Montana, 2021

High Wind in Montana, March 28 to 30, 2021

March 28 to 30, 2021 · NWS BYZ · 24 events in 23 counties and zones

A strong Pacific front swept across the Billings Forecast Area. Strong subsidence occurred behind the front.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 24 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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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
24

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 BYZ wrote it up.

A strong Pacific front swept across the Billings Forecast Area. Strong subsidence occurred behind the front. This subsidence, combined with a powerful jet stream, resulted in strong winds mixing to the surface. Many locations reported winds over 60 mph. Very little damage was reported, but some locations had a few downed power lines.

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 Billings, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 28, 1:04 PM MST, 7 hours 31 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 28, 1:04 PM MST, 7 hours 31 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
204 PM MDT Sun Mar 28 2021

.DISCUSSION...
Tonight through Monday night...

Satellite imagery shows dynamic trof off the coast of southern
British Columbia, and a stream of high clouds spreading eastward
to our area, where flat upper ridging exists. Temps at 130 pm are
mostly in the 60s and Miles City has made it to 70F. Cloud cover
may be playing a role in holding some temps down slightly. Winds
have mixed and are gusting 20-40 mph across the lower elevations.
Meanwhile in the west, Livingston continues to gust around 60 mph.
Big Timber and Harlowton are gusting in the 40s. Surface analysis
shows pressures falling around 2 mb/hr in western MT. This will
translate eastward tonight and deep lee side surface trof is
expected to have pressures below 995mb tonight...a magnitude
worthy of noting.

Main issue of course remains wind over the next 24-30 hours, and
have made no changes to the wind highlights already in effect. The
gap areas will see gusts increase and could reach 80 mph, with a
peak from midnight to 3 am. From midnight to 6 am, there is also
potential for gusty/erratic mountain wave winds to surface at Red
Lodge and Sheridan...with potential gusts anywhere from 40-70
mph. Cold front early tomorrow will bring a shift to strong NW
winds across the region. Frontal timing looks as such:
Livingston 3 am
Billings 5 am
Miles City 6 am
Sheridan & Baker 7 am

Steep low level lapse rates, w/ some convective assistance, should
allow strong mid level winds to surface at least briefly across
lower elevations early tomorrow morning. By afternoon winds will
begin to decrease in the west, while the east mixes into 45-50
knots of 850mb flow. Be ready for wind if you have plans to travel
or be outdoors tomorrow...and secure loose outdoor objects.

Temps will drop significantly behind the fropa and we should see
a brief period of rain/snow along passage of baroclinic zone late
tonight and early tomorrow, mainly over our mountains and
foothills...and upslope areas southeast of Billings. Air mass will
turn dry and more stable in our east thereafter. In our west,
instability and another weak shortwave dropping out of the north
will bring snow showers tomorrow afternoon and night. There could
be banded activity downwind of the Crazy, Belt and Snowy
Mountains. After today's very warm day, temps tomorrow will hold
mainly in the 40s. It should also be noted that dry air advecting
from the northwest will push dew points to the single digits on
Monday, resulting in humidities in the upper teens and 20s despite
the much cooler temps. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect
through tomorrow for our far east and Harding County, SD.

JKL

Tuesday through Sunday...

The extended models remain in good agreement through the week and
into Easter weekend. Forecaster confidence is increasing for well
above normal temperatures, as well as dry conditions Thursday
through Easter Sunday. However, some isolated shower activity may
creep into areas from Billings westward late on Easter, but
confidence in that is low at this time.

Tuesday will be a brisk and chilly day. A strong northwest flow
aloft, (in association with the strong upper low and cold front
that moved through early Monday), will prevail across the forecast
area. Expect gusty northwest winds during the day from about
Treasure County eastward. The main change to the extended forecast
was to increase winds across this area. These winds will then
subside after sunset.

A strong ridge of high pressure will begin to build over the
forecast area Wednesday but especially Thursday into Easter
weekend. This will bring dry conditions and well above normal
temperatures with readings in the 60s and 70s. There are
indications of the ridge breaking down late Sunday or possibly
Monday but models are having a difficult time this far out on that
scenario. Hooley

&&

.AVIATION...

VFR will prevail through most of tonight under scattered high
clouds. Expect wind gusts along the western foothills to increase
to 55-65 knots (especially at KLVM) tonight. Wind gusts east of
the foothills will range from 20-30 knots.

Pacific cold front will reach KLVM around 09z tonight, KBIL 11z,
KMLS/KSHR 12-13z. This front will bring a brief period of rain/
snow and a shift to strong W-NW winds (gusting to 50 knots).
Western mountains will become obscured in snow as the front
arrives, and areas of MVFR will impact lower elevations. VFR
should prevail in the late morning and afternoon as dry air
spreads in from the northwest. Strong NW winds will persist
through the day tomorrow.

JKL

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Mon     Tue     Wed     Thu     Fri     Sat     Sun
-----------------------------------------------------------
BIL 035/044 024/042 027/058 035/070 042/071 040/074 044/071
    33/O    20/B    00/U    00/B    00/B    00/B    12/W
LVM 029/038 021/039 025/054 031/064 040/065 040/068 041/064
    84/J    31/B    00/N    00/N    00/U    00/B    12/W
HDN 035/046 021/042 025/058 031/072 040/072 040/075 043/073
    14/O    20/E    00/U    00/B    00/B    00/B    11/B
MLS 035/045 018/037 021/055 030/071 041/069 038/073 041/072
    03/O    00/N    00/U    00/U    00/U    00/B    01/B
4BQ 035/046 019/036 022/054 031/072 041/071 040/075 043/075
    03/O    00/N    00/U    00/U    00/U    00/B    01/B
BHK 034/046 014/033 015/051 028/070 038/068 035/073 039/073
    02/O    00/N    00/U    00/U    00/U    00/B    00/B
SHR 033/043 017/036 018/051 026/069 036/068 037/071 039/069
    06/O    21/N    00/U    00/U    00/B    00/B    11/B

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...High Wind Warning in effect from 4 AM to 6 PM MDT Monday FOR
      ZONES 29>34-36-37-42-58-139-170-173-235.
     High Wind Warning in effect until 6 PM MDT Monday FOR ZONES
      40-63>66-141-172-228.
     High Wind Warning in effect from midnight tonight to 6 PM MDT
      Monday FOR ZONES 56-57-138-169-171.
     Red Flag Warning in effect until 8 PM MDT this evening FOR
      ZONE 117.
     Red Flag Warning in effect until 6 PM MDT Monday FOR ZONE
      133.
WY...High Wind Warning in effect from midnight tonight to 6 PM MDT
      Monday FOR ZONES 198-199.

&&

weather.gov/billings

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

24 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Paradise Valley

When
March 28, 8:35 PM MST to March 29, 12:25 AM MST
Where
Paradise Valley forecast zone
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.488, -110.526 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted up to 63 mph across the area. Some power outages were reported.

High Wind, Melville Foothills

When
March 28, 9:45 PM MST to March 29, 2:00 AM MST
Where
Melville Foothills forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
46.140, -109.892 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 62 mph across the area.

High Wind, Red Lodge Foothills

When
March 28, 10:05 PM MST to March 29, 12:56 AM MST
Where
Red Lodge Foothills forecast zone
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.227, -109.028 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 70 mph at Tipi Village. Power outages were reported in and around Red Lodge. A downed powerline sparked a grass fire near Luther.

High Wind, Beartooth Foothills

When
March 28, 11:22 PM MST to March 29, 11:45 AM MST
Where
Beartooth Foothills forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.742, -109.668 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 62 mph across the area.

High Wind, Northern Sweet Grass

When
March 28, 11:30 PM MST to March 29, 4:40 AM MST
Where
Northern Sweet Grass forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.814, -109.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 62 mph across the area. Power outages were reported south of Big Timber.

High Wind, Pryor/Northern Bighorn Mountains

When
March 29, 2:00 AM MST
Where
Pryor/Northern Bighorn Mountains forecast zone
Measured
71 kt (82 mph) measured gust
Reported by
RAWS
Coordinates
45.326, -108.259 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted from 72 to 82 mph.

High Wind, Northern Stillwater

When
March 29, 2:23 AM MST to 1:00 PM MST
Where
Northern Stillwater forecast zone
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.669, -109.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 63 mph across the area.

High Wind, Southeastern Carbon

When
March 29, 3:45 AM MST
Where
Southeastern Carbon forecast zone
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.326, -108.259 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 65 mph across the Belfry area.

High Wind, Golden Valley

When
March 29, 4:00 AM MST to 11:00 AM MST
Where
Golden Valley forecast zone
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
46.381, -109.175 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted 58 to 64 mph across the area.

High Wind, Southwestern Yellowstone

When
March 29, 4:10 AM MST to 10:43 AM MST
Where
Southwestern Yellowstone forecast zone
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
45.937, -108.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 63 mph across the area.

High Wind, Southern Wheatland

When
March 29, 4:58 AM MST
Where
Southern Wheatland forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
46.466, -109.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 58 mph across the area.

High Wind, Musselshell

When
March 29, 5:15 AM MST to 10:40 AM MST
Where
Musselshell forecast zone
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
46.497, -108.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted 58 to 64 mph across the area.

High Wind, Southern Big Horn

When
March 29, 6:05 AM MST to 2:23 PM MST
Where
Southern Big Horn forecast zone
Measured
62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
45.424, -107.490 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Aberdeen Hill reported a 71 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Northern Carbon

When
March 29, 9:00 AM MST to 9:15 AM MST
Where
Northern Carbon forecast zone
Measured
57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
45.227, -109.028 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 66 mph in Edgar.

High Wind, Carter

When
March 29, 9:00 AM MST to 4:11 PM MST
Where
Carter forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
45.517, -104.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 62 mph across the area.

High Wind, Northern Rosebud

When
March 29, 10:24 AM MST to 3:39 PM MST
Where
Northern Rosebud forecast zone
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
46.230, -106.731 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 63 mph in Rock Springs.

High Wind, Northern Big Horn

When
March 29, 10:45 AM MST to 12:15 PM MST
Where
Northern Big Horn forecast zone
Measured
57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.424, -107.490 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 66 mph across the Hardin area.

High Wind, Custer

When
March 29, 11:02 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where
Custer forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
46.253, -105.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 60 mph at the Miles City Airport.

High Wind, Northeastern Yellowstone

When
March 29, 12:00 PM MST to 12:45 PM MST
Where
Northeastern Yellowstone forecast zone
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
45.937, -108.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted 58 to 63 mph across the area.

High Wind, Fallon

When
March 29, 12:40 PM MST to 2:40 PM MST
Where
Fallon forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
46.334, -104.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 60 mph across the area.

High Wind, Northern Park County

When
March 29, 12:45 PM MST
Where
Northern Park County forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.488, -110.526 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 58 mph across the area.

High Wind, Treasure

When
March 29, 12:49 PM MST to 1:59 PM MST
Where
Treasure forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
46.212, -107.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 60 mph across the Hysham Hills area.

High Wind, Powder River

When
March 29, 2:27 PM MST
Where
Powder River forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.395, -105.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 60 mph across the Otter area.

High Wind, Fallon

When
March 30, 2:00 PM MST to 3:00 PM MST
Where
Fallon forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
46.334, -104.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to 58 mph across the area.

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

More

Every storm in Montana in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, March 2021

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: 947334, 947331, 947329, 947333, 947332, 947209, 947223, 947218, 947220, 947211, 947330, 947228, 947328, 947216, 947221, 947226, 947219, 947225, 947215, 947224, 947217, 947227, 947222, 947335.