Overview
- High Wind Warnings and Watches cover wide areas from late Tuesday night into Wednesday, with gusts above 70 mph in many locations and a few spots near the Rocky Mountain Front possibly topping 100 mph.
- Forecasters expect the most hazardous period Wednesday, with the strongest corridor from Big Timber to Judith Gap and winds spreading across central and eastern Montana through the afternoon and evening.
- Travel could be dangerous for high-profile vehicles, especially along Highway 191, and the risk of downed trees, blocked roads, and power outages is elevated.
- An ongoing atmospheric river brings rain through Wednesday before a sharp cold front drops snow levels to the valleys, raising the threat of snow squalls and a rapid flash-freeze on roadways.
- A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the Kootenai/Cabinet Region as officials monitor rapid water rises and potential rockslides, and a Winter Storm Watch targets the Glacier and Rocky Mountain Front areas with 1–5 inches in valleys and 8–15 inches at higher elevations such as Marias Pass, with additional mountain snow possible by the weekend.