The National Weather Service office in Great Falls issued a High Wind Warning early Friday, September 26, covering portions of north-central Montana until noon MDT. Forecasters called for westerly winds of 30 to 50 mph with gusts reaching up to 70 mph.
The warning covered Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera counties, along with the Northern and Southern High Plains — a broad swath of open country where sustained winds at those speeds can create dangerous travel conditions, particularly for high-profile vehicles like semi-trucks, RVs, and trailers. NWS Great Falls urged residents in the affected areas to secure any loose objects that could become projectiles in wind of that intensity.
The warning was issued at 4:17 AM MDT Friday and ran through midday. Residents with travel planned across those corridors — including Highway 2 and Interstate 15 through Glacier and Pondera counties — were advised to check road conditions before heading out. Gusts at 70 mph can push a loaded trailer out of a lane without warning.
Helena itself sits south of the primary warning zone, but wind events of this scale in north-central Montana frequently bring spillover effects to the Helena Valley. Residents were advised to stay alert to conditions throughout the day.