High Wind in Montana, March 19, 2026

Name: High Wind in Montana, March 19, 2026
Start: 2026-03-19T00:45
End: 2026-03-19T21:30
Location: Montana

March 19, 2026 · NWS TFX · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

Strong westerly winds aloft were able to mix down to the surface during peak afternoon heating coincident with mountain wave activity, leading to impactful high winds along the Rocky Mountain Front. Isolated instances of high winds spread farther east to the adjacent plains.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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 Mar 19, 12:03 AM MST, 42 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Unseasonably mild temperatures and periods of windy conditions continue through Saturday.
A Pacific trough and cold front looks brings cooler temperatures and a brief period of showery conditions this weekend.
Temperatures briefly warm again early next week before another Pacific cold front brings more scattered showers, windy conditions, and cooler temperatures around the middle of next week.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 19, 12:03 AM MST, 42 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
103 AM MDT Thu Mar 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Unseasonably mild temperatures and periods of windy
  conditions continue through Saturday.

- A Pacific trough and cold front looks brings cooler
  temperatures and a brief period of showery conditions this
  weekend.

- Temperatures briefly warm again early next week before
  another Pacific cold front brings more scattered showers, windy
  conditions, and cooler temperatures around the middle of next
  week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

 - Meteorological Overview:

An anomalously strong ridge of high pressure will remain
entrenched over the Great Basin and southwestern CONUS through the
first half of the weekend. The Northern Rockies will be situated
on the northern periphery of this feature, which will continue to
bring dry and unseasonably warm conditions while strong westerly
flow aloft maintains periods of windy conditions, scattered to
broken mid- and higher level cloudiness, and even a few isolated
showers. The combination of H700 flow between 60 and 70 kts,
mountain wave activity, and diurnal mixing will produce the
strongest winds along the Rocky Mountain Front and the plains west
of I15 for today.

A stronger 60 to 80 kt H700 jet still looks to cross the Northern
Rockies Friday through early Saturday in advance of an
approaching Pacific trough/cold front and bring an opportunity for
more widespread stronger winds. The focus will initially be along
the Rocky Mountain Front/adjoining plains and over and near the
central MT island ranges. By Saturday portions of southwest
Montana will begin to see stronger winds with 50 kt H700 flow
coming in from the southwest in addition to scattered shower
activity helping transfer some of these stronger winds to the
surface. Winds decrease in a northwest to southeast fashion by
Saturday evening.

Ridging aloft looks to build in briefly early next week before
another Pacific trough and cold front moves through Wednesday into
Thursday. It's kind of early to start interrogating some of
specifics with this system, but the ensembles are hinting at
stronger end H700/H500 flow on the order of 70 to 100 kts. Should
this occur, then we may be looking at another higher end wind
event depending on diurnal timing and other factors. - RCG

 - Forecast Confidence & Scenarios:

Windy conditions continue through Saturday...

Stronger winds along the Rocky Mountain Front and the plains west
of I15 will be powered by a 60 to 70 kt H700 jet, mountain wave
activity, and diurnal mixing. This will result in winds being a
little stronger than the previous couple of days. It won't be out
of the question for wind gusts to exceed 90 mph (40 to 60% chance)
for Rocky Mountain Front locations along and west of the highway
89 corridor. Other high plains locations west of I15 will see
gusts up to 75 mph. Other plains locations will generally see
winds gusting in the 35 to 55 mph range. The Geyser area in Judith
Basin County was given consideration to add to the warning, but
held off for now due to the short duration and localized area of
the higher winds. Impacts look to be greatest for those operating
high profile and or light weight vehicles.

Friday through Saturday, stronger winds aloft associated with the
Pacific trough and cold front look to sweep through the Northern
Rockies. The uncertainty that impacts the magnitude of winds for
northern areas will be how fast a Canadian front moves south and
undercuts the elevated winds aloft. The GFS suite typically
handles these scenarios a little better than other ensembles and
times the front to move southward into the plains sometime
Saturday morning or early afternoon. This suggests the opportunity
for stronger winds along the Rocky Mountain Front and the plains
will roughly run from Friday morning through early Saturday before
shifting the focus southward into southwest MT. NBM probabilities
for 60 mph wind gusts on Friday and Saturday continue to be less
than ideal for high wind products, but it still shapes the normal
problem areas with a rough 30 to 60% chance, including the Rocky
Mountain Front, plains west of of I15, central MT 87/200 corridor,
and the narrow south to north oriented valleys of southwest MT.
Given the meteorological set up, I went ahead and put a watch out
for the higher confidence locations with anticipation of better
model agreement prior to upgrading to warnings. - RCG

&&

.AVIATION...
19/06Z TAF Period

VFR conditions will prevail throughout the duration of the
1906/2006 TAF period beneath scattered to broken upper level
cloudiness. Biggest concern over the next 24 hours will be
continued strong and gusty southwest to west surface winds,
particularly along and west of the I-15 corridor across Central
and North Central Montana. Mountain wave activity will continue
through Thursday over these areas, with instance of low level wind
shear across portions of Central and North Central Montana. -
Moldan

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

Warm, breezy, and dry conditions are expected through the end of the
work week as we remain under the northern edge of an upper level
ridge. While this will result in elevated fire weather conditions,
RH values outside of the southwest MT valleys should mostly remain
above 20%, and recent snowfall and snowmelt should keep fine fuels
and soils moist enough to prevent conditions from becoming critical.
The southwestern valleys, however, will be much drier and will
continue to be monitored for elevated to critical fire weather
conditions. - RCG/Ludwig

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF  68  51  72  51 /   0   0   0  10
CTB  63  45  65  43 /  10  10  10  20
HLN  69  43  74  45 /   0   0   0   0
BZN  74  42  77  45 /   0   0   0   0
WYS  62  27  64  30 /   0   0   0   0
DLN  72  42  74  44 /   0   0   0   0
HVR  71  44  73  45 /  10   0  10   0
LWT  67  46  71  45 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning until midnight MDT tonight for East Glacier
Park Region-Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera-
Northern High Plains-Southern High Plains.

High Wind Watch from Friday morning through Saturday morning for
East Glacier Park Region-Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and
Central Pondera-Northern High Plains-Southern High Plains-
Southern Rocky Mountain Front-Upper Blackfoot and MacDonald Pass.

High Wind Watch from Friday morning through Saturday morning for
Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains-Cascade County below
5000ft-Fergus County below 4500ft-Judith Basin County and Judith
Gap-Little Belt and Highwood Mountains-Western and Central
Chouteau County.

&&

http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 18, 7:53 PM MST, 4 hours 52 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
853 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026

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

0830 PM     High Sust Winds  8 SSW Choteau           47.70N 112.23W
03/18/2026  M51 MPH          Teton              MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station MTCTS Choteau South Us-287
            Mp 56.0. Average sustained wind speed of 51
            mph from 1930 to 2030 local time.

&&

Moldan

Local storm report, Mar 18, 7:54 PM MST, 4 hours 51 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
854 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026

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

0726 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SW Cut Bank           48.60N 112.37W
03/18/2026  M70 MPH          Glacier            MT   ASOS

            ASOS station KCTB Cut Bank Airport.

&&

Moldan

Local storm report, Mar 18, 9:47 PM MST, 2 hours 58 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1047 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026

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

0940 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 16 WSW Cut Bank         48.53N 112.63W
03/18/2026  M61 MPH          Glacier            MT   Mesonet

            Montana mesonet site Mission Lake S.

&&

Moldan

Local storm report, Mar 18, 9:53 PM MST, 2 hours 52 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1053 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026

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

0620 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 NNE Fairfield         47.68N 111.94W
03/18/2026  M57 MPH          Teton              MT   Mesonet

            Montana mesonet site Fairfield.

&&

Moldan

Local storm report, Mar 18, 9:56 PM MST, 2 hours 49 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1056 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026

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

0930 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 11 ENE Lincoln          47.01N 112.46W
03/18/2026  M57 MPH          Lewis and Clark    MT   Mesonet

&&

Moldan

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine

When: March 19, 12:45 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where: Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine forecast zone
Measured: 92 kt (106 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.314, -109.835 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mesonet station SALMT Salmond Ranch measured a 106 mph wind gust, and also measured an average sustained wind of 54 mph from 12:45am to 9am MST. A few other weather stations also measured high winds. A CO-OP observer reported reduced visibility from blowing dust due to the strong wind.

High Wind, Northern High Plains

When: March 19, 3:45 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where: Northern High Plains forecast zone
Measured: 87 kt (100 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.467, -112.610 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Montana mesonet site DOGM8 Dog Gun Lake measured a 100 mph wind gust. Mesonet station MTBWG Browning (MT DOT), and Montana mesonet Wetzel NE also measured high wind gusts. Mesonet station MTBWG Browning (MT DOT) measured an average sustained wind of 57 mph between 12:15pm to 7:15pm MST.

High Wind, Eastern Toole and Liberty

When: March 19, 3:50 AM MST to 8:45 AM MST
Where: Eastern Toole and Liberty forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.609, -111.360 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Montana mesonet site Mt Lebanon measured a 70 mph wind gust. Mesonet station GW4063 Eagle Creek Colony and mesonet station GW1986 Lothair 9N also measured a high wind gust.

High Wind, East Glacier Park Region

When: March 19, 4:07 AM MST to 12:45 PM MST
Where: East Glacier Park Region forecast zone
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.467, -112.610 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ambient Weather Station Howards Lodge measured a 75 mph wind gust. It was reported on social media of multiple trees blow down in East Glacier. Winds were gusting anywhere between 70 and 91 mph between 3:30am and 12:45pm MST. Montana Highway 49, Looking Glass Road, was closed between MP 0.0 and 4.0 due to multiple fallen trees that are blocking all lanes for some time.

High Wind, Southern Rocky Mountain Front

When: March 19, 5:39 AM MST to 10:09 AM MST
Where: Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.480, -112.315 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ambient weather station. Upper Elk Creek KMTAUGUS3 measured a 71 mph wind gust. Ambient weather station Goss Ranch KMTAUGUS4 and Mesonet station Gleason RAWS also measured high wind gusts.

High Wind, Eastern Pondera and Eastern Teton

When: March 19, 5:55 AM MST to 6:00 AM MST
Where: Eastern Pondera and Eastern Teton forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.033, -112.233 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Montana mesonet site Fairfield measured a 73 mph wind gust. AWOS station K1HM Fairfield also measured a high wind gust.

High Wind, Judith Basin County and Judith Gap

When: March 19, 9:15 AM MST to 11:24 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)

Mesonet station MTGYS Geyser measured a 73 mph wind gust. AWOS station K1CM Charlie and mesonet Red Barn KMTGEYSE7 also measured a high wind gust.

High Wind, Cascade County Below 5000ft

When: March 19, 11:35 AM MST to 12:25 PM MST
Where: Cascade County Below 5000ft forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.308, -111.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Montana mesonet site Belt NW measured a 58 mph wind gust. Montana mesonet site Sun River SE also measured a high wind gust.

High Wind, Upper Blackfoot and Macdonald Pass

When: March 19, 1:30 PM MST
Where: Upper Blackfoot and Macdonald Pass forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.122, -112.390 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mesonet station MTFPS Flesher Pass measured a 60 mph wind gust.

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

When: March 19, 8:40 PM MST to 9:30 PM MST
Where: Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera forecast zone
Measured: 68 kt (78 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.529, -112.306 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Montana mesonet site Mission Lake S measured a 78 mph wind gust. A few other weather stations also measured high wind gusts, including ASOS station KCTB Cut Bank Airport where they also averaged a sustained wind of 45 mph between 11:25am to 2:00pm MST on the 19th.

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, March 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: 1319524, 1319516, 1319521, 1319174, 1319523, 1319526, 1319549, 1319539, 1319565, 1319518.