Strong Wind in Montana

Events

127

Deaths

2

Injuries

1

Damage

$2.6 million

• Strong Wind in Montana, April 14, 20222 deaths · 1 eventTwo teenagers drowned on Swan Lake following an increase in offshore winds.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in Montana, March 11 to 14, 20261 death · $156,000 · 63 kt wind · 15 eventsAn impressive, long-duration atmospheric river brought copious snowfall and high winds to western Montana. Some high-elevation areas received a few feet of snow. Impacts from this storm included power outages and impacts to travel.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in Montana, July 14 to 15, 20251 death · $32,000 · 50 kt wind · 3 eventsDuring the late evening of July 14th, a strong backdoor cold front moved into northwest Montana.
• Flooding and Strong Wind in Montana, December 10 to 12, 2025$35 million · 5 eventsRecord precipitation fell as a prolonged atmospheric river event gripped the region from December 6 through 12.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Montana, November 4 to 5, 20221 death · $7,000 · 74 kt wind · 14 eventsAn atmospheric river of moisture brought heavy snowfall and slow travel to the region. A cold front brought high winds and power outages, followed by snow bands later in the day on the 5th.
• Avalanche and Winter Weather in Montana, February 21 to 24, 20251 death · $5,000 · 6 eventsAn atmospheric river brought areas of rain and gusty winds. Sub-freezing temperatures resulted in icy road impacts. Avalanches were noted in a few areas.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Montana, April 10 to 11, 2020$1.0 million · 4 eventsA spring snow storm impacted areas along the Continental Divide in west-central Montana April 10th and 11th.
• Strong Wind in Montana, December 23, 2021$1.0 million · 1 eventStrong winds developed across the Bitterroot Valley as a Pacific cold front tracked across the area.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in Montana, February 22 to 25, 2012$314,000 · 65 kt wind · 6 eventsAn impressive winter storm system moved into north central Idaho and western Montana on the 22nd and continued to effect the region through the 24th. Initially a steady stream of Pacific moisture moved in from the west.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in Montana, November 15 to 16, 2021$263,000 · 69 kt wind · 7 eventsA large, upper level ridge, with strong warming and record temperatures in the 50s and 60s, ahead of a strong cold front set the stage for a damaging high wind event across the Northern Rockies.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in Montana, September 7, 2020$211,000 · 65 kt wind · 5 eventsUnseasonably cold air rushed over the Divide early on the 7th resulting in strong, damaging winds.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in Montana, March 13 to 14, 20201 injured · $131,000 · 63 kt wind · 5 eventsHigh winds associated with a late-season arctic front and an impressive pressure gradient wreaked havoc across northwest Montana, especially in the Flathead Valley.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in Montana, October 15 to 16, 2012$105,000 · 67 kt wind · 17 eventsA vigorous Pacific storm system moved into western Montana, with an associated strong upper jet. Large scale lift and a surface cold front caused widespread strong surface winds and significant precipitation totals.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in Montana, June 13, 2020$202,000 · 55 kt wind · 2 eventsA very anomalous wind pattern set up over southwest Montana where 60 mph winds mixed down to the surface for multiple hours.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in Montana, March 12 to 13, 2012$100,000 · 65 kt wind · 8 eventsAn upper level low off the Washington coast and a strong jet helped develop and intensify a surface low and associated cold front. This system brought damaging winds and some brief heavy snowfall to the region.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in Montana, April 18 to 19, 2021$80,000 · 50 kt wind · 6 eventsA Canadian cold front moved across the Continental Divide into western Montana during the afternoon and evening hours of April 18th. Temperatures quickly fell behind the front, with strong winds leading to power outages across portions of northwest Montana.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in Montana, December 15 to 16, 2025$76,000 · 58 kt wind · 2 eventsA cold front allowed for very high winds, associated with an atmospheric river in British Columbia Canada, to make it to the surface across northwest Montana. Mountain sites gusted to 100 mph in the Glacier Region. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph or greater occurred in the valleys.
• Blizzard and Extreme Cold in Montana, February 23 to 24, 2011$65,000 · 5 eventsA very moist Pacific weather system interacted with a cold Arctic air mass over western Montana to produce strong gusty winds, cold temperatures, very cold wind chill temperatures, blowing snow and local whiteout conditions.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in Montana, April 11 to 12, 2022$62,000 · 52 kt wind · 4 eventsStrong northeast winds developed across northwest Montana on April 11th as a surface low deepened across eastern Oregon.
• Winter Weather and Strong Wind in Montana, September 9 to 12, 2014$51,000 · 4 eventsA very cold air mass from Canada settled over western Montana and brought record cold temperatures, hard frost with crop damage and snowfall along the Continental Divide.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Montana, June 8, 2016$33,000 · 1.25 in hail · 9 eventsThe Northern Rockies were under southwest flow ahead of a large low pressure system off the West Coast. A shortwave trough and associated jet streak were moving through the southwest flow providing upper level forcing for thunderstorms.
• Debris Flow and Heavy Snow in Montana, December 28 to 29, 2011$36,000 · 53 kt wind · 7 eventsA large and complex weather system from the Pacific moved across north central Idaho to end the year. This system had 3 major impacts on the region. First, a tight surface pressure gradient, along with strong upper level winds produced high winds.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in Montana, November 10, 2019$30,000 · 5 eventsAn arctic air mass caused strong wind and damage to portions of northwest Montana, while southwest Montana experienced a flash-freeze with heavy snow bands.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in Montana, December 18 to 19, 2025$28,000 · 57 kt wind · 4 eventsJust two days after a historic windstorm devastated the region, another strong atmospheric river-connected wind event impacted the area during the early morning hours of December 19, severely compounding ongoing recovery efforts.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in Montana, October 4, 2024$21,000 · 72 kt wind · 7 eventsA strong cold front produced 50 to 60 mph winds in select valleys of northwest Montana. The damaging wind caused tree damage, and power outages.

Strong Wind everywhereEvery kind of event in Montana

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.