Montana, 2026Strong Wind in Montana, April 7, 2026
April 7, 2026 · NWS MSO · 2 events in 2 counties and zones
A shortwave feature in west-northwest flow brought strong winds to the northern Rockies on April 7, 2026. An eighty-plus knot 250mb jet streak was overhead during the event.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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.
A shortwave feature in west-northwest flow brought strong winds to the northern Rockies on April 7, 2026. An eighty-plus knot 250mb jet streak was overhead during the event.
What forecasters said that day
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 Missoula, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 7, 11:11 AM MST, 49 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 7, 11:11 AM MST, 49 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
1211 PM MDT Tue Apr 7 2026
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGES:
- Strong westerly winds this afternoon and evening with the
passage of a dry cold front.
- Rain and snow showers return this weekend, especially in the
mountains. Thunderstorms are possible on Saturday afternoon.
Wind advisories remain in effect across western Montana through this evening.
Widespread gusts of 30 to 40 mph have already been observed. Peak wind
gusts are expected between noon and 6 PM this evening, with gusts between
40 and 50 mph becoming common. The Mission and Bitterroot Valleys,
along with the I-90 corridor from Deer Lodge to Butte and Montana 1
from Georgetown Lake to Anaconda, are at the highest risk for
these stronger gusts. Isolated gusts over 50 mph are possible.
Winds will decrease tonight and remain calmer through the rest of
the work week. Temperatures will continue to run a few degrees
above normal for this time of year.
The next storm system (trough) will move inland over the West
Coast by Saturday and Sunday. There is still significant
uncertainty in the forecast regarding how this system will
develop. On Saturday, southwesterly winds will create a favorable
environment for showers and thunderstorms. There is a 15 to 25
percent probability of enough atmospheric energy for thunderstorm
development between noon and 6 PM Saturday. Any storms that
develop could produce lightning, gusty winds, and small hail.
Regarding mountain snow, the path of the low pressure system will
determine if high-elevation areas see a light dusting or several
inches of snow by Sunday or Monday. Some forecast models suggest
the storm will interact with cold air pushing south from Canada,
which could result in a foot or more of snow for the mountains.
&&
.AVIATION...Expect strong winds this afternoon with the most
intense gusts occurring between noon and 6 PM MDT. Widespread
gusts between 35 to 45 mph (30-40 knots) are expected. Winds will
begin to diminish after 9 PM tonight (08/0300Z). VFR (mostly clear)
flying conditions are expected on Wednesday, with westerly winds
generally staying under 25 mph (20 knots).
&&
.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Wind Advisory until 9 PM MDT this evening for
Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains...Butte/Blackfoot Region...
Flathead/Mission Valleys...Kootenai/Cabinet Region...Lower
Clark Fork Region...Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys...
Potomac/Seeley Lake Region...West Glacier Region.
ID...None.
&&Strong Wind, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys
- When
- April 7, 12:00 PM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
- Measured
- 49 kt (56 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A 60 MPH wind gust was recorded at the Stevensville Airport, with frequent gusts exceeding 50 MPH and sustained winds of 42 MPH observed later in the afternoon. Peak wind gusts of 55 MPH were recorded at the Missoula International Airport. The Hamilton airport measured a 49 MPH wind gust. A 48 MPH gust was observed at the Stevensville RAWS.
Strong Wind, Butte / Blackfoot Region
- When
- April 7, 12:00 PM MST to 4:30 PM MST
- Where
- Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
- Measured
- 46 kt (53 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A 53 MPH wind gust was measured at Montana Tech. Fifty-two mile per hour gusts were observed at Avon North. MacDonald Pass and Deer Lodge both recorded 51 MPH wind gusts. A 49 MPH gust was observed at the airport in Butte. The Yankee Flat RAWS measured a 48 MPH wind gust at an elevation of 6000 feet. Wind gusts of 46 to 48 MPH were reported near Georgetown Lake. The strong winds resulted in 265 power outages across Powell County.
- Strong Wind
- Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Flash Flooding in Hawaii, April 7 to 10, 2026$650,000 · 4 events
- Tornado in Florida, April 7, 2026$50,000 · EF0 · 1 event
- High Wind in Montana, April 7, 202668 kt wind · 14 events
- Drought in Texas, April 7 to 13, 202612 events
- High Wind in Montana, April 7, 202652 kt wind · 3 events
- High Wind in Idaho, April 7, 202655 kt wind · 2 events
- High Wind in Wyoming, April 7 to 8, 202658 kt wind · 2 events
- Waterspout in Gulf of Mexico, April 7, 20261 event
- Marine Thunderstorm Wind in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, April 7, 202663 kt wind · 1 event
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: 1325607, 1325608.