Increased drought conditions expanded eastward during the last week of this month into portions of Petroleum, northern Phillips, and northern Valley Counties.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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 GGW wrote it up.
Increased drought conditions expanded eastward during the last week of this month into portions of Petroleum, northern Phillips, and northern Valley Counties.
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 Glasgow, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 23, 10:29 PM MST, 1 hour 31 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Glasgow MT 1029 PM MST Mon Feb 23 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - The next chances for light rain and snow are expected Tuesday night into Wednesday. - A High Wind Watch remains in effect for Phillips County for Thursday. && .DISCUSSION... WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: The balance of the week will feature a roller coaster temperature ride along with light mixed precipitation at times and a threat for high winds. The stage is set for clouds to increase from the southwest Tuesday night into Wednesday with a light mix of rain and snow. This will occur along a boundary with cooler temperatures to the northeast and milder temperatures across the southwestern parts of the CWA while a shortwave pushes through relatively zonal northwest upper flow. These milder temperatures will spread northeast across the entire region for Wednesday and Thursday. On Thursday the high temperatures will be pushing 50 to 55 degrees across much of NE Montana. NBM continues to show the trade off for the milder weather will be strong gusty winds across the area Wednesday night into Thursday. West winds may range 20 to 30 mph across the region with gusts to 40 to 50 mph area wide. Gusts to 60 mph are exceedingly likely over higher elevations of the Little Rockies. A High Wind Watch remains in effect for Phillips County for Thursday. Late this week extending into the weekend, temperatures will fall in response to a retrograding cold front, which will bring with it increased chances for snow by the weekend as well. FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: Given the strong westerly flow expected on Wednesday into Thursday, the forecast was nudged toward NBM90 in support of the High Wind Headlines. Excellent consensus has emerged among ensembles in recent days on this event and confidence should only increase as high resolution model guidance become available as this enters the short term window. && .AVIATION... UPDATE: 0515Z Tuesday February 24 FLIGHT CAT RANGE: VFR DISCUSSION: VFR mid and high ceilings will continue with a transition to mostly clear skies on Tuesday. Cloud cover looks to increase again from the southwest Tuesday night. WINDS: Tonight, from the W at 10 to 15 kts with occasional higher gusts. Winds will become lighter from the northwest on Tuesday morning before becoming light and variable Tuesday afternoon or evening. && .GGW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Watch from Wednesday evening through Friday morning for Central and Southeast Phillips-Northern Phillips-Southwest Phillips. && weather.gov/glasgow
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
D2 drought conditions increased from the west into the northwestern corner of northern Valley County.
D2 drought conditions increased from the west into the northern half of northern Phillips County.
D2 drought conditions increased from the west into the far western edge of Petroleum County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, February 2026
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: 1308285, 1320437, 1320438.