High Wind in Montana, March 7 to 8, 2026

Name: High Wind in Montana, March 7 to 8, 2026
Start: 2026-03-07T01:45
End: 2026-03-08T19:53
Location: Montana

March 7 to 8, 2026 · NWS TFX · 23 events in 23 counties and zones

A fast-moving shortwave upper level trough followed by a shortwave ridge tracking near the International Border produced a strong surface pressure gradient on the 7th and accompanying strong winds across North-Central MT. Heading into the 8th, the upper level ridge broke down.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 23 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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Wind
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Heat and drought
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Fire, smoke and dust
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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $20,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 23

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 6, 11:56 PM MST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

It will be windy Saturday through Sunday across North-central Montana with very strong winds spreading down to the I-90 Corridor on Sunday.
Saturday and Sunday there will be light mountain snow.
Sunday evening through Monday there will be light snow across North-central Montana.
Next week there will be several rounds of precipitation with breezy conditions at times.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 6, 11:56 PM MST, 1 hour 49 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1156 PM MST Fri Mar 6 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

 - It will be windy Saturday through Sunday across North-central Montana
   with very strong winds spreading down to the I-90 Corridor on
   Sunday.

 - Saturday and Sunday there will be light mountain snow.

 - Sunday evening through Monday there will be light snow across
   North-central Montana.

 - Next week there will be several rounds of precipitation with breezy
   conditions at times.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

 - Meteorological Overview:

On Saturday an upper-level ridge begins to move over North-central,
Central, and Southwestern Montana. On Saturday it will be dry and
warm across the lower-elevations. On Saturday there will be light
snow across the mountains of North-central, Central, and
Southwestern Montana. Due to an increasing pressure gradient on
Saturday it will be windy across North-central Montana with the
strongest winds along the Rocky Mountain Front. On Sunday the
upper-level ridge begins to flatten out. This combined with
strong low-level and upper-level winds and a strong pressure
gradient will bring strong winds to North-central Montana down to
the I-90 corridor with the strongest winds in North-central
Montana. On Sunday there will be light snow along the Rocky
Mountain Front and Gallatin and Madison ranges. Sunday evening an
upper-level shortwave trough will move through the upper-level
flow and bring precipitation to North-central, Central, and
Southwestern Montana. The shortwave has the potential to stop the
strong winds along the Hi-Line earlier than the rest of North-
central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. On Sunday the strong
winds will lead to blowing dust at times across portions of North-
central Montana.

On Monday and Tuesday there will be upper-level zonal flow over
North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will allow
temperatures to cool off with precipitation across the area on
Monday. On Wednesday an upper-level ridge briefly builds back in
over the area. This will warm temperatures up with mostly dry
weather. Wednesday night into Thursday an upper-level shortwave will
move over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This
will bring another round of precipitation to the mountains with warm
temperatures for the lower-elevations on Thursday. Wednesday night
into Thursday due to a strong surface pressure gradient and strong
low-level and mid-level winds it will be windy across North-central,
Central, and Southwestern Montana. On Friday there will be upper-
level zonal flow over North-central, Central, and Southwestern
Montana. This will allow temperatures to cool down with mostly dry
weather for the lower-elevations with mountain snow. -IG

 - Forecast Confidence & Scenarios:

On Saturday there is a 60 - 80% chance for wind gusts of 75 mph or
greater along the Rocky Mountain Front. On Saturday across the rest
of North-central Montana there is a 20 - 60% chance for wind gusts
in excess of 55 mph. As a result across a High Wind Warning is in
effect for the lower-elevations of Judith Basin County from Saturday
morning through midnight Sunday. On Sunday there is a 70 - 90%
chance for wind gusts of 75 mph or greater along the Rocky Mountain
Front and plains west of I-15. As a result a High Wind Warning was
issued for the Rocky Mountain Front and plains west of I-15 from 2
AM Saturday morning through midnight Sunday. On Sunday there is 40 -
80% chance for wind gusts in excess of 90 mph along the Rocky
Mountain Front. On Sunday along the immediate eastern slopes of the
Rocky Mountain Rocky Front there is a 50% chance for wind gusts in
excess of 100 mph. On Sunday across the plains of North-central
Montana down to the I-90 corridor there is a 50 - 80% chance for
wind gusts of 55 mph or greater. As a result a High Wind Warning was
issued for North-central Montana down to Helena from early Sunday
morning to midnight Sunday. A High Wind Watch remains in effect from
Helena down to the I-90 corridor from early Sunday morning to
midnight on Sunday. See the Watches section below for details.

For snow Saturday through Sunday there is a 50 - 80% chance for 4
inches of snow or greater along the Northern Rocky Mountain Front.
Since most of this snow will fall above pass-level no products are
needed for it. For snow Sunday night through Monday there is a 30 -
60% chance for one inch of snow or greater along the Hi-Line. Across
the mountains of North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana
there is a 30 - 60% chance for 2 inches of snow on Monday. From
Tuesday through Thursday across the mountains of North-central,
Central, and Southwestern Montana there is greater than a 50% chance
for 6 inches of snow or greater. -IG

&&

.AVIATION...
07/06Z TAF Period

Pacific moisture within increasing westerly flow aloft will lead
to mountain obscuration and low-VFR CIGS throughout for much of
the 0706/0806 TAF period. A stay rain and/snow shower can't be
ruled out along and southwest of KHLN to KBZN line between
12-18z, which thereafter much of the precipitation will be
confined to the Continental Divide. Surface winds will also be on
the increase through the TAF period, especially over the plains of
Central and North Central Montana beyond 09-15z Saturday.
Instance of low level wind shear and mountain wave turbulence will
increase over this timeframe, especially along the Rocky Mountain
Front. - Moldan

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
There will be elevated fire weather concerns for grassland areas
this weekend. Particularly for areas that received little to no
precipitation yesterday and today. Strong winds, gusting over 60
mph at times, combined with high temperatures in the upper 50s and
60s and minimum relative humidity values in the 20s and 30s may
make it difficult to contain any existing or new fire starts. The
worst conditions look to occur on Sunday when the winds will be
strongest and most widespread. - RCG/IG

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF  49  33  59  47 /  40   0  10  10
CTB  45  32  55  43 /   0   0  10   0
HLN  46  30  55  39 /  10  10  30  10
BZN  43  23  52  33 /  30   0  20  10
WYS  37  12  36  27 /  20   0  60  30
DLN  42  24  51  32 /  10   0  20   0
HVR  51  30  63  41 /  10   0  10  10
LWT  43  27  55  39 /  20   0   0   0

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning until midnight MST Sunday night for East
Glacier Park Region-Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central
Pondera-Northern High Plains-Southern High Plains-Southern Rocky
Mountain Front.

High Wind Warning from 3 AM Sunday to midnight MST Sunday night
for Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine-Cascade County below
5000ft-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-Snowy and Judith Mountains-Upper Blackfoot and
MacDonald Pass-Western and Central Chouteau County.

High Wind Watch from late Saturday night through Sunday evening
for Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains-Canyon Ferry Area-
Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains-Gallatin Valley-Meagher County
Valleys-Missouri Headwaters.

High Wind Warning from 8 AM Saturday to midnight MST Sunday
night for Judith Basin County and Judith Gap.

&&

http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Northern High Plains

When: March 7, 1:45 AM MST to March 8, 7:45 AM MST
Where: Northern High Plains forecast zone
Measured: 73 kt (84 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.467, -112.610 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Montana mesonet site Dog Gun Lake DOGM8 measured multiple high wind gusts, with an average sustained wind of 52 mph from 11:00am MST to 4:50pm MST on the 7th. A few weather stations in the area also measured multiple high wind gusts, with Mesonet station MTBWG Browning (MT DOT) reported high sustained winds as well.

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

When: March 7, 2:45 AM MST to March 8, 2:45 PM MST
Where: Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera forecast zone
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.529, -112.306 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous stations in this zone reported high wind gusts. The peak gust was recorded at ASOS station KCTB Cut Bank Airport of 75 mph. They also had an average sustained wind of 45 mph between 4:20am to 1:15pm MST on the 8th. Mesonet Station Mission Lake S MINM8 reported long duration high sustained winds for approximately 4.5 hours on the 7th, and 10 hours on the 8th.

High Wind, Eastern Toole and Liberty

When: March 7, 2:45 AM MST to March 8, 1:30 PM MST
Where: Eastern Toole and Liberty forecast zone
Measured: 71 kt (82 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.609, -111.360 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous weather stations in this zone reported high wind gusts. The highest was 82 mph measured at mesonet station GW0718 Joplin 25nnw. A few weather stations also reported high sustained winds over multiple hours, including mesonet station GW0718 Joplin 25nnw and Montana mesonet station Mt Lebanon SE on the 8th.

High Wind, Eastern Pondera and Eastern Teton

When: March 7, 11:15 AM MST to March 8, 2:10 PM MST
Where: Eastern Pondera and Eastern Teton forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.033, -112.233 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Multiple weather stations in this zone measured high wind gusts and a few measured high sustained winds over the span of a few hours. The strongest gust was measured at Montana mesonet station Fairfield FARM8 of 70 mph. They also measured an average high sustained wind of 46 mph from 8:05am to 2:10pm MST on the 8th.

High Wind, Judith Basin County and Judith Gap

When: March 7, 11:15 AM MST to March 8, 4:30 PM MST
Where: Judith Basin County and Judith Gap forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.155, -109.745 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Multiple stations measured high wind gusts through the time period, with the majority of high winds being on the 8th. A few weather stations also reported high sustained winds of up to 7 to 9 hours on the 8th. The highest wind gust measured was 68 mph at Mesonet station MTGYS Geyser MT DOT where they also measured an average high sustained wind of 44 mph from 12:45am to 4:30pm MST on the 8th. Dispatch also reported blowing dust around the area.

High Wind, Southern High Plains

When: March 7, 2:15 PM MST to March 8, 7:05 AM MST
Where: Southern High Plains forecast zone
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.480, -112.315 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A few weather stations measured high wind gusts. The highest was reported at Montana Mesonet station BUYM8 Bynum W of 80 mph. They also reported an average high sustained wind of 56 mph between 5:40am and 7:05am MST on the 8th.

High Wind, Southern Rocky Mountain Front

When: March 7, 4:29 PM MST to March 8, 7:53 PM MST
Where: Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.480, -112.315 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mesonet station Upper Elk Creek KMTAUGUS3 measured a 69 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Snowy and Judith Mountains

When: March 7, 10:52 PM MST to March 8, 1:52 PM MST
Where: Snowy and Judith Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.264, -109.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wunderground station KMTLEWIS74 measured a peak wind gust of 74 mph. Mesonet station JPKM8 Judith Peak RAWS also measured high wind gusts.

High Wind, East Glacier Park Region

When: March 7, 11:00 PM MST to March 8, 1:00 PM MST
Where: East Glacier Park Region forecast zone
Measured: 72 kt (83 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.467, -112.610 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Both Mesonet station SNPMT Sunpoint and LGPVC Logan Pass (GNP) measured high wind gusts, peaking at 83 mph.

High Wind, Western and Central Chouteau County

When: March 8, 12:55 AM MST to 4:50 PM MST
Where: Western and Central Chouteau County forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.881, -110.435 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous weather stations in the zone measured high wind wind gusts and a few measured sustained winds of up to 4 to 6 hours. The highest wind gust was measured at Montana mesonet station Frenchman Ridge of 71 mph and measured an average sustained wind of 46 mph between 9:25am to 4:50pm MST. Law enforcement also reported reduced visibility from blowing dust due to the strong winds.

High Wind, Cascade County Below 5000ft

When: March 8, 1:10 AM MST to 4:40 AM MST
Where: Cascade County Below 5000ft forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.308, -111.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous weather stations reported high wind gusts with a few also reporting high sustained winds over the span of 3 to 7 hours. The highest wind gust was measured at Montana mesonet station Sun River SE of 73 mph, and also measured an average sustained wind of 49 mph from 8:55am to 4:40 pm MST. The public and the Great Falls Airport ASOS reported reduced visibility due to blowing dust. Multiple reports of fences, trees and powerline damages across the city of Great Falls. A roof was blown off of Lincoln Elementary School in Great Falls.

High Wind, Fergus County Below 4500ft

When: March 8, 3:25 AM MST to 5:15 PM MST
Where: Fergus County Below 4500ft forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.264, -109.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Multiple weather stations reported high wind gusts. The highest wind gust was 73 mph measured at Mesonet station MTBCH Beacon Hill, and they also measured an average sustained wind of 45 mph from 9:30am to 3:30pm MST. Montana mesonet station Forestgrove N also measured high sustained winds over the span of approximately 8 hours. Dispatch also reported blowing dust with strong winds.

High Wind, Hill County

When: March 8, 6:00 AM MST to 2:15 PM MST
Where: Hill County forecast zone
Measured: 68 kt (78 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.628, -110.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous weather stations in the zone measured high wind gusts and a few reported high sustained winds. The highest was at ASOS station KHVR Havre Airport, where they measured a 78 mph wind gust and an average sustained wind of 44 mph between 10:20am to 2:15pm MST. During this time period, the ASOS also consistently had visibility drop to 1 to 3SM due to blowing dust.

High Wind, Upper Blackfoot and Macdonald Pass

When: March 8, 6:45 AM MST to 7:45 AM MST
Where: Upper Blackfoot and Macdonald Pass forecast zone
Measured: 36 kt (41 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.122, -112.390 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mesonet station MacDonald Pass MTMDP measured an average sustained wind speed of 41 mph between 6:45am MST to 7:45am MST.

High Wind, Madison River Valley

When: March 8, 7:15 AM MST to 9:30 AM MST
Where: Madison River Valley forecast zone
Measured: 38 kt (44 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.301, -111.920 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mesonet station MTNOR Norris Hill averaged a sustained wind of 44 mph from 7:15am to 9:30am MST.

High Wind, Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains

When: March 8, 8:11 AM MST to 9:00 AM MST
Where: Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 46.398, -111.485 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mesonet station TT838 Battle Ridge RAWS measured a 67mph wind gust. Mesonet station MTBDC Bridger Canyon also measured a high wind gust.

High Wind, Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine

When: March 8, 8:15 AM MST to 3:18 PM MST
Where: Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.314, -109.835 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Multiple weather stations measured high wind gusts during this period. The highest wind gust measured was 70 mph at Mesonet station FBLM8 Fort Belknap RAWS. They also measured an average sustained wind of 46 mph from 9:18amto 2:18pm MST. Montana mesonet station Cleveland N also measured sustained high winds over the span of approximately 6 hours.

High Wind, Meagher County Valleys

When: March 8, 8:24 AM MST
Where: Meagher County Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.598, -110.886 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather station IngerRanch KMTMONTA17 measured a 59 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Northern Blaine County

When: March 8, 9:05 AM MST to 2:25 PM MST
Where: Northern Blaine County forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated sustained
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.433, -108.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous weather stations in this zone hit high wind gusts with a few stations hitting high sustained winds over a span of 4 to 6 hours. The highest wind gust was reported at Mesonet station MTCHK Chinook (DOT) of 70 mph, they also averaged a sustained wind of 45 mph between 1pm to 2pm MST.

High Wind, Gates of the Mountains

When: March 8, 9:30 AM MST to 9:45 AM MST
Where: Gates of the Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.215, -111.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mesonet station MTSBN Sieben Flats measured a 64 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Helena Valley

When: March 8, 10:42 AM MST to 11:31 AM MST
Where: Helena Valley forecast zone
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.122, -112.390 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

ASOS station KHLN Helena Airport measured a 67 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Little Belt and Highwood Mountains

When: March 8, 10:45 AM MST to 5:45 PM MST
Where: Little Belt and Highwood Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.208, -110.733 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mesonet station MTMON Monarch Canyon measured a 68 mph wind gust. Mesonet station MTKIH Kings Hill also measured a high wind gust.

High Wind, Canyon Ferry Area

When: March 8, 2:30 PM MST
Where: Canyon Ferry Area forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 46.727, -111.942 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mesonet station GINM8 Ginger RAWS measured a 60 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, 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: 1314943, 1317351, 1317413, 1318105, 1318335, 1318008, 1318004, 1318345, 1314933, 1318332, 1318334, 1318336, 1317990, 1318342, 1318360, 1318347, 1318333, 1318353, 1318000, 1318343, 1318346, 1318344, 1318357.