUM            47.87N 112.67W
03/02/2020  M59 MPH          TETON              MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION GSNM8 GLEASON RAWS.

0322 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ENE EAST GLACIER PARK 48.45N 113.20W
03/02/2020  M70 MPH          GLACIER            MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MTBRN TWO MEDICINE BRIDGE
            (MT DOT).

0336 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 NNW SUNBURST          48.96N 111.94W
03/02/2020  M51 MPH          TOOLE              MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MTSWT SWEETGRASS (MT DOT).

0339 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SW CUT BANK           48.60N 112.37W
03/02/2020  M64 MPH          GLACIER            MT   ASOS

            ASOS STATION KCTB CUT BANK AIRPORT.

0343 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 8 SSW WOLF CREEK        46.89N 112.11W
03/02/2020  M52 MPH          LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION 301005 SIEBEN.

0344 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 15 WNW WOLF CREEK       47.09N 112.37W
03/02/2020  M54 MPH          LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MTROG ROGERS PASS (MT DOT).

0356 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 13 S MARYSVILLE         46.56N 112.31W
03/02/2020  M57 MPH          LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MTMDP MACDONALD PASS (MT
            DOT).

0453 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 NNE CHECKERBOARD     46.72N 110.41W
03/02/2020  M50 MPH          JUDITH BASIN       MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION SFJM8 S. FORK JUDITH RAWS
            -12 NE CHECKERBOARD.

0500 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST SUNBURST                48.88N 111.90W
03/02/2020  M53 MPH          TOOLE              MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MTSUN SUNBURST (MT DOT).

0552 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 7 ESE HILGER            47.22N 109.22W
03/02/2020  M61 MPH          FERGUS             MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION JPKM8 JUDITH PEAK RAWS.

0600 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 E CASCADE             47.28N 111.62W
03/02/2020  M52 MPH          CASCADE            MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MTM76 CASCADE E MDA.

&&

Event by event

10 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Eastern Glacier

When: March 2, 7:11 AM MST
Where: Eastern Glacier forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS

The Cut Bank Airport ASOS measured a 57 kts non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind, Toole

When: March 2, 11:40 AM MST
Where: Toole forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Department of Highways

A semi was blown over on interstate 15 at 6 SSW Shelby due to strong non-thunderstorm winds. Time and location were estimated.

High Wind, Southern Rocky Mountain Front

When: March 3, 2:30 AM MST
Where: Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

A station at 6 NNE Augusta measured a 55 kt non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind, Eastern Pondera

When: March 3, 3:00 AM MST
Where: Eastern Pondera forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

A station at 5 N Ledger measured a 57 kts non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind, Broadwater

When: March 3, 8:03 AM MST
Where: Broadwater forecast zone
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

A station at 3 WNW Townsend (Ginger RAWS) measured a 65 kt non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind, Fergus

When: March 3, 11:45 AM MST
Where: Fergus forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS

A station at 1 E Roy (Oscar K1OM) measured a 53 kt non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind, Judith Basin

When: March 3, 12:31 PM MST
Where: Judith Basin forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS

A station at 6 E Geyser (Bravo K1BM) measured a 50 kt non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind, North Rocky Mountain Front

When: March 3, 6:21 PM MST
Where: North Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways

A station at Two Medicine Bridge measured a 61 kts non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind, Beaverhead

When: March 4, 4:05 PM MST
Where: Beaverhead forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

A station at 21 SW Lima (Harkness RAWS) measured a 50 kt non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind, Gallatin

When: March 4, 4:57 PM MST
Where: Gallatin forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter at 1 WNW of Belgrade measured a 50 kt non-thunderstorm wind gust.

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 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, March 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: 875689, 875690, 875692, 875691, 875695, 875694, 875693, 875688, 875697, 875696.