High Wind in Little Belt and Highwood Mountains, Montana

Mesonet station MTMON Monarch Canyon measured a 90 mph wind gust and averaged a sustained wind of 44 mph between 3:16 AM and 4:30 AM MST. A Northwest Energy sensor 5 N of Monarch and mesonet station SFJM8 S. Fork Judith RAWS also measured high wind gusts.

A complex, multi-day weather system moved across the region bringing rounds of wind, snow, and when combined, blizzard conditions. Strong winds aloft brought a round of high winds to the region beginning late on the 11th through the 12th. A low pressure system with a cold front pushed south through the 12th, ending the high wind threat, but bringing a heavy snow threat to the mountains and lower elevations of North-Central MT. The front then stalled, continuing periods of heavy snow through the 14th when gusty winds developed across the I-15 and MT Highway 200 corridor which led to blizzard conditions.