High Wind — Southern High Plains, Montana

2025-12-15 to 2025-12-16 · Southern High Plains, Montana

Event narrative

Many sensors in this zone measured sustained winds of 50 mph or greater over at least an hour or gusts in excess of 75 mph, including sensors MTCTS Choteau South, DELMT Dellwo, MTPND Pendroy, and Bynum W MT mesonet. The peak observed gust at a sensor was 88 mph at Dellwo along the immediate eastern slopes of the Rockies.

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 1303317. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.