High Wind in Fergus County Below 4500ft, Montana

Multiple weather stations reported high wind gusts. The highest wind gust was 73 mph measured at Mesonet station MTBCH Beacon Hill, and they also measured an average sustained wind of 45 mph from 9:30am to 3:30pm MST. Montana mesonet station Forestgrove N also measured high sustained winds over the span of approximately 8 hours. Dispatch also reported blowing dust with strong winds.

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.