Great Falls, Mont. – Damaging winds are already sweeping across Montana this afternoon, and a second, stronger surge could escalate conditions enough to shut down travel corridors and trigger power outages by Wednesday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Great Falls, west winds are currently gusting between 60 and 75 mph across north-central Montana, including Havre, Shelby, and Lewistown, with warnings in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday. A more intense round begins as early as 6 a.m. Wednesday along the Rocky Mountain Front, where gusts could reach 85 mph through the evening.
The hardest-hit مناطق include Cut Bank, Browning, Choteau, and areas along the Rocky Mountain Front, where sustained winds of 40 to 50 mph will combine with extreme gusts. Judith Gap and areas near Highway 191, including Big Timber and Harlowton, could see persistent crosswinds up to 70 mph, creating dangerous driving conditions for semis and other high-profile vehicles.
Across eastern and central Montana, including Glasgow, Malta, and Jordan, gusts up to 60 mph will continue through this evening, with localized debris and sporadic power disruptions possible.
Residents are urged to secure outdoor objects immediately and avoid unnecessary travel, especially during peak wind hours. Conditions may briefly ease overnight before rapidly intensifying again by mid-morning Wednesday.
Warnings remain in effect through Wednesday night, and additional alerts may be issued as this multi-day wind event continues.
