High Wind — Northern High Plains, Montana

2026-01-11 to 2026-01-12 · Northern High Plains, Montana

Event narrative

Mesonet station MTBRN Two Medicine Bridge (MT DOT) measured an 89 mph wind gust and measured an average high sustained wind of 60 mph on the 12th between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM MST. A few other stations measured high wind gusts and sustained winds during the period.

Wider weather episode

An upper-level disturbance moving through the region brought strong winds aloft and strengthened the surface pressure gradient along the Rocky Mountain Front. This brought a period of high winds to the Rocky Mountain Front on the 11th. These stronger winds aloft progressed east across the plains on the 12th, which brought high winds to North-Central MT, primarily along the Montana Highway 200 Corridor.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1304944. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.