A Pacific front kicked off a period of strong winds across Central and North-central Montana late day June 3. The initial period of stronger winds was attributed to mountain wave activity along and adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Front.
Every event with a place to put it; 26 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 TFX wrote it up.
A Pacific front kicked off a period of strong winds across Central and North-central Montana late day June 3. The initial period of stronger winds was attributed to mountain wave activity along and adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Front. A second surge of robust westerly flow just off the surface developed Tuesday the 4th, lasting into the overnight. Daytime mixing helped with translating gusts to the surface during the day on the 4th, with mountain waves taking over as the mechanism by nighttime. Winds subsided by the morning of the 5th.
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 Jun 3, 1:07 PM MST, 1 hour 42 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Great Falls MT 207 PM MDT Mon Jun 3 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Scattered rain showers continue and a few thunderstorms this evening across Central and Southwest Montana with primary concern being gusty winds. Strong winds tonight through Wednesday. Dry conditions and warm afternoon high temperatures Thursday into the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Rest of today through Wednesday night...Upper level troughing continues across the state today bringing unsettled weather conditions through tomorrow. A cold front from the Pacific Northwest continues to move across the state this evening. Scattered light rain showers across Central and Southwest Montana, and along the Rocky Mountain Front continues through this evening. A few thunderstorms have potential to develop this evening across Southwest Montana from a Bozeman to Lewistown line into Central Montana as the front pushes through. Primary concerns for any developed thunderstorms are gusty winds. Scattered rain shower and thunderstorm activity diminishes between 6 pm and 9 pm this evening. Along the Hi-Line, there's a 30 to 40 percent probability of a rain shower coming down from Canada between midnight and 3 am. Otherwise, conditions become drier this evening and strong winds reaching warning criteria start along the Rocky Mountain Front into North Central Montana. We are strongly advising limiting outdoor recreation between tonight and Wednesday along the Rocky Mountain Front as wind probabilities are high (greater than 75 percent) for wind gusts reaching over 65 mph periodically during this timeframe. High profile vehicles will have difficulty traveling over mountain passes due to these strong winds. High Wind Warnings continue through Wednesday for the Rocky Mountain Front. For everywhere else for the High Wind Warnings, timing is still on track to start this evening for tonight into tomorrow morning and continue through the Wednesday morning hours. We held off on including Helena as latest probabilities are still not supporting high wind criteria. It'll still be windy nevertheless. As the upper level trough departs tomorrow, upper level ridging builds in for Wednesday with dry and windy conditions, especially along the Rocky Mountain Front Wednesday morning into the afternoon and across the eastern portion of North Central and Central Montana. Thursday through this upcoming weekend...Ensemble model guidance is still in support for upper level ridging to continue during this timeframe. Drier conditions are favored for our region under surface high pressure. Beyond Sunday remains uncertain on whether upper level ridging continues or begins to move out and upper level troughing moves in from the west. The Climate Prediction Center has our region in likely above (60-70% probability) of above normal temperatures for this weekend into early next week. This could mean we see temperatures 2 degrees above normal or 10 degrees in some locations. Our normal high temperatures this time of year (middle of June) is between 75 and 80 degrees, with the exception of higher mountainous terrain where it's cooler. We'll continue to monitor ensemble model trends for heat risk potential for this upcoming weekend as well as when upper level ridging will begin to move. Webb && .AVIATION... 03/18Z TAF Period Primary concern for this afternoon and early evening will be convective showers and isolated thunderstorms associated with a Pacific cold front. Although there will be little in the way of lightning and mostly VFR conditions, stronger upper level winds and cold air advection aloft increase the chances for showers transferring wind gusts in excess of 35 kts to the surface. This will be most likely to occur over locations south and east of a KHLN to KHVR line where there is around a 40 to 70% chance for gusts over 30 kts. Strong westerly flow moves in behind the cold front with winds initially increasing tonight along the Rocky Mountain Front/central ranges and their adjacent eastern plains. Very windy conditions are then expected over much of Central/North-central MT on Tuesday. Expect mountain wave activity to increase along with instances of low level wind shear. - RCG Refer to weather.gov/zlc for more detailed regional aviation weather and hazard information. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 44 67 47 71 / 10 0 0 0 CTB 41 61 43 67 / 10 0 10 0 HLN 44 69 51 76 / 10 10 10 0 BZN 38 70 49 77 / 60 10 0 0 WYS 36 61 42 73 / 80 10 0 0 DLN 39 67 48 78 / 20 10 0 0 HVR 46 71 48 71 / 40 10 0 0 LWT 39 67 46 68 / 40 0 0 0 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning from 6 PM this evening to noon MDT Wednesday for Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine-Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains-Cascade County below 5000ft-East Glacier Park Region-Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera- Eastern Toole and Liberty-Fergus County below 4500ft-Judith Basin County and Judith Gap-Little Belt and Highwood Mountains- Meagher County Valleys-Northern High Plains-Snowy and Judith Mountains-Southern High Plains-Southern Rocky Mountain Front- Upper Blackfoot and MacDonald Pass. High Wind Warning from 9 AM Tuesday to noon MDT Wednesday for Eastern Pondera and Eastern Teton-Hill County-Northern Blaine County-Western and Central Chouteau County. && http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Great Falls MT 153 PM MDT Mon Jun 3 2024 MTZ316-319-322-323-032200- Gates of the Mountains-Helena Valley- Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains-Canyon Ferry Area- Including the cities of Canyon Creek, Wolf Creek, Craig, Helena, Montana City, Clancy, Boulder, Corbin, Wickes, Elk Park Pass, Homestake Pass, Toston, Townsend, and Winston 153 PM MDT Mon Jun 3 2024 ...COLD FRONT BRINGING GUSTY WINDS WITH SHOWERS THIS AFTERNOON... A cold front currently moving east off of the Continental Divide will bring showers with gusty winds between 40 to 50mph. Be prepared for gusty winds in and around showers this afternoon.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
220 PM MDT Mon Jun 3 2024
MTZ317-320-321-032045-
Little Belt and Highwood Mountains MT-
Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains MT-Meagher County Valleys MT-
220 PM MDT Mon Jun 3 2024
...A LINE OF SHOWERS WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN BROADWATER AND CENTRAL
MEAGHER COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM MDT...
At 218 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of showers with
isolated lightning 16 miles west of White Sulphur Springs, moving
east at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Fort Logan On The Smith River, Newlan Creek Reservoir, and Fort
Logan.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4647 11132 4669 11142 4693 11093 4662 11066
TIME...MOT...LOC 2018Z 250DEG 48KT 4661 11123
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
WilsonSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Great Falls MT 252 PM MDT Mon Jun 3 2024 MTZ324>330-032300- Missouri Headwaters-Madison River Valley-Gallatin Valley- Northwest Beaverhead County- Beaverhead and Western Madison below 6000ft- Ruby Mountains and Southern Beaverhead Mountains- Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains- Including the cities of Harrison, Three Forks, Willow Creek, Pony, Whitehall, Cameron, Ennis, Jeffers, McAllister, Norris, Bozeman, Gallatin Gateway, Dewey, Wisdom, Wise River, Big Hole Pass, Chief Joseph Pass, Bannack, Dillon, Glen, Waterloo, Monida Pass, Big Sky, West Yellowstone, Targhee Pass, and Raynolds Pass 252 PM MDT Mon Jun 3 2024 ...COLD FRONT BRINGS GUSTY WINDS AND SHOWERS THIS AFTERNOON... A cold front currently moving east across the region will bring gusty winds between 40 to 50 mph, in addition to showers, and an isolated thunderstorm. Be prepared for gusty winds and lightning in and around showers this afternoon. If you hear thunder, seek shelter.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
26 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Asos station KCTB Cut Bank Airport measured multiple gusts in excess of 58 mph, including a peak gust of 69 mph.
Mesonet station GW3478 TCTIBER measured two gusts of 58 mph or greater, including a peak gust of 65 mph.
Mesonet station MTBRN Two Medicine Bridge measured two gusts in excess of 58 mph, including a peak gust of 71 mph.
Mesonet station MTBRN Two Medicine Bridge measured two gusts in excess of 58 mph, including a peak gust of 71 mph.
Mesonet station DELMT Dellwo (MCSCN) measured a 69 mph gust.
RAWS station TR276 L-C Portable No. 1 measured a 71 mph gust.
AWOS station K1CM Charlie measured a 58 mph gust.
Wunderground station KMTMONTA17 Inger Ranch measured a 61 mph gust.
Wunderground station KMTBTNUM11 Meltwater Cabin measured a 60 mph gust.
Mesonet station MTBWG Browning DOT measured a 61 mph gust.
Mesonet station MTM73 Ledger N MDA measured a 62 mph gust.
Mesonet station MTM05 ARC-WTri Conrad measured a 67 mph gust.
AWOS station KSBX Shelby Airport measured multiple gusts at and above 58 mph, including a peak of 59 mph.
Mesonet station GW4063 Eagle Creek Colony measured a 59 mph gust.
Mesonet station GW1986 Lothair 9 N measured a 60 mph gust.
Mesonet station GW3546 Whitlash 7 S measured a 58 mph gust.
Mesonet station DW4821 Chester measured a 66 mph gust.
Mesonet station GW4015 Chester 4 NE measured two gusts in excess of 58 mph, including a 66 and 67 mph gust.
Mesonet station GW0416 Joplin measured two gusts of 58 mph or greater, including a peak gust of 61 mph.
Mesonet station GW0625 Joplin 17 N measured a 58 mph gust.
Asos station KHVR Havre Airport measured multiple gusts in excess of 58 mph, including a peak gust of 68 mph.
Mesonet station KMTAUGUS3 Upper Elk Creek measured a 61 mph gust.
Wunderground sensor KMTROY14 measured a 63 mph gust.
Mesonet station KMTAUGUS4 Goss Ranch measured a 58 mph gust.
RAWS station JPKM8 Judith Peak measured multiple gusts in excess of 58 mph, including a peak gust of 73 mph.
Mesonet station Bridger Livestock KMTBOZEM397 measured a 58 mph gust.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, June 2024
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: 1179923, 1179932, 1179924, 1179925, 1179943, 1179929, 1179928, 1179940, 1179944, 1179926, 1179941, 1179942, 1179945, 1179933, 1179934, 1179935, 1179936, 1179937, 1179938, 1179939, 1179927, 1179930, 1180208, 1179931, 1179919, 1179922.