High Wind — Hill County, Montana

2024-10-04 · Hill County, Montana

Event narrative

In addition to the KHVR ASOS, multiple other mesonets measures gusts of or in excess of 58 mph, including a peak gust of 67 mph 20 miles north of Rudyard at EW1937 Goldstone. Other sensors reaching 58 mph or greater include mesonet GW4079 Inverness 10 south, mesonet station DVI02964 Havre 6 miles ENE of Kremlin, mesonet station FW1664 Hingham 16 miles NNE of Rudyard, EW1931 12 miles south of Rudyard, and mesonet station GW3530 11 miles south of Rudyard.

Wider weather episode

A robust shortwave shifting eastward from the Pacific Northwest eclipsed the Northern Rockies during the day October 4. At the surface, a surface trough slowly increased in magnitude through the day before ejecting eastward as a surface low late afternoon. As the surface low pulled away, a strong cold front (Aided by 50-70kt winds within the first few thousand feet of the surface) swept across the region. Mechanical mixing allowed for multiple 70+ mph gusts to be realized at the surface, even with the front passing after sunset for most locations.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1209478. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.