A fast moving Pacific trough and vigorous attendant cold front brought the first high wind event of 2021 to Central and North-central Montana. The strong winds began to materialize well ahead of the upper level system on Saturday January 2nd as lee side surface troughing over the Canadian prairies interacted with high pressure over Eastern Idaho and Wyoming for a tightening pressure gradient over the wind prone Rocky Mountain Front and north-central plains. By Sunday January 3rd, a 60 to 80 kt H700 jet max passed through the region while a strong Pacific cold front quickly moved northwest to southeast, bringing a line scattered convective showers with it. This is when some of the strongest winds were mixed to the surface and swept through the populated areas of the forecast area. Numerous reports of wind gusts ranging from 50 to 70 mph were observed.

High Wind in NORTH ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 02-JAN-21 15:07:00 to 02-JAN-21 15:07:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 66.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

MDT Two Medicine Bridge station measured 66 kt (76 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 04:00:00 to 03-JAN-21 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 69.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Dellwo station (14 W Bynum) measured a 69 kt (79 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 12:45:00 to 03-JAN-21 12:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 65.00 MG
Reported by: COOP Observer

Observer at 4 SSW Bynum measured a 65 kt (75 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in MEAGHER, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 10:10:00 to 03-JAN-21 10:10:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Station K7S6 (4 S White Sulphur Springs) measured a 51 kt (59 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 13:41:00 to 03-JAN-21 13:41:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

Helena Airport measured a 59 kt (68 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in JUDITH BASIN, MONTANA
From 02-JAN-21 22:58:00 to 02-JAN-21 22:58:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Geyser station (K1BM) measured a 50 kt (58 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in JUDITH BASIN, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 14:37:00 to 03-JAN-21 14:37:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

MDT Geyser station (2 SSE Geyser) measured a 56 kt (65 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in JUDITH BASIN, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 15:00:00 to 03-JAN-21 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Benchland station (3 ENE Benchland) measured a 56 kt (65 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in HILL, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 13:15:00 to 03-JAN-21 13:15:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Station EW1931 Rudyard (12 S Rudyard) measured a 53 kt (61 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in HILL, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 13:05:00 to 03-JAN-21 13:05:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

MDT station Inverness measured a 51 kt (59 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 02-JAN-21 21:53:00 to 02-JAN-21 21:53:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

Great Falls Airport measured a 54 kt (62 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 13:53:00 to 03-JAN-21 13:53:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

Great Falls Airport measured a 58 kt (67 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 14:58:00 to 03-JAN-21 14:58:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Reported by: AWOS

Alpha station (3 WNW Raynesford) measured a 57 kt (66 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in CHOUTEAU, MONTANA
From 02-JAN-21 15:00:00 to 02-JAN-21 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Loma station (8 ESE Fort Benton) measured 50 kt (58 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in CHOUTEAU, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 15:00:00 to 03-JAN-21 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Station at 3 SSW Loma measured a 52 kt (60 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in FERGUS, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 02:58:00 to 03-JAN-21 02:58:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Reported by: AWOS

Lima station measured a 50 kt (58 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in FERGUS, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 15:58:00 to 03-JAN-21 15:58:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Reported by: AWOS

Oscar station measured 55 kt (63 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in FERGUS, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 15:58:00 to 03-JAN-21 15:58:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Reported by: AWOS

November station measured a 54 kt (62 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in GALLATIN, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 14:50:00 to 03-JAN-21 14:50:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

MDT Bozeman Pass station (12 E Bozeman) measured a 55 kt (63 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in EASTERN GLACIER, MONTANA
From 02-JAN-21 16:56:00 to 02-JAN-21 16:56:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

Cut Bank Airport measured a 55 kt (63 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in EASTERN GLACIER, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 05:56:00 to 03-JAN-21 05:56:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

Cut Bank Airport measured a 55 kt (63 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.

High Wind in NORTH ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 03-JAN-21 00:25:00 to 03-JAN-21 00:25:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

MDT Browning station at 2 SE Browning measured a 70 kt (80 mph) non-thunderstorm wind gust.