High Wind in Northern Blaine County, Montana

Multiple sensors across Northern Blaine county (including the US-2 corridor), measured gusts in excess of 58 mph or sustained winds, averaging 40 mph over at least an hour. These sensors include MTCHK Chinook US-2 mp 403.5 (MT DOT), BFTM 4.4 E Hogeland (Agrimet), MT mesonet sensor Savoy SW, AWOS station S719 Chinook, MT mesonet sensor Hogeland SW, and MT mesonet sensor Turner N. The peak observed gust was at Savoy SW (9 miles ESE of Fort Belknap) and was 82 mph. Sustained winds averaging 50 mph, averaged over an hour, were observed north of US-2 near Turner and Hogeland.

Robust low to mid level flow westerly flow associated with a potent shortwave and attendant cold fronts resulted in a prolonged period of high-end winds and gusts across the entire region Dec 17 into the 18th. Multiple gusts in excess of 90 mph were observed in populated areas, with a peak observed gust of 104 mph west of Bynum. Prolonged power outages were observed across the region, mostly due to trees being damaged/falling over completely. Additional societal impacts included extremely difficult to impossible travel conditions, which prompted a Civil Emergency Message for areas along the Rocky Mountain Front the afternoon of the 17th.