On December 17, 2025, the entire region experienced a long-duration, high-impact wind event resulting in widespread damage and impacts. While strong winds are a normal occurrence across this region, this event stands out due to its spatial extent and prolonged period of impact, with many locations experiencing high sustained winds and wind gusts for 6 or more 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 December 17, 2025, the entire region experienced a long-duration, high-impact wind event resulting in widespread damage and impacts. While strong winds are a normal occurrence across this region, this event stands out due to its spatial extent and prolonged period of impact, with many locations experiencing high sustained winds and wind gusts for 6 or more hours. Damage reported as a result of this weather system includes numerous, downed trees and power lines. Widespread severe driving conditions were reported with multiple road closures as a result of blown-over semis and trailers and fallen debris. Numerous weather observation stations across the reservation recorded wind gusts over 50mph for several hours. Strong winds lingered into the 18th.
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 Dec 17, 3:26 PM MST, 6 hours 34 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
326 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- A significant and widespread high wind event is ongoing and will
last through tonight. Gusts of 60 to 80 mph are occurring
across the lower elevations. The highest gusts may cause damage
to trees, power lines and some structures!
- Increased concern for brief periods of blizzard conditions in
eastern MT tonight. Winter Weather Advisory in effect for Fallon
County this evening into Thursday morning.
- Another period of gusty winds along the western foothills
Thursday night into Friday.
- Periods of moderate to heavy snowfall over the Beartooth
Absaroka Mountains Thursday to Saturday; 90 percent chance of at
least a foot of snow on west aspects, 60-70 percent chance for
at least 18 inches.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Rest of Today through Tuesday...
A widespread high wind event is ongoing across the region and will
continue through tonight. HIGH WIND WARNINGS are in effect
through this evening and into tonight across the region. Be
prepared for wind gusts higher than "usual" with 60 to 75 mph
gusts occurring cross the lower elevations. The highest gusts may
cause damage to trees, power lines and some structures. Travel
and outdoor activities will be impacted. Secure any loose outdoor
items.
An approaching shortwave will bring strong 700mb winds of 80-100
knots, through this afternoon and evening. These winds along with
subsidence from this mornings cold front, will result in
strengthening winds across southeastern Montana. There is concern
for winds exceeding 75 mph in the far east this evening and
tonight, with the latest guidance showing gusts in the upper 70s
to low 80s mph.
A band of precipitation is forecast to move through the far east
later this evening, with snow showers producing up to an inch of
snowfall. The greatest accumulations are forecast in Fallon
County. The combination of falling and accumulating snow, along
with the strong to extreme wind gusts will produce areas of
significantly reduced visibility. As a result, a Winter Weather
Advisory has been issued for Fallon County from 6 PM this evening
until 8 AM Thursday, with brief periods of blizzard conditions.
Custer and Powder River Counties will need to be monitored, even
though lower accumulations are forecast, the combination of
extreme wind gusts and any snow showers may cause significant
difficulties to those traveling.
Temperatures will fall into the single digits and 20s tonight
with this shortwave, with the coldest temperatures in the far
east. Thursday will bring cooler conditions than the last several
days with highs in the 20s over the east to the lower 40s over
the west. Another period of gusty to strong foothill winds is
possible Thursday night into Friday with tightening pressure
gradients and 700 mb winds of 50 to 60 kts. Additional highlights
for these strong winds are possible, so continue to monitor the
forecast.
Another surge of Pacific moisture and lower heights will move
into the area late Thursday and into the end of the week. This
translates to periods of accumulating mountain snow (90% chance of
12+ inches over west aspects of the Absaroka/Beartooths Thu-Sat,
60-70% chance of 18+ inches) and rain/snow at lower elevations.
Cold air advection working in from the north could bring a period
of upslope snow to the foothills and lower elevations Friday night
into Saturday morning. As a result, a Winter Storm Warning has
been issued for the Absaroka/Beartooth mountains beginning
Thursday morning lasting through Friday night.
Mainly zonal flow will continue through the weekend and into the
first part of next week. Pacific moisture will continue streaming
into the region at times bringing mountain snowfall. Temperatures
will remain above normal, with highs in the 30s to near 50 degrees
most days, coldest over the east. STP/PM
.AVIATION...
The main hazard to aviation over the next 24 hours is extreme
winds. Strong to extreme winds will spread east across southeast
Montana this afternoon. Widespread gusts over 50 kts (>50% for
all TAF sites) are expected with gusts over 60 kts possible
(10-60% for TAF sites) across the plains. Highest probability for
gusts over 60 kt is in the foothills, areas north of KBIL, and in
southeast MT. Winds begin to decrease from west to east after
midnight tonight. Strong winds are expected to be out of the
region by 15Z Thursday. In addition, a band of rain is expected
to move across the region through this afternoon. Strong wind
gusts to 60 kt can reach the surface with this band of rain. There
will also be snow and blowing snow in southeast MT after 03z
tonight, mainly near and east of KMLS-K4BQ. The greater impacts to
visibility from snow/blowing snow should occur near KBHK and K97M.
Torgerson/RMS
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...
Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
-----------------------------------------------------------
BIL 027/040 033/056 025/041 025/042 031/049 027/043 026/047
00/N 15/W 61/U 01/B 13/W 21/B 11/B
LVM 026/043 034/051 022/037 021/044 034/047 028/046 032/049
13/J 58/W 61/N 02/W 35/W 32/W 13/W
HDN 021/039 030/056 022/041 021/041 026/048 024/043 024/046
10/B 15/W 72/J 00/B 12/W 21/B 11/B
MLS 012/031 023/047 018/037 020/039 025/042 021/040 022/041
30/N 12/W 41/U 00/B 01/E 10/B 00/B
4BQ 017/034 028/054 025/038 023/043 029/050 026/044 027/047
20/N 02/W 61/U 00/B 01/B 10/B 00/B
BHK 003/025 015/045 014/033 016/040 023/044 020/039 021/041
51/N 12/W 31/U 00/B 01/E 10/B 10/B
SHR 020/037 023/056 019/037 017/043 026/050 024/046 026/050
10/N 02/W 83/J 10/B 01/B 10/B 00/B
&&
.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...High Wind Warning in effect until 2 AM MST Thursday FOR ZONES
29-30-34-42-56-57-63-67-68-138-139-141-169>173-228-235.
High Wind Warning in effect until 5 AM MST Thursday FOR ZONES
31>33-36-37-58.
Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 8 AM MST Thursday FOR
ZONE 33.
High Wind Warning in effect until 11 PM MST this evening FOR
ZONES 40-64>66.
Winter Storm Warning in effect from 11 AM Thursday to 5 AM
MST Saturday FOR ZONE 67.
WY...High Wind Warning in effect until 2 AM MST Thursday FOR ZONES
198-199.
&&
weather.gov/billingsPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Billings MT
409 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0312 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 17 NE Wilsall 46.16N 110.38W
12/17/2025 M93 MPH Park MT Mesonet
Mesonet station TT453 Crazy.
0326 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 ENE Harlowton 46.45N 109.80W
12/17/2025 M82 MPH Wheatland MT AWOS
AWOS station K1KM 2 ENE Harlowton.
0345 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 NE Melville 46.13N 109.92W
12/17/2025 M82 MPH Sweet Grass MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTHLS Harlowton South Us-191
Mp 22.0.
0259 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NW Billings 45.80N 108.55W
12/17/2025 M79 MPH Yellowstone MT ASOS
ASOS station KBIL Billings.
0325 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 13 SW Washoe 45.03N 109.41W
12/17/2025 M77 MPH Carbon MT Mesonet
Mesonet station TT839 Quad Creek.
0335 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SSW Big Timber 45.80N 109.97W
12/17/2025 M77 MPH Sweet Grass MT AWOS
AWOS station K6S0 Big Timber.
0319 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SW Lockwood 45.79N 108.47W
12/17/2025 M76 MPH Yellowstone MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTYRB 3.1 SW Lockwood (MT
DOT).
0330 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 11 SSE Klein 46.25N 108.46W
12/17/2025 M70 MPH Musselshell MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTBUL 11.1 SE Klein (MT
DOT).
0245 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SW Springdale 45.72N 110.25W
12/17/2025 M69 MPH Park MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTSPD Springdale I-90 Mp
352.3.
0200 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 NNW Cooke City 45.07N 109.96W
12/17/2025 M68 MPH Park MT Mesonet
Mesonet station GNFCC Cooke City.
0334 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 8 W Roundup 46.46N 108.70W
12/17/2025 M67 MPH Musselshell MT Mesonet
Mesonet station BSFM8 Billings Qd No. 2.
0345 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 S Big Timber 45.75N 109.96W
12/17/2025 M66 MPH Sweet Grass MT Mesonet
Mesonet station AU397 Big Timber.
0215 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 NE Musselshell 46.56N 108.01W
12/17/2025 M64 MPH Musselshell MT Mesonet
Mesonet station LMMM 4.9 NE Musselshell
(AGRIMET).
0330 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 W Ingomar 46.58N 107.40W
12/17/2025 M64 MPH Rosebud MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTING 1.6 W Ingomar (MT
DOT).
0119 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SE Aberdeen 45.03N 107.32W
12/17/2025 M63 MPH Big Horn MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTABR 2.5 SE Aberdeen (MT
DOT).
0303 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SSW Billings 45.75N 108.57W
12/17/2025 M63 MPH Yellowstone MT Mesonet
Mesonet station FW2748 Billings.
0330 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 11 WSW Corinth 45.78N 108.16W
12/17/2025 M63 MPH Yellowstone MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTARC 11.8 S Ballantine (MT
DOT).
0341 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 17 SSE Delphia 46.26N 108.10W
12/17/2025 M62 MPH Yellowstone MT Mesonet
Mesonet station STBM8 Steamboat.
0346 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 E Forsyth 46.27N 106.62W
12/17/2025 M62 MPH Rosebud MT AWOS
AWOS station K1S3 2 E Forsyth.
0316 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 ESE Alzada 45.00N 104.37W
12/17/2025 M61 MPH Carter MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTALZ 2.3 E Alzada (MT DOT).
0234 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 SSW Biddle 45.01N 105.38W
12/17/2025 M60 MPH Powder River MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTBID 6.2 S Biddle (MT DOT).
0335 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WNW Hardin 45.75N 107.66W
12/17/2025 M60 MPH Big Horn MT AWOS
AWOS station K00U 2 WNW Hardin.
0400 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SSW Big Timber 45.82N 109.96W
12/17/2025 M60 MPH Sweet Grass MT Mesonet
Mesonet station CW9353 Big Timber.
0338 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NNW Forsyth 46.30N 106.70W
12/17/2025 M58 MPH Rosebud MT Mesonet
Mesonet station EW1247 Forsyth.
0345 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 SSE Myers 46.16N 107.31W
12/17/2025 M58 MPH Treasure MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTHYH 6.2 SE Myers (MT DOT).
0242 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 11 S Klein 46.25N 108.50W
12/17/2025 M56 MPH Musselshell MT Mesonet
Mesonet station GW4108 ROUNDUP.
0315 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WNW Lockwood 45.83N 108.44W
12/17/2025 M53 MPH Yellowstone MT Mesonet
Mesonet station EW9130 Billings.
0325 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 WSW Lockwood 45.80N 108.47W
12/17/2025 M53 MPH Yellowstone MT Mesonet
Mesonet station DVI08457 Billings.
0339 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 7 WSW Roundup 46.43N 108.67W
12/17/2025 M50 MPH Musselshell MT Mesonet
Mesonet station HORM8 Horse Thief.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Billings MT
421 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0415 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 W Billings 45.80N 108.63W
12/17/2025 M78 MPH Yellowstone MT Trained Spotter
&&
PMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Billings MT
451 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0425 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 6 E Molt 45.86N 108.82W
12/17/2025 Yellowstone MT Trained Spotter
Grain bin destroyed along with barn damage.
&&
PMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Billings MT
542 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0425 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 13 SW Washoe 45.03N 109.41W
12/17/2025 M88 MPH Carbon MT Mesonet
Mesonet station TT839 Quad Creek.
0425 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SSW Big Timber 45.80N 109.97W
12/17/2025 M86 MPH Sweet Grass MT AWOS
AWOS station K6S0 Big Timber.
0518 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 NE Melville 46.13N 109.92W
12/17/2025 M82 MPH Sweet Grass MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTHLS Harlowton South Us-191
Mp 22.0.
0401 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 W Ingomar 46.58N 107.40W
12/17/2025 M76 MPH Rosebud MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTING 1.6 W Ingomar (MT
DOT).
0400 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 11 SSE Klein 46.25N 108.46W
12/17/2025 M74 MPH Musselshell MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTBUL 11.1 SE Klein (MT
DOT).
0400 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 NNW Cooke City 45.07N 109.96W
12/17/2025 M74 MPH Park MT Mesonet
Mesonet station GNFCC Cooke City.
0443 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SSW Billings 45.75N 108.57W
12/17/2025 M74 MPH Yellowstone MT Mesonet
Mesonet station FW2748 Billings.
0430 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Big Timber 45.84N 109.95W
12/17/2025 M72 MPH Sweet Grass MT Mesonet
Mesonet station GW0007 Big Timber.
0415 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 NE Musselshell 46.56N 108.01W
12/17/2025 M70 MPH Musselshell MT Mesonet
Mesonet station LMMM 4.9 NE Musselshell
(AGRIMET).
0445 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SSW Big Timber 45.82N 109.96W
12/17/2025 M69 MPH Sweet Grass MT Mesonet
Mesonet station CW9353 Big Timber.
0510 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 S Big Timber 45.75N 109.96W
12/17/2025 M69 MPH Sweet Grass MT Mesonet
Mesonet station AU397 Big Timber.
0441 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 17 SSE Delphia 46.26N 108.10W
12/17/2025 M68 MPH Yellowstone MT Mesonet
Mesonet station STBM8 Steamboat.
0407 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 9 ESE Chico 45.27N 110.54W
12/17/2025 M67 MPH Park MT Mesonet
Mesonet station WCRM8 Wicked Creek.
0416 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 SSE Myers 46.16N 107.31W
12/17/2025 M67 MPH Treasure MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTHYH 6.2 SE Myers (MT DOT).
0455 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WNW Hardin 45.75N 107.66W
12/17/2025 M67 MPH Big Horn MT AWOS
AWOS station K00U 2 WNW Hardin.
0521 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 13 W Garland 46.03N 106.19W
12/17/2025 M67 MPH Rosebud MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MCCM8 Cow Creek.
0421 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 S Lockwood 45.73N 108.40W
12/17/2025 M66 MPH Yellowstone MT Mesonet
Mesonet station SDAM8 Soda Springs.
0439 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 7 WSW Roundup 46.43N 108.67W
12/17/2025 M65 MPH Musselshell MT Mesonet
Mesonet station HORM8 Horse Thief.
0518 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 18 S Fort Smith 45.07N 107.89W
12/17/2025 M63 MPH Big Horn MT Mesonet
Mesonet station BHMM8 Bighorn Mountain.
0402 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 W Hathaway 46.27N 106.31W
12/17/2025 M61 MPH Rosebud MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTSWC 5.2 W Hathaway (MT
DOT).
0522 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 W Fishtail 45.46N 109.57W
12/17/2025 M60 MPH Stillwater MT Mesonet
Mesonet station FSLM8 Fishtail.
0531 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NW Rock Springs 46.83N 106.27W
12/17/2025 M60 MPH Rosebud MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTHIL 1.6 NW Rock Springs
(MT DOT).
0518 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 10 NNW Sonnette 45.55N 105.89W
12/17/2025 M58 MPH Powder River MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTHCD Home Creek Divide
Us-212 Mp 81.5.
0532 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 9 N Dayton 45.00N 107.30W
12/17/2025 M57 MPH Sheridan WY Mesonet
Mesonet station WY2 4.7 SE Aberdeen (WYDOT).
0443 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 11 S Klein 46.25N 108.50W
12/17/2025 M56 MPH Musselshell MT Mesonet
Mesonet station GW4108 ROUNDUP.
0400 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 7 E Columbus 45.62N 109.10W
12/17/2025 M55 MPH Stillwater MT Mesonet
Mesonet station CW9321 Columbus.
0504 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NW Burgess Junction 44.79N 107.54W
12/17/2025 M53 MPH Sheridan WY Mesonet
Mesonet station BUJW4 Burgess.
0444 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 NW Miles City 46.43N 105.88W
12/17/2025 M51 MPH Custer MT ASOS
ASOS station KMLS Miles City.
0518 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 SSE Pryor 45.34N 108.49W
12/17/2025 M51 MPH Big Horn MT Mesonet
Mesonet station PMRM8 Pryor Mountain.
0524 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 W Moorhead 45.05N 105.95W
12/17/2025 M51 MPH Powder River MT Mesonet
Mesonet station BSHM8 Bradshaw Creek.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Estimated due to adjacent Pryor Mountains gusting to 79 mph at Wild Horse raws.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, December 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: 1308146.