High Wind in Gates of the Mountains, Montana

Two trained spotters in the Birsdeye area reported gusts of or greater than 58 mph. Additionally, MDT sensor Sieben Flats MTSBN measured a 59 mph gust.

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.