Another very high wind event impacted the entire state of northern Wyoming, producing gusts up to 75 mph over much of the area, especially the Bighorn Mountains.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 BYZ wrote it up.
Another very high wind event impacted the entire state of northern Wyoming, producing gusts up to 75 mph over much of the area, especially the Bighorn Mountains.
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 Billings, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 12, 1:55 AM MST, 0 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
255 AM MDT Thu Mar 12 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Dangerously strong winds expected across the region today.
Winds may be stronger than last Sunday's event. Crosswinds will
make travel difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
Damage to roofs/fences and trees are possible, along with power
outages.
- Gusts 70-90 mph across the western foothills with 60-75 mph
gusts across the plains.
- Pacific moisture moving into the region will bring periods of
snow, first to the mountains today, and the rest of the area
tonight through Saturday night. Pay attention to the forecast
and check on road conditions before traveling.
- Significant snowfall is expected for the mountains with 1-3 feet
of snow forecast through Saturday night.
- About a 40-70% chance exists for areas north and northwest of
Billings for 18 inches of snow. The remainder of south central
MT and northern WY can expect 7-14 inches with southeast MT at
4-7 inches.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Today through Wednesday...
High wind warnings look to be on track as strong 700 mb winds
continue to increase overnight to 75-90 kts. The Livingston area
is already seeing gusts in the 70s (mph) and this will increase
through the early morning hours. After sunrise, the threat begins
to include the Big Timber through Judith Gap corridor (highway
191). There is currently a 50-60% chance for gusts to at least 80
mph with around a 20% chance for gusts to 90 mph. An additional
area to note is there has been an increase in winds gusts amongst
high-res models for the Red Lodge foothills for the potential for
some higher end gusts of 65-80 mph mid morning. After 9 am, the
remainder of the area can expect to see strong winds begin with
gusts 60-75 mph common. Hi-res models look to bring in a front
from the north late morning to mid day bringing light
precipitation and likely enhancing winds. Winds will begin to
decrease late afternoon behind the front. Please note that these
very strong winds can down trees and power lines creating power
outages and cause damage to property. Driving conditions will also
be very difficult along I-90 east of Billings through Livingston
and along highway 191 from Big Timber to Judith Gap, especially
for high profile vehicles. Make alternate travel plans if
possible.
Low level winds will then transition from north to east through
the evening creating an over running pattern for our area. With
this Pacific flow in place, atmospheric moisture is about 150-200%
of normal. This will yield moderate to high chances for at least
an inch of liquid water for south central MT and northern WY
Thursday night through Saturday night. As far as snowfall amounts
go, the Beartooth/Absarokas and Crazies are expected to get around
1-4 feet with the Bighorns at 1-2 feet. Across the lower
elevations, the highest chances for at least 18 inches are areas
north and northwest of Billings at around 40-70%. Billings and
surrounding areas have about a 40-60% chance of at least a foot.
Areas of southeast MT have about a 50-70% of at least six inches
of snow during this same time frame. Being this isn't as favorable
of a pattern for areas along the Beartooth foothills (the best
forcing to the northeast), these areas are currently forecast to
get 5 to 10 inches over the two day period. As this system begins
to exit the region Saturday into Sunday, a final front and a tight
pressure gradient to follow could create some areas of blowing
snow, although snow may be wet enough to not cause problems. This
will be something to keep an eye on.
For next week, ensembles bring in higher heights under northwest
flow and indicate a weak disturbance moving through, likely
bringing some light rain showers to the lower elevations. Periods
of breezy conditions for the foothills west of Billings will
return for the first half of the work week next week.
Temperatures are expected to fall into the 20s to low 40s Friday
through the weekend, warming the to 40s/50s/60s Mon-Tues with low
70s possible by Wednesday. TS
.AVIATION...
Very strong winds will impact the area over the next 24 hours. Expect
wind gusts to increase near 70 kts along the western foothills
this morning, including KLVM K6S0 & KHWQ. There is a low risk of
surfacing mountain waves in the lee side of the Beartooth, Pryor &
Bighorn Mountains through early this morning (potentially
impacting KSHR). A frontal passage will push strong/well-mixed
W-NW winds across lower elevations today as well, beginning
15-16z and continuing through most of the afternoon. Expect gusts
of 50-60 knots at KBIL, KMLS & KSHR with a ~30% chance of gusts
reaching 65+ knots at these sites. Gusts along the western
foothills may push 80 knots at times.
Other than wind, Pacific flow will bring periods of snow to the
western mountains today, resulting in occasional obscurations of
the high terrain. Eastern plains will see shower chances increase
with the frontal passage this afternoon, possibly resulting in
late day MVFR conditions. Greater potential for snow and MVFR to
IFR conditions arrive this evening as winds decrease. JKL/STP
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...
Tdy Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
-------------------------------------------------------
BIL 057 031/039 028/039 010/031 016/046 039/060 041/074
4/W 99/J 9+/J 92/J 33/W 21/B 00/B
LVM 050 038/050 038/047 015/035 024/052 044/065 044/071
5/W 89/W 9+/W 82/J 55/W 31/N 00/N
HDN 059 029/041 027/042 011/032 012/045 034/061 035/074
6/W 9+/J 9+/J 93/J 34/W 21/B 00/B
MLS 051 026/037 025/035 011/025 009/037 029/057 035/071
6/W 47/J 69/J 71/E 13/W 21/E 00/B
4BQ 058 026/040 026/040 012/027 009/040 031/060 038/073
6/W 78/J 79/J 92/J 12/W 21/B 00/B
BHK 049 021/036 020/031 007/023 005/034 023/052 035/066
6/W 26/J 49/J 81/E 02/J 32/W 00/B
SHR 057 024/044 025/045 007/028 010/045 032/062 037/073
7/W 98/W 89/W +3/J 23/W 21/B 00/B
&&
.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...High Wind Warning in effect from 6 AM this morning to 9 PM
MDT this evening FOR ZONES
29>33-36-37-57-58-139-170-173-235.
Winter Storm Warning in effect from 6 PM this evening to 6 AM
MDT Sunday FOR ZONES
29-30-34-42-57-63-138-141-171>173-228-235.
Winter Storm Watch in effect from this evening through late
Saturday night FOR ZONES 31-36-58-169.
High Wind Warning in effect until 9 PM MDT this evening FOR
ZONES 34-40-42-56-63>68-138-141-169-171-172-228.
Winter Storm Watch in effect from Friday afternoon through
late Saturday night FOR ZONES 56-66.
Winter Storm Warning in effect until 6 AM MDT Sunday FOR ZONE
67.
Winter Storm Warning in effect from noon today to 6 AM MDT
Sunday FOR ZONE 68.
WY...Winter Storm Warning in effect from 6 PM this evening to 6 AM
MDT Sunday FOR ZONE 198.
Winter Storm Watch in effect from this evening through late
Saturday night FOR ZONE 199.
High Wind Warning in effect until 9 PM MDT this evening FOR
ZONES 198-199.
&&
weather.gov/billingsPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Billings MT
906 PM MDT Wed Mar 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0828 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 ENE Livingston 45.70N 110.45W
03/11/2026 E78 MPH Park MT ASOS
Livingston Airport.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Billings MT
1128 PM MDT Wed Mar 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1108 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 6 ENE Livingston 45.70N 110.45W
03/11/2026 M81 MPH Park MT ASOS
1115 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SSE Livingston 45.64N 110.55W
03/11/2026 M76 MPH Park MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTLRH Livingston River Hill.
1025 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 13 SW Washoe 45.03N 109.41W
03/11/2026 M70 MPH Carbon MT Mesonet
Mesonet station TT839 Quad Creek (RAWS).
1045 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 ENE Livingston 45.69N 110.50W
03/11/2026 M63 MPH Park MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTELV 3.3 E Livingston (MT
DOT).
0745 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WSW Livingston 45.65N 110.60W
03/11/2026 M61 MPH Park MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTLWM 2.0 SW Livingston (MT
DOT).
0812 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 17 NE Wilsall 46.16N 110.38W
03/11/2026 M56 MPH Park MT Mesonet
Mesonet station TT453 Crazy.
0918 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 18 S Fort Smith 45.07N 107.89W
03/11/2026 M56 MPH Big Horn MT Mesonet
Mesonet station BHMM8 Bighorn Mountain.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Banner CWOP gusted to 62 mph.
Burgess Junction RAWS gusted to 58 mph early on, then up to 75 mph later in the morning.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, March 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: 1327546, 1327548.