High Wind in Montana, February 25 to 27, 2026

Name: High Wind in Montana, February 25 to 27, 2026
Start: 2026-02-25T23:11
End: 2026-02-27T03:00
Location: Montana

February 25 to 27, 2026 · NWS TFX · 15 events in 15 counties and zones

Strong zonal flow aloft combined with cold frontal passage, a strong pressure gradient, and ridgetop stability combined to result in an extended stretch of strong winds across the region February 26th into the 27th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 15 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
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 15

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS TFX wrote it up.

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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 25, 8:40 PM MST, 2 hours 31 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Strong winds will diminish this evening, but redevelop on Thursday morning over North Central MT.
Light snow and colder temperatures Fri into Sat over North Central MT, while it remains dry and mild over Southwest MT.
Above average temperatures return for all areas next week.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 25, 8:40 PM MST, 2 hours 31 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
840 PM MST Wed Feb 25 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

 - Strong winds will diminish this evening, but redevelop on
   Thursday morning over North Central MT.

 - Light snow and colder temperatures Fri into Sat over North
   Central MT, while it remains dry and mild over Southwest MT.

 - Above average temperatures return for all areas next week.

&&

.UPDATE...
845 PM update...The first high wind event is over. The 2nd is
beginning. Winds have increased over Judith Basin County, thus I
started the warning for zone 313 now. I also added the remaining 3
zones over North Central MT. There is enough mid level winds that
could mix down on the 00z run this evening of the NAM and HRRR
ensemble to add the remaining zones. The next concern after the
wind will be the colder air/light snow Friday afternoon into
Saturday over North Central MT. Southwest MT is likely to remain
mostly dry/mild this weekend. The rest of the forecast will be
updated overnight. Brusda

545 PM Update...Updated forecast this evening to cancel the 1st
high wind warning for much of the area. It remains in place over
the Northern Rockies and northern adjacent Plains, otherwise, the
high wind warning for today has been cancelled.

No changes to the 2nd high wind event that begins at Midnight
tonight.

Temperatures for tonight look on track, no changes. Brusda

&&

.DISCUSSION...
/Issued 300 PM MST Wed Feb 25 2026/

 - Meteorological Overview:

Gusty winds continue across Central and Southwestern Montana this
afternoon as the first in a series of mid and upper level jet
streaks move across the area. Winds have been quite gusty along
the Rocky Mountain Front so far today, with gusts to 65 mph along
the Rocky Mountain Front and across some of the wind prone valleys
of Southwestern Montana. Winds should subside a bit this evening
with the ending of daytime mixing and as winds aloft weaken, but
winds will ramp back up again late tonight and early tomorrow as
our next and stronger mid/upper level jet streak moves overhead.
As this happens, expect winds to pick back up, especially along
the Rocky Mountain Front and across the Plains where gusts in
excess of 60 mph (and gusts over 80-90+ mph along the Rocky
Mountain Front) are expected.

Winds decrease from north to south Friday as a cold front sinks
across the plains and the colder air settles in. As the winds
start to rise over and above the colder air at the surface, an
area of light to moderate snowfall will likely develop along a
line that will extend north and east of a Cut Bank to Great Falls
to Lewistown. Snowfall amounts will generally be on the lighter
side (under 3 inches), but higher amounts will be possible in
Glacier National Park and in the Bears Paw Mountains.

After snow tapers off on Saturday, expect the remainder of the
weekend to be dry, with slightly below average temperatures across
the plains, but warmer than average temperatures across
Southwestern Montana. These warmer temperatures will make their
way back to the plains early next week as upper level ridging
builds back into the area, which will keep us warm and tranquil
next week.

 - Forecast Confidence & Scenarios:

Winds through Friday morning: Winds will continue to be gusty
through the remainder of the afternoon across Central and
Southwestern Montana, but winds should weaken a bit this evening
as winds aloft weaken for most of us. However, this lull in the
winds will not last long, as our next surge in mid and upper level
winds arrives before sunrise Thursday, which will kick off our
next round of winds. This second round of winds will be stronger
than today’s with wind gusts in excess of 80 to 100 mph along the
immediate Rocky Mountain Front, and gusts to 60 or 70 mph across
the remainder of the plains in the High Wind Warning for tomorrow.
I can't rule out a few stronger gusts away from the Rocky
Mountain Front as well, particularly if a mountain wave forms and
breaks away from the terrain, but right now any strong mountain
waves should remain close to the Rocky Mountain Front.

Snow Friday night/Saturday and temperatures: Right now models are
showing a round of overrunning snowfall that should affect North
Central Montana Friday into Saturday. While most of the affected
areas should see light snowfall, I can’t rule out some brief
heavier bursts that could produce some localized amounts in excess
of 4 inches, especially if they are stationary. This snowfall and
associated cloud cover should also prevent temperatures from
falling as far as we initially thought earlier this week, and keep
temperatures from falling past the teens or upper single digits.
Ludwig

&&

.AVIATION...
26/06Z TAF Period

Main concern through this period will be the periods of strong
winds. Isolated stronger wind gusts expected through 15z Thu,
before more widespread strong wind gusts develop during the
afternoon hours on Thur over North Central MT. There might be some
light showers along the divide over the Northern Rockies, but
overall the chance for any precipitation is low until Friday
afternoon. Brusda

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF  34  50  35  49 /   0   0  10  10
CTB  30  45  29  39 /   0   0  10  40
HLN  27  51  31  53 /   0   0   0   0
BZN  23  53  27  56 /   0   0   0   0
WYS  12  35  13  39 /   0   0   0   0
DLN  24  49  27  53 /   0   0   0   0
HVR  28  52  25  39 /   0   0  10  40
LWT  29  50  32  47 /   0   0   0  20

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning from midnight tonight to 11 AM MST Friday 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 Pondera and Eastern Teton-Eastern Toole and Liberty-
Fergus County below 4500ft-Gates of the Mountains-Helena Valley-
Hill County-Little Belt and Highwood Mountains-Northern Blaine
County-Northern High Plains-Snowy and Judith Mountains-Southern
High Plains-Southern Rocky Mountain Front-Upper Blackfoot and
MacDonald Pass-Western and Central Chouteau County.

High Wind Warning until 11 AM MST Friday for Judith Basin County
and Judith Gap.

&&

http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 25, 6:20 PM MST, 4 hours 51 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
620 PM MST Wed Feb 25 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 14 WSW Saint Mary       48.69N 113.72W
02/25/2026  M61 MPH          Glacier            MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station LGPVC Logan Pass (GNP).

&&

Brusda

Local storm report, Feb 25, 7:08 PM MST, 4 hours 3 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
708 PM MST Wed Feb 25 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0621 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 8 SE East Glacier Park  48.36N 113.11W
02/25/2026  M79 MPH          Glacier            MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station DCRM8 Deep Creek RAWS.

&&

Brusda

Local storm report, Feb 25, 7:10 PM MST, 4 hours 1 minute before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
710 PM MST Wed Feb 25 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0652 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 7 ESE Hilger            47.22N 109.22W
02/25/2026  M58 MPH          Fergus             MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station JPKM8 Judith Peak RAWS.

0645 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SSE Geyser            47.25N 110.48W
02/25/2026  M59 MPH          Judith Basin       MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station MTGYS Geyser (MT DOT).

&&

Local storm report, Feb 25, 7:14 PM MST, 3 hours 57 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
714 PM MST Wed Feb 25 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 14 WSW Saint Mary       48.69N 113.72W
02/25/2026  M67 MPH          Glacier            MT   Mesonet

            67 mph wind gust at Logan Pass GNP.

&&

Brusda

Local storm report, Feb 25, 7:58 PM MST, 3 hours 13 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
758 PM MST Wed Feb 25 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0721 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 8 SE East Glacier Park  48.36N 113.11W
02/25/2026  M83 MPH          Glacier            MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station DCRM8 Deep Creek RAWS.

&&

Local storm report, Feb 25, 8:56 PM MST, 2 hours 15 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
856 PM MST Wed Feb 25 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0821 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 8 SE East Glacier Park  48.36N 113.11W
02/25/2026  M87 MPH          Glacier            MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station DCRM8 Deep Creek RAWS.

&&

Brusda

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains

When: February 25, 11:11 PM MST to February 27, 12:11 AM MST
Where: Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 46.398, -111.485 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

RAWS station TT838 Battle Ridge measured two gust sin excess of 58 mph, including a peak gust of 69 mph. Additionally, MT DOT sensors MTBZH Bozeman Pass and MTBDC Bridge Canyon both measured gusts of 58 mph or greater.

High Wind, East Glacier Park Region

When: February 26, 12:00 AM MST to 10:00 PM MST
Where: East Glacier Park Region forecast zone
Measured: 67 kt (77 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.467, -112.610 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several Glacier NP mesonets observed gusts in excess of 58 mph including Logan Pass, Sunpoint, and Milk River Ridge. The peak observed gust was 77 mph at Sunpoint. Additional sensors in this zone to measure gusts of 58 mph or greater include RAWS station SRYM8 St Mary, and a personal weather station in Babb.

High Wind, Cascade County Below 5000ft

When: February 26, 3:40 AM MST to 7:07 PM MST
Where: Cascade County Below 5000ft forecast zone
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 47.308, -111.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

RSOIS equipment at NWS Great Falls measured a 67 mph gust. Additional sensors in this zone that measured criteria winds/gusts include ASOS station KGTF Great Falls Airport, AWOS stations KGFA Malmstrom AFB and K1AM Alpha, and Montana mesonet stations Belt NW Cascade E MDA.

High Wind, Fergus County Below 4500ft

When: February 26, 4:40 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where: Fergus County Below 4500ft forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 47.264, -109.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many stations measured winds/gusts of criteria, including Montana mesonet stations Coffee Creek N and Forestgrove N, AWOS stations KMVH N Bar Ranch, K1NM November, and K1DM Delta, and DOT sensors MTDEN Denton E and MTBCH Beacon Hill. The peak gust was observed at AWOS station N Bar Ranch and was 73 mph.

High Wind, Judith Basin County and Judith Gap

When: February 26, 7:45 AM MST to February 27, 3:00 AM MST
Where: Judith Basin County and Judith Gap forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.155, -109.745 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

MT DOT sensor Geyser MTGYS measured many gusts in excess of 58 mph, including a peak gust of 73 mph. Additionally, sustained winds averaged 56 mph at this sensor for an hour between 1030 AM and 1130 AM 2/26. AWOS station K1BM also measured criteria winds.

High Wind, Northern High Plains

When: February 26, 8:15 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where: Northern High Plains forecast zone
Measured: 83 kt (96 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.467, -112.610 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four sensors measured strong winds/gusts in this zone, including Montana mesonet stations Dog Gun Lake E and Wetzel NE, and MT DOT sensors MTBRN Two Medicine Bridge and MTBWG Browning. The peak observed gust was 96 mph at Dog Gun Lake E, with Two Medicine Bridge not far behind at 93 mph along US-2.

High Wind, Western and Central Chouteau County

When: February 26, 9:15 AM MST to 4:00 PM MST
Where: Western and Central Chouteau County forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.881, -110.435 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many mesonet stations measured winds and gusts that reached criteria, including MTM02 Loma, Frenchman Ridge, Fort Benton E, and MTLOM Loma (MT DOT). The peak observed gust was 66 mph at MTM02 and Fort Benton E.

High Wind, Upper Blackfoot and Macdonald Pass

When: February 26, 9:15 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where: Upper Blackfoot and Macdonald Pass forecast zone
Measured: 67 kt (77 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.122, -112.390 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

MT DOT sensors MTMDT MacDonald Pass and MTFPS Flesher Pass both measured criteria winds/gusts, including a peak gust of 77 mph at Flesher Pass.

High Wind, Little Belt and Highwood Mountains

When: February 26, 9:45 AM MST to 6:45 PM MST
Where: Little Belt and Highwood Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.208, -110.733 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

MT DOT sensor MTKIH Kings Hill Pass measured two gusts of 58 mph or greater, including a peak gust of 63 mph. Additionally, RAWS station SFJM8 South Fork Judith measured a 59 mph gust.

High Wind, Eastern Toole and Liberty

When: February 26, 9:55 AM MST to 8:02 PM MST
Where: Eastern Toole and Liberty forecast zone
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.609, -111.360 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Multiple sensors measured gusts of 58 mph or greater, including mesonet stations DW4821 Chester, GW3478 TCTiber, GW4015 Chester 4 NE, and Montana mesonet station Mt Lebanon.

High Wind, Southern High Plains

When: February 26, 10:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where: Southern High Plains forecast zone
Measured: 46 kt (53 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.480, -112.315 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Montana mesonet station August N measured sustained winds averaging 53 mph for an hour between 1045 AM and 1145 AM. Several sensors also measured gusts between 58 and 74 mph, including SALMT Salmond Ranch, DELMT Dellwo, and HODMT Hodgkiss.

High Wind, Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera

When: February 26, 10:15 AM MST to 12:30 PM MST
Where: Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.529, -112.306 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Montana mesonet station Buffalo Lake E measured two gusts of 58 mph or greater, including a peak gust of 61 mph. Additioally, two sensors at the SHelby Airport measured 58 mph gusts (AWOS KSBX and mesonet GW0664).

High Wind, Northern Blaine County

When: February 26, 12:30 PM MST to 1:15 PM MST
Where: Northern Blaine County forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.433, -108.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Montana mesonet stations Chinook E and Hogeland SE measured gusts of 58 mph or greater, including a peak gust of 60 mph at Hogeland SE.

High Wind, Southern Rocky Mountain Front

When: February 26, 7:09 PM MST to 7:54 PM MST
Where: Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 47.480, -112.315 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

RAWS station GSNM8 Gleason measured a 66 mph gust. Additionally, a personal weather station at Upper Elk Creek measured a 64 mph gust.

High Wind, Missouri Headwaters

When: February 26, 11:15 PM MST
Where: Missouri Headwaters forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 45.664, -111.728 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

RAWS station WHHM8 Whitehall measured a 59 mph gust.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, February 2026

Sources

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: 1317185, 1317187, 1317171, 1317181, 1317195, 1317191, 1317177, 1317199, 1317197, 1317205, 1317210, 1317193, 1317160, 1317201, 1317194.