High Wind in Montana, March 29 to 30, 2021

Name: High Wind in Montana, March 29 to 30, 2021
Start: 2021-03-29T01:10
End: 2021-03-30T16:19
Location: Montana

March 29 to 30, 2021 · NWS GGW · 13 events in 13 counties and zones

A strong and pronounced cold front from the Canadian Rockies swept through the region with a strong jet stream loft. Scattered rain and snow showers aided in mixing these winds all the way down to the surface for many locations across northeast Montana.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 13 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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 GGW 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 Glasgow, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 28, 7:31 PM MST, 5 hours 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 28, 7:31 PM MST, 5 hours 39 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Glasgow MT
831 PM MDT Sun Mar 28 2021

.DISCUSSION...
EVENING UPDATE:
Relative humidity is recovering over the area and gusty winds are
diminishing and turning more south. The Red Flag Warning was
allowed to expire this evening. Relative humidity through tonight
ahead of a cold front, expected Monday morning, were updated to be
more representative of the exceptionally dry conditions
experienced today. Also slightly adjusted POPs and QPF this
evening, although no significant change in general. Rux

AFTERNOON UPDATE:
General forecast story remains intact from this
morning, with relatively minor changes made this afternoon. While
precipitation accumulation potential has backed off just a bit
across central and southern portions of the region, high winds for
tomorrow remain the dominant hazard for the forecast period,
followed by a gradual warmup through the first half of the week
and then continued seasonal conditions thereafter.

Cliff

PREVIOUS DISCUSSION:
...High Fire Danger Today, High Winds with Convective Rain and
Snow Showers Tonight into Monday with Falling Temperatures...

Warm and dry weather conditions with low relative humidity as well
as gusty west winds will lead to high fire danger across the
region for today. While this is the immediate near term concern,
highlighted by the Red Flag Warning in place, there are growing
challenges for Monday as well.

High resolution ensemble guidance lends increasing support for
high wind concerns for NE Montana tonight into Monday as cold air
advection gets underway, especially for higher terrain areas but
lower elevations will see strong to high winds as well. Any rain
and snow showers will also help mix down the strong winds. To the
extent this convective precipitation falls as snow, visibility
could become reduced at times, leading travel difficulties.

As temperatures fall Monday and Monday night into the 20s and
teens, wet surfaces may become icy. This may elevate travel
concerns across the area. Additionally, the strong winds, falling
temperatures, and potential for wet weather may impact newborn
livestock.

Cool and dry weather conditions are expected on Tuesday before
longer term ensembles point to recovering temperatures late in
the week.

&&

.AVIATION...
LLWS: Wind shear likely tonight where wind speeds at the surface
begin to decrease slightly and strong upper level winds push
through the region. Expect westerly winds to increase up to 55kts
over the lowest 2000ft AGL through 14Z.

Expected Flight Category: VFR

Synopsis: A cold front will push through the region overnight,
bringing a chance for some light rain or a mixture of rain and
snow through tomorrow. Accumulations do not seem to be likely at
this time. The major concerns at this time look to be wind-
related.

Winds: Southwest overnight, back to west-northwest tomorrow.
Speeds the rest of the day will continue to be in the 15-25kt
range with gusts up to 40kts at times. For tomorrow, winds will be
much stronger, with 25-35 kt winds and gusts 50-60 kts possible
tomorrow afternoon.

Cliff/Rux

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
On Monday, strong to high winds are expected with the passage of
the front. As such, fire weather concerns may remain elevated.
However, increased cloud cover, rain and snow showers in the area,
and overall higher relative humidity may reduce the threat for
new fire starts - at least comparative to the concerns in place
for Sunday. That said, conditions will continue to be monitored.

&&

.GLASGOW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning from 3 AM to 8 PM MDT Monday for Central and
Southeast Phillips...Central and Southern Valley...Daniels...
Dawson...Eastern Roosevelt...Garfield...McCone...Northern
Phillips...Northern Valley...Petroleum...Prairie...Richland...
Sheridan...Southwest Phillips...Western Roosevelt...Wibaux.

&&

weather.gov/glasgow

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Little Rocky Mountains

When: March 29, 1:10 AM MST to March 30, 2:48 AM MST
Where: Little Rocky Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 48.259, -107.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At multiple sites in Southwestern Phillips County, periods of sustained winds of at least 40 mph and/or wind gusts of at least 58 mph were occasional from the early morning on the 29th into the early morning on the 30th, but were mainly focused from the late morning through the afternoon of the 29th. Peak wind gusts of 71 mph were recorded from 3:00 AM to 3:01 AM MST at the Malta South US-191 DOT site (MTMAL).

High Wind, Garfield

When: March 29, 4:08 AM MST to 3:48 PM MST
Where: Garfield forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.278, -106.993 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At multiple locations across Garfield County, periods of sustained winds of at least 40 mph and/or wind gusts of at least 58 mph were occasional from the morning through the afternoon on the 29th. The peak wind gusts of 64 mph were recorded multiple times from 10:48 AM to 1:48 PM MST at the Jordan airport ASOS site (KJDN).

High Wind, Wibaux

When: March 29, 6:32 AM MST to March 30, 4:19 PM MST
Where: Wibaux forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 46.965, -104.249 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At the Beaver Hill I-94 DOT site (MTBVR), periods of sustained winds of at least 40 mph were occasional from the morning on the 29th through the afternoon on the 30th, but were mainly focused from the afternoon through the night of the 29th. Peak wind gusts of 73 mph were recorded multiple times during the afternoon of the 29th.

High Wind, Central and Southern Valley

When: March 29, 9:44 AM MST to 4:45 PM MST
Where: Central and Southern Valley forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At multiple sites in Central and Southern Valley County, periods of sustained winds of at least 40 mph and/or wind gusts of at least 58 mph were occasional from the morning into the afternoon on the 29th. The peak wind gust of 64 mph was recorded from 1:18 PM MST at the Glasgow airport ASOS site (KGGW).

High Wind, Central and Se Phillips

When: March 29, 9:55 AM MST to 4:35 PM MST
Where: Central and Se Phillips forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 48.259, -107.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At the Malta airport AWOS site (KM75), periods of sustained winds of at least 40 mph and/or wind gusts of at least 58 mph were occasional from the morning through the afternoon on the 29th. The peak wind gust of 59 mph was recorded at 12:35 PM MST.

High Wind, Dawson

When: March 29, 10:45 AM MST to March 30, 2:30 PM MST
Where: Dawson forecast zone
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.266, -104.899 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At multiple locations across Richland County, periods of sustained winds of at least 40 mph were occasional from the late morning on the 29th into the afternoon on the 30th, but were mainly focused during the afternoon on the 29th. The peak wind gust of 67 mph was recorded at 12:45 PM MST at the mesonet site near Hoyt (MTM28).

High Wind, Richland

When: March 29, 10:47 AM MST to 11:24 PM MST
Where: Richland forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 47.788, -104.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At multiple locations across Richland County, sustained winds of at least 40 mph were common from the late morning through the late night of the 29th. The peak wind gust of 63 mph was recorded at the Sioux Pass MT-16 DOT site (MTSOO).

High Wind, McCone

When: March 29, 11:20 AM MST to 5:48 PM MST
Where: McCone forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 47.645, -105.795 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At multiple locations across McCone County, sustained winds of at least 40 mph and/or wind gusts of at least 58 mph were measured from mid day into the evening of the 29th. The peak wind gust of 63 mph was recorded at the Cow Creek MT-13 DOT site (MTCOW).

High Wind, Prairie

When: March 29, 11:49 AM MST to 3:30 PM MST
Where: Prairie forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.861, -105.378 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At the BLM Terry mesonet site (MTM29), sustained winds of at least 40 mph and or gusts of at least 58 mph were common for about four hours during the mid day and afternoon of the 29th. The peak wind gust of 66 mph was recorded 3:00 PM MST.

High Wind, Western Roosevelt

When: March 29, 12:20 PM MST to 7:42 PM MST
Where: Western Roosevelt forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 48.295, -105.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At multiple locations across Western Roosevelt County, sustained winds of at least 40 mph were common from mid day into the evening on the 29th, while stronger gusts were more common in the early evening on the 29th. The peak wind gusts of 61 mph were recorded from 5:41 PM to 5:46 PM MST at the McDonalds MT-13 DOT site (MTMCD).

High Wind, Sheridan

When: March 29, 12:27 PM MST to March 30, 4:31 AM MST
Where: Sheridan forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.721, -104.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At multiple locations across Sheridan County, sustained winds of at least 40 mph were common from the afternoon of the 29th into the early morning of the 30th. The peak wind gust of 64 mph was recorded at the Plentywood mesonet site from 3:50 PM to 4:48 PM MST.

High Wind, Daniels

When: March 29, 12:39 PM MST to 10:42 PM MST
Where: Daniels forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 48.784, -105.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At the Navajo MT-5 DOT site (MTRED), sustained winds of at least 40 mph were common at least each hour during the afternoon and evening, and again during the late night. The peak wind gust of 65 mph was measured at 6:31 PM MST.

High Wind, Northern Valley

When: March 29, 4:44 PM MST
Where: Northern Valley forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At the Bluff Creek RAWS site (BLUM8), all sustained winds were less than 40 mph, but a single peak wind gust of 59 mph was recorded at 4:44 PM MST.

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 2021 Every state in 2021 This day in weather history Warnings 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: 951177, 951166, 951081, 951183, 951172, 951074, 951038, 951162, 951160, 951168, 951027, 951013, 951179.