Thunderstorm Wind in Cascade County, Montana

Thunderstorm Wind December 26, 2025 · Cascade County, Montana

66 mph

Measured gust (57 kt)

Where the report was made, with tornadoes recorded within 15 miles over the years.

What the National Weather Service wrote

ASOS station KGTF Great Falls Airport. A few lighting strikes developed south of town after the initial gust blew through.

The wider storm

Sufficient southerly flow and a pressure gradient combined to result in a couple periods of stronger winds across north south oriented valleys of Southwest Montana on either side of Christmas day. The Madison River Valley saw the strongest winds at the surface at lower elevations, though high winds were only observed on the 24th there.

In addition to the stronger southerly winds, a rather potent shortwave and sufficiently cool temperatures aloft allowed for some instability to develop across the plains of North-central Montana Dec 26. Convective showers and a few lightning strikes developed from this, resulting in a few 50+ kt gusts.

Began near (gtf)great Falls Arpt (47.4700, -111.3800).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 1306690. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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