With strong mid- and low-level winds over the region, atmospheric conditions were favorable to allow much of those stronger winds to reach the surface amid a tight pressure gradient.

High Wind in WESTERN ROOSEVELT, MONTANA
From 19-FEB-16 11:53:00 to 19-FEB-16 11:57:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

At the Wolf Point airport ASOS site, a lone peak wind gust of 60 mph was recorded at the 11:53 am MST observation.  The next observation 4 minutes later had winds back down below warning criteria.

High Wind in GARFIELD, MONTANA
From 19-FEB-16 10:00:00 to 19-FEB-16 13:08:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Sustained winds near 40 mph were common during the morning of the 19th with peak wind gusts of 59 mph recorded both at the Jordan airport ASOS site and at the South Sawmill Creek RAWS site.

High Wind in DAWSON, MONTANA
From 19-FEB-16 11:28:00 to 19-FEB-16 14:13:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Sustained winds of at least 40 mph were common late in the morning with a peak wind gust of 62 mph recorded early in the afternoon at the Beaver Hill I-94 DOT site.  Winds diminished again by mid afternoon.

High Wind in WIBAUX, MONTANA
From 19-FEB-16 10:10:00 to 19-FEB-16 14:13:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Sustained winds of at least 40 mph were common late in the morning with a peak wind gust of 62 mph recorded early in the afternoon at the Beaver Hill I-94 DOT site.  Winds diminished again by mid afternoon.

High Wind in LITTLE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 18-FEB-16 20:20:00 to 19-FEB-16 12:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

At the Malta South US-191 DOT site, winds meeting high wind criteria occurred on the evening of the 18th and the morning of the 19th with a peak wind gust of 65 mph at 4:23 am MST.

High Wind in CENTRAL AND SE PHILLIPS, MONTANA
From 18-FEB-16 21:30:00 to 19-FEB-16 13:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

At the 13SW Malta mesonet site, sustained winds of 40 mph were common from the evening of the 18th through the morning of the 19th with a peak wind gust of 65 recorded at 11:30 am MST on the 19th.

High Wind in CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VALLEY, MONTANA
From 19-FEB-16 12:44:00 to 19-FEB-16 15:44:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

At the King Coulee RAWS site, sustained winds of at least 40 mph were common during the late morning and afternoon hours with the peak wind gust of 63 mph recorded at 1:44 MST pm.

High Wind in RICHLAND, MONTANA
From 19-FEB-16 11:28:00 to 19-FEB-16 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

With sustained winds near and above 40 mph late in the morning, a verifying wind gust of 58 mph was recorded at the Sioux Pass MT-16 DOT site just after mid-day, and peak wind gusts of 60 mph were recorded both there and at the Sidney airport AWOS site early that afternoon.