Montana is bracing for a blast of powerful wind, with High Wind Warnings, a Wind Advisory and a Lake Wind Advisory all in effect as a strong front sweeps across the state into Saturday.
The National Weather Service offices in Great Falls, Glasgow and Missoula have issued the warnings, with the strongest gusts expected along the Rocky Mountain Front and in the state’s northern high plains.
Rocky Mountain Front and High Plains
A High Wind Warning covers the Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine, including Rocky Boy, from 8 p.m. this evening to 6 a.m. MDT Saturday. West winds of 30 to 40 mph are expected, with gusts up to 60 mph.
A second High Wind Warning stretches across the Northern and Southern High Plains, and Eastern Glacier, Western Toole and Central Pondera counties. That warning includes Choteau, Browning, Cut Bank, Dupuyer and several other communities. It runs from 5 p.m. this afternoon to noon MDT Saturday, with westerly winds of 30 to 50 mph and gusts up to 70 mph.
Forecasters warn the wind could down trees and power lines, leading to widespread outages. Travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.
NWS Great Falls flagged the threat a day ahead of the peak winds.
As the front closed in, the office reiterated the risk for gusty conditions and fire weather concerns across the plains.
Fort Peck Lake: Lake Wind Advisory
Farther east, NWS Glasgow has a Lake Wind Advisory in effect for Fort Peck Lake from 8 a.m. this morning to 9 a.m. MDT Saturday. The advisory covers central and southeast Phillips, central and southern Valley, Petroleum, Garfield and McCone counties, including Devils Creek Rec Area.
South winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph, could produce waves up to 4 feet on the lake. Forecasters say the rough water could overturn or swamp small boats.
Boaters are urged to use extra caution and stay in sheltered areas to keep their craft from tipping.
Western Montana: Wind Advisory
In western Montana, NWS Missoula has a Wind Advisory in effect for the Flathead and Mission Valleys and the Kootenai/Cabinet Region from 2 p.m. this afternoon to midnight MDT tonight. Southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph are expected, with gusts up to 45 mph.
A matching advisory covers the Missoula and Bitterroot Valleys over the same window, with west winds of 15 to 25 mph and gusts up to 45 mph. The strongest winds are expected west of Highway 93 through the Bitterroot Valley.
Forecasters say the gusts could blow around unsecured objects and knock down tree limbs, with a few power outages possible.
Safety Reminders
Residents statewide are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. Drivers of high-profile vehicles should use extra caution, and travel could be difficult during peak gusts.
Anyone with outdoor burns or active fires should stay alert to changing wind conditions through the weekend.
