High Wind — Southern Rocky Mountain Front, Montana

2025-12-17 · Southern Rocky Mountain Front, Montana

Event narrative

Wunderground sensor Upper Elk Creek (KMTAUGUS3) Measured a 71 mph gust. While this does not satisfy the typical higher criteria of 75 mph for this zone, the overwhelming pile of evidence supporting a high-end wind day in addition the fact that there are no Windy sensors in this zone leaves very little options. It was incredibly windy but there were no sensors in areas that were not protected from winds at least in some capacity.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1306394. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.