Montana Confirms 101-MPH Gusts as New High Winds and Arctic Front Loom

Overview

• Verified station data showed a 101 mph peak at Deep Creek near East Glacier, 97 mph at Big Timber, and 63 mph at Great Falls with widespread gusts of 40 to 60 mph.
• Another round of strong winds is expected Wednesday, with gusts over 70 mph possible along the Rocky Mountain Front and over 45 mph farther east.
• After a mild start in the 40s and 50s, temperatures are forecast to crash into the 0s and 10s by Thursday evening as the Arctic front pushes south.
• Rain is projected to change to snow, with a slushy 1 to 2 inches at lower elevations, up to 6 inches in the mountains, and 3 to 8 inches in central Montana with isolated 12-inch totals.
• Rapid cooling could trigger a flash freeze and icy roads, with difficult travel late Thursday into a frigid Friday and Saturday that brings highs near or below the teens on the Hi-Line and teens to low 20s farther south.