High Wind — Cascade County Below 5000ft, Montana

2024-11-17 · Cascade County Below 5000ft, Montana

Event narrative

Multiple sensors measured sustained winds of at least 40 mph over an hour or gusts of 58 mph or greater, including ASOS station KGFT Great Falls Airport which measured a 72 mph gust. Additionally, the ASOS measured sustained winds, averaged over an hour, of 45 mph between 530 and 630 AM November 17th. Additional sensors measuring gusts reaching criteria include MTM76 Cascade E MDA (61 mph gust), FW5493 Vaughn (68 mph gust), AWOS station KGFA Malmstrom AFB (63 mph gust), and BENTLAK Benton Lake W (58 mph gust). Additionally, Belt Rural Fire District posted a social media image showing a semi trailer overturned on US-87 near Belt.

Wider weather episode

Although the region was between systems, strong cross barrier flow along the Rocky Mountain Front and a modest ridgetop inversion resulted in mountain waves over the adjacent plains. Additionally, strong winds below the inversion in and around Great Falls were translated to the surface over multiple hours the morning of the 17th, with gusts in excess of 70 mph observed at the Great Falls Airport.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1219195. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.