Thunderstorm Wind — Blaine, Montana

2024-08-23 · near Ft Belknap Agency, Blaine, Montana

Event narrative

RAWS sensor FBLM8 Fort Belknap measured a severe gust. Time was estimated given RAWS sensors only report one time per hour.

Wider weather episode

An anomalously strong upper level trough was set up just off the west coast, which resulted in a strong belt of mid level southerly flow across Southwest through North-central Montana. Synoptic winds were already breezy from the south, allowing thunderstorms to easily produce strong wind gusts given inverted-V soundings. Wind gusts in excess of 80 mph were observed on this day as a line of gusty outflow spread northward over the plains.

A High Wind Warning was also issued for Southwest Montana this day, though no strong synoptic gusts were observed.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (48.3000, -108.7200)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1200676. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.