High Wind in Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine, Montana

Multiple weather stations measured high wind gusts during this period. The highest wind gust measured was 70 mph at Mesonet station FBLM8 Fort Belknap RAWS. They also measured an average sustained wind of 46 mph from 9:18amto 2:18pm MST. Montana mesonet station Cleveland N also measured sustained high winds over the span of approximately 6 hours.

A fast-moving shortwave upper level trough followed by a shortwave ridge tracking near the International Border produced a strong surface pressure gradient on the 7th and accompanying strong winds across North-Central MT. Heading into the 8th, the upper level ridge broke down. This day brought a longer duration of strong sustained winds and widespread strong wind gusts over North-Central MT.