The National Weather Service office in Great Falls posted a High Wind Warning Thursday, September 25, covering a stretch of north-central Montana from 5:00 PM Thursday through 6:00 AM Saturday. The warning called for westerly winds sustained at 30 to 50 mph, with gusts up to 70 mph.
The affected counties included Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera, along with the Northern and Southern High Plains. That geography covers some of the most wind-exposed terrain in Montana — open prairie and high plains country where there's little to break a westerly blow. NWS forecasters flagged travel as potentially dangerous, particularly for high-profile vehicles navigating major routes through the region overnight and into Friday.
Residents in the warning zone were instructed to bring in or tie down anything that could be damaged or become a hazard in wind at those speeds. At 70 mph gusts, unsecured lawn furniture, trash bins, and construction materials become projectiles.
This warning preceded a second High Wind Warning issued the following morning — suggesting forecasters were tracking a prolonged and multi-phase wind event across the region through the September 26 weekend. Helena-area residents should check updated NWS forecasts for current conditions.