High Wind — Eastern Toole and Liberty, Montana

2024-12-06 to 2024-12-08 · Eastern Toole and Liberty, Montana

Event narrative

Montana mesonet station MT Lebanon E measured multiple gusts of 58 mph or greater, including a peak gust of 71 mph. Mesonet sensor GW3546 Whitlash 7 S measured a 63 mph gust in addition to sustained winds, averaged over an hour, of 43 mph. Sensor GW4015 Chester 4 NE measured a 59 mph gust.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1221614. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.