High Wind in Judith Basin County and Judith Gap, Montana

Mesonet station MTGYS Geyser (MT DOT) measured a 59 mph gust on top of measuring sustained winds, averaged over at least an hour, of at least 40 mph (Happened twice).

An upper level ridge across the Northern Rockies was flattened by a potent shortwave over Dec 6-8 timeframe. Initially stout zonal mid-level flow was aided by a strengthening pressure gradient to result in quite a few strong winds gusts over the multi-day period. Adequate moistures resulted in locally heavy snow along the Rocky Mountain Front and into Central Montana by Dec 9.