High Wind Warning Issued for Central Montana Mountains and Judith Basin

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a High Wind Warning for several regions in Central Montana. The alert is classified as a high-severity event, indicating a high probability of hazardous wind conditions that could impact property and travel.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions:

• Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine
• Judith Basin County and Judith Gap
• Fergus County (areas below 4500ft)
• Little Belt and Highwood Mountains
• Snowy and Judith Mountains

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are urged to take the following precautions:

• Secure loose outdoor objects that could be blown away or damaged by high winds.
• Use extra caution if driving, as travel could be difficult, particularly for high-profile vehicles.
• Prepare for the possibility of power outages caused by wind damage.

Expected Conditions

Forecasters expect sustained west winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts reaching up to 60 mph. According to the NWS, a High Wind Warning indicates at least an 80% chance of sustained winds of 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph.

Additional conditions include:

• Wind Shift: Gusty west winds will develop Tuesday afternoon following a cold front, shifting to the northwest by Tuesday evening.
• Visibility: Snow showers may accompany and follow the cold front. The combination of gusty winds and snow may lead to periods of reduced visibility, specifically near the Bears Paw and Little Belt mountains.

Timeline

The High Wind Warning is effective from 9:00 AM MST Tuesday, February 17, through 8:00 PM MST Tuesday evening.