Strong cross barrier flow developed over the Rocky Mountain Front and Central/North-central plains as high pressure ridging aloft was flattened by subtle Pacific disturbances. Tightening of the lower level pressure gradient was observed as a strong surface high remained anchored southwest of the Divide.
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.
The episode as NWS TFX wrote it up.
Strong cross barrier flow developed over the Rocky Mountain Front and Central/North-central plains as high pressure ridging aloft was flattened by subtle Pacific disturbances. Tightening of the lower level pressure gradient was observed as a strong surface high remained anchored southwest of the Divide. These factors combined with mountain wave activity brought the final high wind event for November.
11 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
MDT Two Medicine Bridge station (1 ENE East Glacier) measured a 65 kt (75 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
The Cut Bank Airport measured a sustained wind of 35 kt (40 mph) for 1 hour.
The Cut Bank Airport measured a 62 kt (71 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
MDT Sweetgrass station measured a 57 kt (66 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
Galata station measures a 50 kt (58 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
Station at 6 NW Ledger measured a 56 kt (65 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
Station at 3 SSW Loma measured a 50 kt (58 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
Station at 9 ESE Fort Benton measured a 56 kt (65 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
Station at 8 ESE Fort Benton measured a 51 kt (59 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
MDT Two Medicine station measured a 69 kt (79 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
The Choteau Airport measured a 52 kt (60 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, November 2020
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: 927362, 927365, 927366, 927374, 927375, 927370, 927378, 927379, 927377, 927367, 927373.