A long cold spell for the plains was finally broken as surface troughing in lee of the Rocky Mountain Front developed Feb 19. Initially it was thought that this troughing, combined with increased zonal flow aloft would result in ground blizzard conditions along the Northern Rocky Mountain Front and adjacent plains Feb 20-22.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 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 long cold spell for the plains was finally broken as surface troughing in lee of the Rocky Mountain Front developed Feb 19. Initially it was thought that this troughing, combined with increased zonal flow aloft would result in ground blizzard conditions along the Northern Rocky Mountain Front and adjacent plains Feb 20-22. This did not end up panning out, as winds were not strong enough to break the crust in a meaningful way. Nonetheless, zonal flow aloft continued to increase, which eventually resulted in high winds Feb 22-24, mostly near the Rocky Mountain Front in typically windy areas. Additional strong gusts developed elsewhere, but were much more isolated over this timeframe.
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 Feb 21, 9:51 PM MST, 4 hours 9 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Great Falls MT 951 PM MST Fri Feb 21 2025 Aviation Section Updated. .KEY MESSAGES... - It will gradually warm up through the weekend with windy conditions expected through at least Tuesday this has the potential to lead to flooding due to river jams and/or snowmelt runoff this weekend through at least early next week. - The strongest and most impactful wind gusts will be on Sunday and Monday with the strongest winds along the Rocky Mountain Front. - Saturday through Tuesday there will be snow along the Rocky Mountain Front and in Southwestern Montana with the greatest amounts in Glacier National Park. && .UPDATE... /Issued 912 PM MST Fri Feb 21 2025/ The main change to the update this evening was increasing the winds this evening and tomorrow morning. Areas along the Northern Rocky Mountain Front this evening have had 40 to 50 mph sustained winds with gusts up to 50-60 mph due to mountain wave activity. Due to this and blowing/drifting snow from the strong winds, the High Wind Watch for Saturday morning along the Northern Rocky Mountain Front got upgraded to a warning (also expanded it to the Cut Bank area) from tonight through Saturday. After this mountain wave passes tonight, there may be a small lull in strong winds until Saturday morning when the pressure gradient tightens. Blowing and drifting snow can cause severe driving conditions and greatly reduce visibilities. The high wind watch for the North- Central MT plains on Sunday look to remain on track, so no edits were made at this time. -Wilson && .DISCUSSION... /Issued 912 PM MST Fri Feb 21 2025/ - Meteorological Overview: Today there will be upper-level zonal flow across North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will keep weather today similar to yesterday. However due to a slightly stronger pressure gradient today than yesterday winds will be slightly stronger today across North-central Montana than yesterday. On Saturday an upper- level ridge begins to build in across North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will allow temperatures across the area to warm up more. Due to an increase in the surface pressure gradient and a quick moving shortwave, winds across North-central Montana will increase more with strong winds along the Rocky Mountain Front on Saturday. The upper-level shortwave will also bring very light snow to the Northern Rocky Mountain Front on Saturday. On Sunday the upper-level ridge remains in place over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. Strong mid-level flow combined with an upper-level shortwave and strong surface pressure gradient will bring strong winds to all of North-central Montana with very strong winds along the Rocky Mountain Front and Adjacent Plains on Sunday. The upper-level shortwave will bring very light snow to Southwestern Montana and snow to the Rocky Mountain Front on Sunday. On Sunday rain will fall along the Northern Rocky Mountain Front and Adjacent Plains. Some of this rain could freeze on contact due to cold ground and road temperatures. See Forecast Confidence Section for details. On Monday a quick moving upper-level shortwave trough moves over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This combined with strong upper-level and mid-level flow will bring another round of windy conditions to much of North-central, Central and Southwestern Montana with the strongest winds along the Rocky Mountain Front. The upper-level shortwave will bring another round of snow to the Rocky Mountain Front and the mountains of Southwestern Montana with a rain/snow mix across the lower-elevations of Southwestern Montana on Monday. On Tuesday another quick moving upper-level shortwave moves through North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will bring another round of windy conditions and snow to the Rocky Mountain Front. The upper-level shortwave will bring another round of snow to the mountains of Southwestern Montana and a rain/snow mix to the lower-elevations of Southwestern Montana. Wednesday through next Friday it will be warm and breezy across much of North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. Due to the warm temperatures across North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana today through next week there will be some localized flooding and ice jam concerns. See the HYDROLOGY Section below for more details. - Forecast Confidence & Scenarios: For snow on Saturday there is a 30% chance for an inch or more along the Rocky Montain Front. For snow on Sunday there is a 50 - 80% chance for 4 inches of snow or greater along the Rocky Mountain Front. For snow on Sunday there is a 30 - 50% chance for 2 inches or greater across the mountains of Southwestern Montana. For snow on Monday there is a 40 - 60% chance for 2 inches or greater along the Rocky Mountain Front and in the mountains of Southwestern Montana. For snow on Tuesday there is a 40 - 60% chance for 2 inches of snow or greater along the Rocky Mountain Front and in Southwestern Montana. Along the Rocky Mountain Front there is a 10% chance for a hundredth of an inch of freezing rain or greater from Saturday afternoon through Sunday night. For wind on Saturday there is a 60 - 90% chance for wind gusts of 75 mph or greater along the Rocky Mountain Front. On Saturday there is a 60 - 80% chance for wind gusts of 55 mph or greater along the plains adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Front. For wind on Sunday there is a 60 - 90% chance for wind gusts of 75 mph or greater along the Rocky Mountain Front and Adjacent plains. As a result a High Wind Watch is in effect for the Northern Rocky Mountain Front and Northern High Plains from 7 AM tomorrow through 11 pm Sunday night. On Sunday there is a 30 - 80% chance for wind gusts of 55 mph or greater across much of the rest of North-central Montana. As a result a High Wind Watch remains in effect from 11 pm Saturday to 11 pm Sunday for much of the rest of North-central Montana except for the Hi-Line. See the WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES below for more details. For wind on Monday there is a 40 - 80% chance for wind gusts of 55 mph or greater across most of the lower- elevations of North- central Montana. On Monday along the Rocky Mountain Front and Adjacent Plains there is a 50 - 80% chance for wind gusts of 75 mph or greater. For wind on Tuesday there is a 60 - 90% chance for wind gusts of 75 mph or greater along the Rocky Mountain Front. Along the plains adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Front there is a 60 - 80% chance for wind gusts of 55 mph or greater. -IG && .AVIATION... 22/06Z TAF Period VFR conditions prevail through the TAF period. Gusty west to southwest winds will increase throughout Saturday morning and afternoon across the North-Central MT plains. Wind gusts could gust as high as 45-55kt at times at KCTB. Mountain wave activity will be a concern through the TAF period, especially along the Rocky Mountain Front. Light snow will also fall along the Continental Divide Saturday, but we're not anticipating precipitation to spread to the plains. -Wilson Refer to weather.gov/zlc for more detailed regional aviation weather and hazard information. && .HYDROLOGY... Warming temperatures through the weekend and the upcoming work week will lead changes in river ice conditions and an increased risk of river ice break-up and the potential of ice jams. Lower elevation snowmelt and still frozen ground could also lead to some increased runoff into creeks and rivers, adding to the potential for river ice breakup. Ice jams are unpredictable and flooding can rapidly occur, so those with interests along waterways should monitor water levels over the coming week and take action should flooding occur. In addition, frozen ground after a prolonged cold period and melting snow may result in standing water in areas of poor drainage. This could create difficult access to fields and impact some rural roads. As temperatures warm further early next week and the ground begins to thaw, muddy conditions may create additional impacts. The greatest risk for overland impacts from snowmelt look to be from eastern portions of Teton and Pondera counties across portions of Cascade and Chouteau counties and most lower elevation areas in Judith Basin and Fergus counties, where water equivalent in the lower elevation snowpack ranges from around 1.0" to as much as 3.0 to 4.0" in portions of Fergus county. These areas are also most susceptible to overnight temperatures remaining near or above freezing this weekend into early next week. Across southwest MT, there is significant water content in the snowpack in the Gallatin valley, however melting will likely be slower with overnight temperatures continuing to fall below freezing. - Hoenisch && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 37 47 43 51 / 10 10 10 20 CTB 34 45 40 48 / 10 0 10 20 HLN 25 46 34 48 / 10 0 10 30 BZN 17 44 23 44 / 0 0 0 20 WYS 12 33 15 35 / 0 10 10 60 DLN 19 43 23 43 / 0 0 0 30 HVR 27 47 36 50 / 0 0 10 20 LWT 28 46 36 48 / 10 0 10 10 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning until 11 PM MST Saturday for East Glacier Park Region-Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera- Northern High Plains. High Wind Watch from Saturday evening through Sunday evening for Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine-Cascade County below 5000ft-East Glacier Park Region-Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera-Eastern Pondera and Eastern Teton-Judith Basin County and Judith Gap-Northern High Plains-Southern High Plains-Southern Rocky Mountain Front. && http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
939 PM MST Fri Feb 21 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0321 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 8 SE East Glacier Park 48.36N 113.11W
02/21/2025 M73 MPH Glacier MT Mesonet
Mesonet station DCRM8 Deep Creek RAWS.
0545 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SE Browning 48.54N 112.98W
02/21/2025 M64 MPH Glacier MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTBWG Browning (MT DOT).
0315 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 ENE East Glacier Park 48.45N 113.20W
02/21/2025 M58 MPH Glacier MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTBRN Two Medicine Bridge
(MT DOT).
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
940 PM MST Fri Feb 21 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0936 PM High Sust Winds 2 SE Browning 48.54N 112.98W
02/21/2025 M51 MPH Glacier MT Dept of Highways
High sustained winds averaged 51 mph from
530 to 630 pm.
0933 PM High Sust Winds 2 SE Browning 48.54N 112.98W
02/21/2025 M50 MPH Glacier MT Dept of Highways
High sustained winds averaged 50 mph from
715 to 815 pm MST.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Many sensors measured winds/gusts reaching criteria, including Montana Mesonet station Dog Gun Lake E, which measured sustained winds, averaged over an hour, of 62 mph. The peak gust in this zone was 84 mph at the same sensor.
Many sensors measured high wind criteria winds/gusts, including ASOS sensor KCTB Cut Bank Airport, which measured a 67 mph gust in addition to high sustained winds.
Mesonet sensor LGPVC Logan Pass measured a 78 mph gust. Sunpoint and the St Mary Raws also measured gusts in excess of 58 mph.
Mesonet station MTGYS Geyser DOT sensor measured a 59 mph gust. Additionally, Montana mesonet sensor Judith Gap measured sustained winds, averaged over an hour, of 41 mph.
Multiple mesonet sensors measured criteria winds and gusts, including mesonet station GW0718 Joplin 25NNW, which measured a 64 mph gust.
Mesonet station DELMT Dellwo measured a 67 mph gust. A Montana Mesonet station nearby (Bynum W) measured a 66 mph gust.
Several stints of high sustained winds (47 mph peak sustained averaged over an hour), averaged over an hour, and a gust to 58 mph were observed at MT DOT sensor Norris Hill MTNOR.
AWOS station K9S5 Three Forks Airport measured a 60 mph gust.
Mesonet sensor MTMON Monarch Canyon (MT DOT) measured two gusts of 58 mph or greater, including a 61 mph gust.
AWOS station KMVH N Bar Ranch measured a 61 mph gust overnight.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, February 2025
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: 1245062, 1245063, 1245065, 1245066, 1245073, 1245070, 1245076, 1245060, 1245058, 1245059.