High Wind — Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine, Montana

2025-01-23 · Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine, Montana

Event narrative

ASOS station KCTB Cut Bank Airport measured a 60 mph gust. The ASOS also measured high sustained winds averaging 40+ mph over at least an hour. Additional sensors in this zone also measured criteria winds/gusts.

Wider weather episode

Upper level troughing diving southeastward from the Gulf of Alaska brought a period of zonal to slightly northwesterly flow aloft to the region January 23. A strong ridgetop inversion allowed for mountain wave activity to develop, which in combination with an increased pressure gradient and cross barrier flow resulted in gusty winds along the Rocky Mountain Front out to Cut Bank.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1240223. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.