On January 13, 2021, a particularly strong wind event impacted the entire Billings Forecast Area with strong, damaging winds, not only along the foothills (where strong winds are common), but also across the lower elevations of south central and southeast Montana, as well as northern Wyoming. These strong winds were associated with a cold frontal passage and lasted for several hours.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 BYZ wrote it up.
On January 13, 2021, a particularly strong wind event impacted the entire Billings Forecast Area with strong, damaging winds, not only along the foothills (where strong winds are common), but also across the lower elevations of south central and southeast Montana, as well as northern Wyoming. These strong winds were associated with a cold frontal passage and lasted for several hours.
The arrival of a Pacific cold front on the 13th was followed by a period of subsidence and very strong winds across the lower elevations. Aloft, a strong northwesterly oriented jet stream was driving through the northern Rockies, resulting in strong winds at mountain top level. In addition, the cold front also produced light shower activity which enhanced the gustiness of the surface winds. The combination of all these ingredients resulted in the very strong winds. Westerly, wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph were common, and gusts exceeded 90 mph at some mountain sites. Sheridan Airport reported a gust of 67 mph which was the 4th highest January gust. (Please see event summary for south central and southeast Montana for details of this event).
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 Jan 13, 10:07 AM MST, 2 hours 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Billings MT
1007 AM MST Wed Jan 13 2021
.UPDATE...
Minor update to go with latest wind gust guidance. Leaned toward
the 12z HRRR with this forecast which increased wind gusts in many
areas by 5 to 10 mph. This seems reasonable given the upstream
winds being reported from areas west of the divide in the 60 to 80
mph range. Timing of strongest winds from Columbus to the west
will get going shortly and last into the mid afternoon hours. For
central locations including Billings the strongest winds arrive
early this afternoon and will last into early this evening. SE
Montana is looking at a late afternoon arrival and persisting into
the overnight hours. 60-80 mph gusts look to be widespread and
will last 4 to 8 hours once they get going. Can't stress enough
how this is not like a typical windy Montana day, these winds will
likely do damage to property and power outages are a distinct
possibility. Make any last minute preparations to secure property
or get to your destination before the onset of these strong winds
over the next few hours.
Latest wind gust reports show 80+ mph around Nye, 75 mph in
Livingston, close to 50 mph in Red Lodge. Reports in the Beartooth
mountains in the 75-80 mph range at this time. Chambers
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Today through Thursday night...
Severe to Extreme wind event (gusts 70 to 85 mph) continues to be
well advertised by the models, with strong winds increasing over
western foothills areas early this morning, spreading east today
as a strong Pacific jet pushes a cold front through the area.
Winds on Thursday will subside some over western areas, but remain
severe over areas from Billings east into the Dakotas into
Thursday evening. Unlike our usual wind events, these strong winds
will persist during the overnight hours, and in fact some areas
will see their strongest winds overnight tonight.
Winds have already been gusting near 70 mph at times near
Livingston with tight surface pressure gradients and increasing
winds aloft. Winds aloft will increase through the day, exceeding
80 kts for some areas at 700 mb, as the aforementioned cold front
drops through the area during the afternoon and evening. Winds
will spread east from the foothills by mid day, making it to
southeastern areas by the evening. Steep lapse rates by the
afternoon and significant pressure rises will allow winds to mix
down and gust in the 50 to 70 mph range for most areas, with
higher gusts near the western foothills. The very strong winds
will continue into the evening and overnight hours with strong
pressure rises and steep lapse rates continuing. Winds will begin
to weaken some Thursday morning over areas west of Billings, but
mixing of strong northwest winds behind the front will keep gusts
of 50 to 65 mph going for areas Billings east into the afternoon
and evening hours. Wind highlites remain the same, with the
exception of adding the Paradise Valley to the High Wind Warning.
Along with the wind, the strong cold front will bring rain and
snow showers, with the greatest chances over the mountains.
Several inches of snow are possible in the Beartooth/Absaroka and
Crazy mountains (4 to 8 inches, greatest on western facing
slopes), with a few inches in the Pryor and Bighorn mountains.
Given the extreme winds in the mountains, whiteout conditions are
possible at times. Thus, have continued the Winter Storm Warning
and Winter Weather Advisory in effect for these areas.
Impacts from this extreme wind storm will include tree/power line
damage, dangerous winter conditions in the mountains, dangerous
travel for high profile vehicles and those towing trailers,
property damage from construction projects and loose objects
becoming airborne, poor visibility from blowing dust in spots,
grass fire starts from power line damage, rapid spread of any
fires that do start. Chambers/STP
Friday through Wednesday...
Positively tilted ridge nudges into the area on Friday but is
flattened as a wave moves into it from the west. This combination
does wield a window of favorable conditions for gap flow winds
Friday afternoon and evening and have increased wind speeds for
those areas. Temperatures across the western half of the area
rebound to the 40s while southeast MOntana will be much cooler and
in the lower 30s along the MT/Dak border.
The wave brings a front across the area Friday night and this
brings a round of fast moving showers to the area so do not expect
accumulations even in the foothills. Saturday afternoon another
weak ridge moves into the area from the west lingering into Sunday
before over the area before a stronger wave crashes it down from
the northwest on Sunday night into Monday. This stronger system
has a better chance of bringing some moisture and cooler
temperatures but is followed by another ridge on Tuesday so no
real strong cool down expected...yet. borsum
&&
.AVIATION...
A major wind event will develop over the region today as a strong
jet stream brings wind gusts of at least 50kts to the entire
region. Foothills areas this morning will continue to gust to
65kts a times and remain at those levels through the day. Other
concerns along with the winds are brief showers lowering
visibility as a front moves through the area this afternoon and
evening. Blowing dust obscuring visibility this afternoon and
evening may become widespread as the event persists. Mountains
will be obscured in clouds and snow today. borsum/RMS
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...
Tdy Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
-------------------------------------------------------
BIL 058 033/042 022/044 032/045 027/045 033/043 028/043
2/W 10/N 00/B 11/B 03/S 42/S 21/B
LVM 052 029/037 019/045 030/042 026/044 030/039 024/041
5/W 20/N 01/N 10/B 03/S 42/S 11/N
HDN 061 031/043 019/044 027/045 022/045 028/044 024/045
2/W 11/N 00/B 21/B 04/S 43/S 21/B
MLS 058 028/041 018/036 022/041 021/040 027/039 023/042
2/W 20/N 00/B 11/B 03/S 43/S 11/B
4BQ 058 029/039 020/037 024/039 022/041 027/038 023/040
3/W 31/N 00/N 11/B 02/S 44/S 21/B
BHK 056 026/038 016/032 016/038 018/038 023/037 020/039
2/W 21/N 00/N 01/B 02/S 43/S 11/B
SHR 057 027/038 017/041 025/039 018/041 023/038 019/040
3/W 52/J 00/B 22/S 02/S 44/S 21/B
&&
.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...High Wind Warning in effect until 6 PM MST Thursday FOR ZONES
29-30-34-40-42-57-63>66-138-139-141-169-170-172-173-228-235.
High Wind Warning in effect until midnight MST Thursday night
FOR ZONES 31>33-36-37-58.
High Wind Warning in effect until 6 AM MST Thursday FOR ZONE
56.
Winter Storm Warning in effect until 6 AM MST Thursday FOR
ZONES 67-68.
Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 6 PM MST Thursday FOR
ZONE 171.
WY...High Wind Warning in effect until 6 PM MST Thursday FOR ZONE
199.
Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 6 PM MST Thursday FOR
ZONE 198.
&&
weather.gov/billingsPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Billings, MT
946 AM MST Wed Jan 13 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WSW Livingston 45.65N 110.60W
01/13/2021 M68.00 MPH Park MT Dept of Highways
&&
CarrothersPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Billings, MT
1013 AM MST Wed Jan 13 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0907 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 12 SE Emigrant 45.27N 110.54W
01/13/2021 M63.00 MPH Park MT Mesonet
0912 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 17 NE Wilsall 46.16N 110.38W
01/13/2021 M64.00 MPH Park MT Mesonet
0913 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 ENE Livingston 45.69N 110.50W
01/13/2021 M62.00 MPH Park MT Dept of Highways
0922 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 W Fishtail 45.46N 109.57W
01/13/2021 M64.00 MPH Stillwater MT Mesonet
0935 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 13 SSW Greycliff 45.58N 109.85W
01/13/2021 M63.00 MPH Sweet Grass MT Mesonet
&&
CarrothersPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Billings, MT
1105 AM MST Wed Jan 13 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 9 SE Melville 46.00N 109.84W
01/13/2021 M63.00 MPH Sweet Grass MT Mesonet
0615 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 N Rapleje 46.04N 109.24W
01/13/2021 M66.00 MPH Stillwater MT Mesonet
0730 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 7 S Reedpoint 45.61N 109.56W
01/13/2021 M58.00 MPH Stillwater MT Mesonet
0914 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 ENE Livingston 45.69N 110.50W
01/13/2021 M62.00 MPH Park MT Dept of Highways
0949 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 S Roscoe 45.34N 109.49W
01/13/2021 M55.00 MPH Carbon MT Dept of Highways
0954 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 WSW Nye 45.41N 109.87W
01/13/2021 M60.00 MPH Stillwater MT Mesonet
1000 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WSW Livingston 45.65N 110.60W
01/13/2021 M62.00 MPH Park MT Dept of Highways
1005 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 12 S Ridgeway 45.31N 104.47W
01/13/2021 M53.00 MPH Carter MT Dept of Highways
1007 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 12 SE Emigrant 45.27N 110.54W
01/13/2021 M51.00 MPH Park MT Mesonet
1012 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 17 NE Wilsall 46.16N 110.38W
01/13/2021 M52.00 MPH Park MT Mesonet
1015 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 WSW Red Lodge 45.16N 109.36W
01/13/2021 M61.00 MPH Carbon MT Mesonet
1015 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 E Columbus 45.62N 109.10W
01/13/2021 M54.00 MPH Stillwater MT Mesonet
1018 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 17 S Fort Smith 45.07N 107.89W
01/13/2021 M63.00 MPH Big Horn MT Mesonet
1022 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 W Fishtail 45.46N 109.57W
01/13/2021 M59.00 MPH Stillwater MT Mesonet
&&
RMSPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Billings, MT
1111 AM MST Wed Jan 13 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WSW Livingston 45.65N 110.60W
01/13/2021 M63.00 MPH Park MT Dept of Highways
1035 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 13 SSW Greycliff 45.58N 109.85W
01/13/2021 M51.00 MPH Sweet Grass MT Mesonet
1039 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 WSW Nye 45.41N 109.87W
01/13/2021 M51.00 MPH Stillwater MT Mesonet
1053 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 ENE Livingston 45.70N 110.45W
01/13/2021 M72.00 MPH Park MT ASOS
&&
RMSPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Billings, MT
1149 AM MST Wed Jan 13 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1028 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 ENE Livingston 45.69N 110.50W
01/13/2021 M63.00 MPH Park MT Dept of Highways
1057 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Judith Gap 46.69N 109.75W
01/13/2021 M58.00 MPH Wheatland MT Dept of Highways
1059 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WSW Livingston 45.65N 110.60W
01/13/2021 M63.00 MPH Park MT Dept of Highways
1100 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 NNW Cooke City 45.07N 109.96W
01/13/2021 M54.00 MPH Park MT Mesonet
1104 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NW Burgess Junction 44.79N 107.54W
01/13/2021 M60.00 MPH Sheridan WY Mesonet
1105 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Judith Gap 46.69N 109.75W
01/13/2021 M62.00 MPH Wheatland MT Dept of Highways
1110 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 11 S Livingston 45.50N 110.57W
01/13/2021 M58.00 MPH Park MT Mesonet
1110 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 ENE Harlowton 46.45N 109.80W
01/13/2021 M63.00 MPH Wheatland MT Mesonet
1112 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 17 NE Wilsall 46.16N 110.38W
01/13/2021 M76.00 MPH Park MT Mesonet
1113 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 12 SW Belfry 45.01N 109.19W
01/13/2021 M63.00 MPH Carbon MT Public
1118 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 17 S Fort Smith 45.07N 107.89W
01/13/2021 M60.00 MPH Big Horn MT Mesonet
1140 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SSW Big Timber 45.81N 109.98W
01/13/2021 M63.00 MPH Sweet Grass MT AWOS
&&
CarrothersPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Billings, MT
1152 AM MST Wed Jan 13 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1000 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 12 S Columbus 45.47N 109.26W
01/13/2021 M65.00 MPH Stillwater MT Mesonet
&&
CarrothersThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Winds gusted to 74 mph just northwest of Ranchester.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, January 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: 936145.