Strong upper-level ridging persisted and was the dominated weather feature for several days. Record breaking high temperatures, near single digit RH, and strong winds gusts have led to a Red Flag Warning throughout the 4 days. Numerous fires sparked as a result of incapsulated erratic gusty winds associated with isolated dry thunderstorms. The breakdown of the upper-level ridge, onset of strong winds aloft, and the isolated dry thunderstorms was the trifecta that led to an extreme critical fire weather event.

Wildfire in HILL, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 02:30:00 to 21-SEP-22 07:14:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

A wildfire by the name of Eagle Creek Fire started approximately 30 miles south of Havre in the Bears Paw Mountains. An estimated 7225 acres were burned and required the usage of 173 response personnel. Lions Campground and Sandy Creek Campground were both closed during the wildfire and only emergency and local traffic were allowed on Beaver Creek Road above Upper Bear Paw Lake. The wildfire was contained around the 21st. At the time of publication, the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIBERTY, MONTANA
From 04-SEP-22 01:15:00 to 04-SEP-22 01:15:00 (MST-7)
Location: ALMA
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station GW0625 Joplin 17 N reported 53 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in BROADWATER, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 17:09:00 to 07-SEP-22 17:09:00 (MST-7)
Location: TOWNSEND ARPT
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station KMTTOWNS11 reported 56 knot wind gust.

Wildfire in SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 15:30:00 to 08-SEP-22 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Newspaper

Extreme critical fire weather concerns on top of a quickly moving cold front bringing strong wind gusts in excess of 50 mph accelerated a grass fire in Pondera County along Highway 91, three miles north of Conrad, named the Pondera County Fire. The fire was estimated to have burned 2186 acres, destroying a family of 5's homestead and causing road closures. A collective response by the DNRC, several fire departments, Hutterite colonies within the vicinity, and local farmers and ranchers aided in the firefighting efforts.

Thunderstorm Wind in GLACIER, MONTANA
From 03-SEP-22 21:34:00 to 03-SEP-22 21:34:00 (MST-7)
Location: CUTBANK
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station reported 60 knot wind gust with lightning detected.

Thunderstorm Wind in TOOLE, MONTANA
From 03-SEP-22 21:49:00 to 03-SEP-22 21:49:00 (MST-7)
Location: SUNBURST
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station MTSUN (Sunburst) reported 50 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in TOOLE, MONTANA
From 03-SEP-22 22:44:00 to 03-SEP-22 22:44:00 (MST-7)
Location: SWEETGRASS ROSS ARPT
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station MTSWT Sweetgrass reported 50 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in TOOLE, MONTANA
From 03-SEP-22 23:45:00 to 03-SEP-22 23:45:00 (MST-7)
Location: KIPPEN
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotter reported a 73 mph wind gust. Time estimated via radar.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIBERTY, MONTANA
From 04-SEP-22 00:05:00 to 04-SEP-22 00:05:00 (MST-7)
Location: SELMA
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station NNW of Selma reported 51 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in TOOLE, MONTANA
From 04-SEP-22 00:08:00 to 04-SEP-22 00:08:00 (MST-7)
Location: KIPPEN
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station E of Kippen reported 70 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIBERTY, MONTANA
From 04-SEP-22 00:00:00 to 04-SEP-22 00:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: CHESTER LBRTY CO ARP
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station GW2112 Chester NW reported 56 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in LEWIS AND CLARK, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 16:28:00 to 07-SEP-22 16:28:00 (MST-7)
Location: (HLN)HELENA RGNL ARP
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station NE of Helena Airport reported 50 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in LEWIS AND CLARK, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 16:21:00 to 07-SEP-22 16:21:00 (MST-7)
Location: AUGUSTA ARPT
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Reported by: AWOS

AWOS station K1GM Golf reported 53 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in LEWIS AND CLARK, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 16:25:00 to 07-SEP-22 16:25:00 (MST-7)
Location: (HLN)HELENA RGNL ARP
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

ASOS station KHLN Helena Airport reported 53 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 16:42:00 to 07-SEP-22 16:42:00 (MST-7)
Location: MID CANON
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station MTYEP MDT Gary Cooper Bridge in Dearborn reported 52 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIBERTY, MONTANA
From 04-SEP-22 01:00:00 to 04-SEP-22 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: JOPLIN
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station GW0416 Joplin reported 55 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in MADISON, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 12:55:00 to 07-SEP-22 12:55:00 (MST-7)
Location: MC ALLISTER
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Thunderstorm Wind in LEWIS AND CLARK, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 15:56:00 to 07-SEP-22 15:56:00 (MST-7)
Location: AUSTIN
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station MTMDP Macdonald Pass reported 54 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in LEWIS AND CLARK, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 16:28:00 to 07-SEP-22 16:28:00 (MST-7)
Location: IRON
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station ENE of Iron reported gust of 58.2 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIBERTY, MONTANA
From 04-SEP-22 00:52:00 to 04-SEP-22 00:52:00 (MST-7)
Location: ALMA
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station GW0718 Joplin 25NNW reported 56 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIBERTY, MONTANA
From 04-SEP-22 01:02:00 to 04-SEP-22 01:02:00 (MST-7)
Location: ALMA
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station GW0637 Bears Den 9 ENE reported 54 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 17:14:00 to 07-SEP-22 17:14:00 (MST-7)
Location: BLACK EAGLE
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station KMTGREAT49 reported 52 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in GLACIER, MONTANA
From 03-SEP-22 20:56:00 to 03-SEP-22 20:56:00 (MST-7)
Location: (CTB)CUTBANK MUNI AR
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

ASOS station KCTB Cut Bank Airport reported 59 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in HILL, MONTANA
From 04-SEP-22 01:05:00 to 04-SEP-22 01:05:00 (MST-7)
Location: INVERNESS
Magnitude: 68.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station MTINV Inverness reported 68 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in GLACIER, MONTANA
From 03-SEP-22 20:55:00 to 03-SEP-22 20:55:00 (MST-7)
Location: (CTB)CUTBANK MUNI AR
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

ASOS station KCTB Cut Bank Airport reported 55 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in LEWIS AND CLARK, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 17:52:00 to 07-SEP-22 17:52:00 (MST-7)
Location: AUGUSTA ARPT
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Reported by: AWOS

AWOS station K1GM Golf reported 51 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in TETON, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 16:30:00 to 07-SEP-22 16:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: FAIRFIELD
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet near Greenfield Irrigation reported 51 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in TETON, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 16:56:00 to 07-SEP-22 16:56:00 (MST-7)
Location: CLEIV
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station AW Hotel reported 53 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 07-SEP-22 17:07:00 to 07-SEP-22 17:07:00 (MST-7)
Location: (GTF)GREAT FALLS ARPT
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

ASOS station KGTF Great Falls Airport reported 52 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in TOOLE, MONTANA
From 03-SEP-22 21:19:00 to 03-SEP-22 21:19:00 (MST-7)
Location: SUNBURST
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station FW8513 Sunburst reported 59 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in GLACIER, MONTANA
From 03-SEP-22 21:32:00 to 03-SEP-22 21:32:00 (MST-7)
Location: (CTB)CUTBANK MUNI AR
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

ASOS station KCTB Cut Bank Airport reported 60 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in GLACIER, MONTANA
From 03-SEP-22 20:44:00 to 03-SEP-22 20:44:00 (MST-7)
Location: (CTB)CUTBANK MUNI AR
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

ASOS station KCTB Cut Bank Airport reported 59 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in GLACIER, MONTANA
From 03-SEP-22 20:55:00 to 03-SEP-22 20:55:00 (MST-7)
Location: DEL BONITA
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station by LJ Johnson Farms in Cut Bank reported 57 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in TOOLE, MONTANA
From 03-SEP-22 23:57:00 to 03-SEP-22 23:57:00 (MST-7)
Location: KIPPEN
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station GW0659 Grassy Butte 2SE reported 59 knot wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIBERTY, MONTANA
From 04-SEP-22 00:45:00 to 04-SEP-22 00:45:00 (MST-7)
Location: CHESTER LBRTY CO ARP
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station EW9427 Chester-5NW reported 51 knot wind gust.