A strong pressure gradient set up over the northern high plains region for a few days between intense low pressure to the northeast and higher pressure to the southwest, which funneled very strong winds across northeast Montana.

High Wind in LITTLE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 17-OCT-12 11:27:00 to 17-OCT-12 13:40:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Malta South US-191 DOT site measured sustained wind speeds near or well above 40 mph during the evening and late night hours on the 16th, then again during the afternoon hours on the 17th.  A maximum wind gust of 85 mph was measured on the 16th at 20:40 MST.

High Wind in NORTHERN PHILLIPS, MONTANA
From 16-OCT-12 17:55:00 to 16-OCT-12 21:55:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The mesonet site at Whitewater measured sustained winds of 40 mph for most of the evening hours.

High Wind in GARFIELD, MONTANA
From 16-OCT-12 19:25:00 to 16-OCT-12 22:25:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The South Sawmill Creek RAWS site and the Jordan airport ASOS METAR measured wind gusts of 58 mph and 59 mph respectively during the evening hours on October 16th.

High Wind in MCCONE, MONTANA
From 16-OCT-12 19:25:00 to 17-OCT-12 22:25:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Sustained winds of 41 mph were recorded at the mesonet site just east of the Fort Peck Dam during the late night hours.  After a morning respite, sustained winds of at least 40 mph returned across the entire zone from mid day through the afternoon hours, with a maximum wind gust of 66 mph.

High Wind in PETROLEUM, MONTANA
From 16-OCT-12 20:50:00 to 16-OCT-12 20:50:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Sustained wind speeds at or near 40 mph were measured at the Winnett Mesonet site during the evening hours with a maximum wind gust of 61 mph recorded at 20:50 pm MST.

High Wind in CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VALLEY, MONTANA
From 16-OCT-12 21:44:00 to 17-OCT-12 14:44:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

Multiple locations measured sustained winds in excess of 40 mph and some gusts in excess of 58 mph. At the King Coulee RAWS site, a maximum wind gust of 69 mph was during the overnight hours between November 16th and 17th.

High Wind in PRAIRIE, MONTANA
From 16-OCT-12 22:44:00 to 17-OCT-12 14:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

Wind gusts of at least 58 mph were recorded at the Big Sheep Mountain RAWS site during the late night hours of Oct. 16th, with a maximum wind gust of 62 mph.

High Wind in SHERIDAN, MONTANA
From 17-OCT-12 11:20:00 to 17-OCT-12 19:39:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Sustained winds near and in excess of 40 mph became common during the overnight and very early morning hours of Oct. 17th.  The strongest winds were recorded between the midnight and 02:00 AM MST, with a maximum wind gust of 63 mph recorded at the Plentywood METAR site.

High Wind in WIBAUX, MONTANA
From 17-OCT-12 08:52:00 to 17-OCT-12 17:11:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The Beaver Hill DOT site measured sustained winds in excess of 40 mph from mid morning through early evening, with a maximum wind gust of 60 mph in the afternoon.

High Wind in DAWSON, MONTANA
From 17-OCT-12 09:05:00 to 17-OCT-12 17:10:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Sustained winds of at least 40 mph were measured at the Lindsay Divide DOT sensor on Oct. 17th from late morning through early evening with a maximum wind gust of 60 mph.

High Wind in RICHLAND, MONTANA
From 17-OCT-12 10:34:00 to 17-OCT-12 17:59:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Sustained winds at or above 40 mph were common from mid-day through the early evening hours of Oct. 17th at the Sioux Pass DOT site.

High Wind in EASTERN ROOSEVELT, MONTANA
From 17-OCT-12 11:02:00 to 17-OCT-12 22:44:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The US-2 at Stateline DOT site measured sustained winds of 40 mph from mid day through the late evening hours.

High Wind in CENTRAL AND SE PHILLIPS, MONTANA
From 17-OCT-12 11:27:00 to 17-OCT-12 13:40:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Sustained winds near and in excess 40 mph were recorded through the afternoon hours at the Saco US-2 DOT site.

High Wind in WESTERN ROOSEVELT, MONTANA
From 16-OCT-12 23:08:00 to 17-OCT-12 15:53:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Sustained winds above 40 mph were common during the early afternoon hours of Oct. 17th at the Wolf Point ASOS site with a measured maximum wind gust of 61 mph.

High Wind in NORTHERN VALLEY, MONTANA
From 16-OCT-12 16:00:00 to 16-OCT-12 20:50:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Co-operative observer measured a 60 mph wind gust on the evening of the 17th.  A trained spotter near the same area reported a wind gust of 78 mph during the late afternoon hours.

High Wind in DANIELS, MONTANA
From 16-OCT-12 23:00:00 to 16-OCT-12 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

The local newspaper out of Scobey reported that a garage construction site was damaged from high winds on the evening of Oct. 16th.