Strong West to northwesterly flow aloft persisted through the end of November as a series of shortwaves help transfer these winds to the surface. H700 winds gusted over 75 kts at times and these magnitudes were realized at the surface for locations along the Rocky Mountain Front.
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 West to northwesterly flow aloft persisted through the end of November as a series of shortwaves help transfer these winds to the surface. H700 winds gusted over 75 kts at times and these magnitudes were realized at the surface for locations along the Rocky Mountain Front. Wind damage was reported, especially in the Browning and East Glacier areas. There were also wildfires with this event, but this activity mostly occurred and will be recorded with December's records.
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 Nov 28, 4:50 AM MST, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Great Falls MT 450 AM MST Sun Nov 28 2021 ...UPDATED AVIATION SECTION... .SYNOPSIS... Strong southwest winds will spread over much of north central and central Montana this morning, with the potential for extreme winds on the Rocky Mountain Front. Lesser, but still gusty winds are expected in the southwest. Overall, winds should decrease tonight and remain fairly light into Monday. However, moisture in the flow aloft will keep a chance of precipitation in the mountains. Winds will likely increase again Tuesday into Wednesday, possibly becoming strong on Wednesday once again. && .DISCUSSION... Today through Tonight... The main concern for this period continues to be the likelihood of strong southwest winds across north central and central Montana, with less intense winds in southwest Montana. Therefore, the High Wind Warnings for these areas remain in effect through this evening. Forecast models continue to show low- to- mid level winds up to and just above ridge top level (in the 850-700 mb layer) remaining mostly in the 45 to 60 kt range, which will likely spread winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 65 mph over most of the plains. However, a strong pressure gradient is forecast to develop along the Rocky Mountain Front with ridge top winds (around 700 mb) reaching between 80 and 95 kts at times between 11 am and 5 pm. These winds would produce gusts of mostly 80 to 90 mph, but gusts could exceed 100 mph at times at some locations along the Front, where tree and property damage with isolated power outages are all quite possible. These winds will likely cause areas of reduced visibility in blowing dust as well, as the topsoil across the plains remains very dry and loose. Winds in the southwest will likely gust between 25 to 40 mph at times, mainly during the afternoon. Overall, the winds aloft and the surface pressure gradient will both weaken overnight, allowing surface winds to decrease. Otherwise, areas of mid- and high-level cloudiness will move over the area today, but a disturbance in the flow aloft will bring areas of rain and snow to the mountains of the Rocky Mountain Front, mainly tonight, where 2 to 5 inches of snow may accumulate above 7000 feet. Temperatures today and tonight will be up to 20 degrees above normal, which will approach record highs for this date for many locations. However, these warm, dry, and windy conditions will increase fire weather concerns (please see FIRE WEATHER section for details). Monday through Wednesday... The aforementioned disturbance will move southeast through the forecast area on Monday, spreading the chance for mainly mountain precipitation into central and southwest Montana. An additional 2 to 5 inches are possible in the mountains of the Rocky Mountain Front, but the central and southwest mountains will likely only receive 2 inches or less. The passage of the disturbance will help cool temperatures about 10 degrees from those today for both Monday and Tuesday. Winds aloft will strengthen Tuesday into Wednesday with a strengthening surface pressure gradient, which will cause winds to increase once again, especially over the plains. This setup looks very similar to today's, so have increased winds somewhat from what the National Blend of Models (NBM) is forecasting, but if this trend continues, they may need to be increased further, possibly causing another high wind event. Otherwise, the flow aloft will continue to move moisture over the area, keeping a chance of precipitation in the mountains. Temperatures will also warm back up to around 20 degrees above normal by Wednesday. Thursday through next Sunday... The jet stream starts to gradually shift south of the area through this period, allowing a series of weak disturbances with associated Canadian cold fronts to move through the area. This will likely bring cooler temperatures with more unsettled weather into next weekend. However, individual forecast models differ on the timing of the best potential for precipitation, so will maintain the NBM's forecast solution of the best chance for precipitation Friday into Saturday and look to fine-tune the forecast closer to the event. Temperatures should cool from around 15 degrees above normal on Thursday to between 5 and 10 degrees below normal by Sunday. -Coulston && .AVIATION... 450 AM MST Sun Nov 28 2021 (28/12Z TAF period) VFR conditions will continue through at least the next 24 hours across north central and southwest Montana. The main concern for this period will be strong southwest winds. The westerly flow aloft will increase through 18Z and remain strong through 00Z. This will cause widespread mountain wave turbulence and low level wind shear for much of the period, and this weather pattern could also produce rotor winds close to the Rocky Mountain Front. Surface winds will similarly increase through 18Z, especially over the plains, where gusts of 40 to 50 kt will be common, but gusts will likely be in the 60 to 80 kt range closer to the Rocky Mountain Front. Winds will become similarly gusty in the southwest valleys through 18Z, but gusts will mostly remain in the 25 to 40 kt range. Winds will start to decrease after 00Z, but only slightly. These winds will also likely cause areas of blowing dust over the plains, which may cause minor reduction in visibility. Otherwise, moisture in the flow aloft will keep mid- and high- level cloudiness over the area. Mid-level clouds will be more widespread along and west of the Continental Divide south into southwest Montana, which may obscure some mountain tops. Clouds will then decrease and be mostly high-level cloudiness after 18Z. -Coulston KWYS TAF will not be issued until airport operations resume next spring. Refer to weather.gov/zlc for more detailed regional aviation weather and hazard information. && .FIRE WEATHER... Strong southwest downslope winds will help warm temperatures up to 20 degrees above normal over the plains of north central Montana today, which will cause afternoon relative humidity to fall as low as 25 percent in some areas. This combination of dry and windy conditions will cause increased fire weather concerns, but the likelihood that humidity will remain above 20 percent will keep the area from reaching off-season red flag conditions. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 63 45 54 37 / 0 10 10 10 CTB 59 41 50 34 / 10 10 10 10 HLN 63 41 54 34 / 10 0 10 10 BZN 61 34 52 28 / 10 0 0 20 WYS 42 20 40 20 / 10 0 0 20 DLN 58 32 52 29 / 0 0 0 0 HVR 65 40 55 32 / 10 0 0 10 LWT 62 41 54 32 / 10 0 10 20 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning from 8 AM this morning to midnight MST tonight Blaine...Chouteau...Eastern Pondera...Eastern Teton...Fergus... Hill...Liberty...Toole. High Wind Warning until midnight MST tonight Cascade...Eastern Glacier...Judith Basin...Northern Rocky Mountain Front... Southern Rocky Mountain Front. && http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
252 AM MST SUN NOV 28 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1225 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 WSW GREAT FALLS 47.47N 111.38W
11/28/2021 M55 MPH CASCADE MT ASOS
ASOS STATION KGTF GREAT FALLS AIRPORT.
&&
PIERCEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
253 AM MST SUN NOV 28 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0230 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SE BROWNING 48.54N 112.98W
11/28/2021 M61 MPH GLACIER MT MESONET
MESONET STATION MTBWG BROWNING (MT DOT).
&&
PIERCEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
440 AM MST SUN NOV 28 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0421 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 SE EAST GLACIER PARK 48.36N 113.11W
11/28/2021 M81 MPH GLACIER MT MESONET
MESONET STATION DCRM8 DEEP CREEK RAWS.
&&
PIERCEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
522 AM MST SUN NOV 28 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0454 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ENE EAST GLACIER PARK 48.45N 113.20W
11/28/2021 M85 MPH GLACIER MT MESONET
MESONET STATION MTBRN TWO MEDICINE BRIDGE
(MT DOT).
&&
BRUSDAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
525 AM MST SUN NOV 28 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0350 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SE BROWNING 48.54N 112.98W
11/28/2021 M68 MPH GLACIER MT MESONET
MESONET STATION MTBWG BROWNING (MT DOT).
&&
BRUSDAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
541 AM MST SUN NOV 28 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0521 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 SE EAST GLACIER PARK 48.36N 113.11W
11/28/2021 M101 MPH GLACIER MT MESONET
MESONET STATION DCRM8 DEEP CREEK RAWS.
&&
PIERCE10 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
MDT Two Medicine Bridge station measured a 78 kt (90 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
Shelby Airport measured a 56 kt (64 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
Chester station measured a 51 kt (59 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
Dellwo station measured a 72 kt (83 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
KCTB measured a 64 kt (74 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gusts.
MDT Loma station measured a 51 kt (59 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
Cascade station measured a 56 kt (64 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
Goldstone station measured a 55 kt (63 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
MDT Geyser station measured a 55 kt (63 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
Delta station measured a 54 kt (62 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, November 2021
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: 994381, 994389, 994440, 994386, 994388, 994443, 994391, 994395, 994397, 994403.