High Wind in Montana, January 15 to 16, 2026

Name: High Wind in Montana, January 15 to 16, 2026
Start: 2026-01-15T14:45
End: 2026-01-16T19:01
Location: Montana

January 15 to 16, 2026 · NWS GGW · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

A strong clipper storm system from the Canadian Rockies moved into our region, producing strong and damaging wind across northeast Montana.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 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: 12

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 GGW wrote it up.

A strong clipper storm system from the Canadian Rockies moved into our region, producing strong and damaging wind across northeast Montana.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Daniels

When: January 15, 2:45 PM MST to January 16, 1:15 AM MST
Where: Daniels forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 48.784, -105.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Navajo MT-5 DOT sensor (MTRED) measured a 65 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Sheridan

When: January 15, 2:45 PM MST to January 16, 1:15 AM MST
Where: Sheridan forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 48.721, -104.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Montana Climate Office mesonet site Medicine Lake W (MEDM8) measured a 72 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Western Roosevelt

When: January 15, 2:45 PM MST to January 16, 5:30 PM MST
Where: Western Roosevelt forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 48.295, -105.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The McDonalds MT-13 DOT site (MTMCD) measured a 70 mph wind gust. The Poplar RAWS site (POPM8) measured a 62 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Northern Valley

When: January 15, 4:45 PM MST to January 16, 8:00 AM MST
Where: Northern Valley forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Montana Climate Office mesonet site Opheim S (OHMM8) measured a 60 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Little Rocky Mountains

When: January 15, 6:45 PM MST to January 16, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Little Rocky Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.259, -107.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Zortman BLM RAWS site (ALDM8) measured a 63 mph wind gust. The Malta South US-191 DOT site (MTMAL) measured a 59 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Central and Southern Valley

When: January 15, 6:45 PM MST to January 16, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Central and Southern Valley forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Montana Climate office mesonet site Larslan SW (LLNM8) measured a 66 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Dawson

When: January 15, 7:46 PM MST to January 16, 7:01 PM MST
Where: Dawson forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.266, -104.899 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Bloomfield CWOP mesonet site (G0525) measured a 71 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Richland

When: January 15, 9:30 PM MST to January 16, 1:45 PM MST
Where: Richland forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 47.788, -104.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Savage MT-16 DOT site (MTSVG) measured a 68 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Garfield

When: January 15, 9:48 PM MST to January 16, 6:48 PM MST
Where: Garfield forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.278, -106.993 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Jordan Airport ASOS site (KJDN) measured a 68 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Wibaux

When: January 15, 10:00 PM MST to January 16, 7:00 PM MST
Where: Wibaux forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.965, -104.249 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Ash Creek MT-7 DOT site (mtash) measured a 63 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Eastern Roosevelt

When: January 15, 10:18 PM MST to January 16, 4:18 PM MST
Where: Eastern Roosevelt forecast zone
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.295, -105.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Montana Climate Office mesonet site Fort Kipp NW (FTKM8) measured a 58 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Prairie

When: January 15, 10:30 PM MST to January 16, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Prairie forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.861, -105.378 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Buffalo Rapids agrimet site near Terry (BRTM) measured a 66 mph wind 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, January 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1314628, 1314632, 1314638, 1314651, 1314626, 1314627, 1314642, 1314641, 1314648, 1314644, 1314640, 1314645.