High Wind — Madison River Valley, Montana

2025-06-20 · Madison River Valley, Montana

Event narrative

MT DOT sensor Norris Hill measured a 58 mph gust on top of several periods of high sustained winds (Averaged 40 mph over an hour or more).

Wider weather episode

Robust troughing moving inland across the Pacific NW began to usher cooler air southward on the 19th into the 20th across northern areas. In the meantime, deep mixing and weak shear with marginal instability managed to produce isolated severe gusts across SW MT on the 19th. Heading into the 20th the instability decreased, but southerly to southwesterly flow increased aloft over SW MT. This resulted in a period of strong winds and gusts, strongest in the Madison River Valley. As the Pacific troughing moved further inland, attention then turned to precipitation, which fell in the mountains as snow Saturday into Sunday (June 20-22). All the while, strong winds/gusts were occurring across portions of the Hi-Line as the cooler air surged southward.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1272718. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.