Strong winds aloft along with a series of deep surface lows moving across southern Canada combined to produce strong winds over a wide area of North Central Montana. A wind gust to 133 mph was reported at the Logan Pass Visitor Center in Glacier Park. Numerous reports of 60 to 80 mph gusts were reported elsewhere along the Rocky Mountain front and adjacent plains. Many power poles were blown down resulting in areas of power outages. Many trees were reported down in the Little Belt mountains resulting in the blocking of snowmobile trails. Also, the eastbound Amtrak was delayed by four to five hours.

High Wind in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 05:05:00 to 15-DEC-06 05:15:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A gust to 65 mph was reported at the Great Falls ASOS site. The strong winds were responsible for downing seven power poles in the Great Falls area resulting in scattered power outages. Power poles were also downed at Sand Coulee, Belt, Dutton and Chester.

High Wind in CHOUTEAU, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 11:10:00 to 15-DEC-06 13:50:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 42.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Sustained winds of 48 mph were reported at the Loma DOT site.

High Wind in SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 04:40:00 to 15-DEC-06 07:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A wind gust to 68 mph was reported at the Macdonald Pass DOT site.

High Wind in TOOLE, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 08:10:00 to 15-DEC-06 13:40:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A gust to 67 mph was reported at the Sweet Grass DOT site.

High Wind in MADISON, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 06:50:00 to 15-DEC-06 08:55:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A gust to 65 mph was reported at the Raynolds Pass DOT site.

High Wind in LIBERTY, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 11:45:00 to 15-DEC-06 17:40:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A gust to 58 mph was reported at Joplin.

High Wind in EASTERN PONDERA, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 12:31:00 to 15-DEC-06 13:40:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A gust to 72 mph was reported at Valier 1S.

High Wind in NORTH ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 08:55:00 to 15-DEC-06 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A gust to 59 mph was reported at East Glacier Park 2E. A wind gust to 133 mph was reported at the Logan Pass Visitor Center in Glacier Park. Also, a wind gust to 164 mph was reported at Snowslip Mountain which is located just east of the Continental Divide along U.S. Highway 2.

High Wind in BLAINE, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 14:15:00 to 15-DEC-06 14:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A gust to 59 mph was reported at the Fort Belknap DOT site.

High Wind in EASTERN TETON, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 11:14:00 to 15-DEC-06 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 69.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A gust to 79 mph was reported at Choteau.

High Wind in EASTERN GLACIER, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 08:55:00 to 15-DEC-06 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A gust to 59 mph was reported at the Cut Bank ASOS site. The high winds were responsible for delaying the east-bound Amtrak train by four to five hours.

High Wind in HILL, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 11:45:00 to 15-DEC-06 17:40:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 40.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Sustained winds of 46 mph were reported at the Inverness DOT site.

High Wind in SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 11:14:00 to 15-DEC-06 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 69.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A gust to 79 mph was reported at Choteau.

High Wind in FERGUS, MONTANA
From 15-DEC-06 11:50:00 to 15-DEC-06 12:50:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A gust to 56 mph was measured near Roy. Also, sustained winds of 43 mph were reported at the DOT sensor near Denton.