High Wind — Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine, Montana

2025-12-15 to 2025-12-16 · Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine, Montana

Event narrative

MT mesonet station Cleveland N and RAWS station FBLM8 Fort Belknap both measured gusts in excess of 58 mph, in addition to Cleveland N measuring sustained winds averaging at least 40 mph over an hour. The peak observed gust was at Cleveland N and was 71 mph. There was also a report received of a tin roof being ripped off a shed and thrown between 150 and 200 feet downwind.

Wider weather episode

Strong zonal flow ahead of an initial shortwave during the afternoon of the 15th was translated to the surface through early on the 16th. These winds were stronger and more widespread than the previous event a day prior, but paled in comparison to the winds that developed just a day or so later on the 17th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1303306. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.