textproduct: Great Falls

KEY MESSAGES

- It will be windy through Saturday morning and again on Sunday across North-central Montana.

- Through the upcoming work week it will be warm (well-above seasonal averages), dry, and breezy.

DISCUSSION

/Issued 204 PM MST Fri Nov 6 2026/

- Meteorological Overview:

A weak upper-level ridge is over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will allow temperatures to warm up today. Due to a strong surface pressure gradient and strong low-level winds it will be windy across North-central Montana this afternoon through early Saturday morning with the strongest winds along the Rocky Mountain Front and plains west of I-15. This afternoon it will be mostly dry. On Saturday the upper-level ridge strengthens and the strong winds aloft move higher into the atmosphere. This results in warm and dry weather for the area with strong winds ending by mid- morning on Saturday. On Saturday it will be dry.

On Sunday the upper-level ridge breaks down. This combined with strong low-level and mid-level winds will bring another day of windy conditions to North-central Montana. The strongest winds will be along the Rocky Mountain Front. On Sunday it will be dry. On Monday an upper-level ridge moves back over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This will continue the warm and dry conditions for the area. Tuesday through Thursday the upper-level ridge remains over North-central Montana. This will keep warm and dry weather for the area Tuesday through Thursday. Tuesday through Thursday it will also be breezy across North-central Montana. -IG

- Forecast Confidence & Scenarios:

For winds this afternoon into early Saturday morning there is a 50 - 80% chance for wind gusts of 70 mph or greater along the Rocky Mountain Front. For winds along the plains west of I-15 this afternoon into Sunday morning there is a 30 - 60% chance for wind gusts of 55 mph along the plains west of I-15. As a result a High Wind Warning was issued for those areas through 9 am Saturday. Across most of the rest of North-central Montana there is a 30 - 60% chance for wind gusts of 55 mph or greater.

On Sunday along the Hi-line east of I-15 and in the lower-elevations of Cascade County there is a 30 - 60% chance for wind gusts of 55 mph or greater. On Sunday along the Rocky Mountain Front there is a 50 - 80% chance for wind gusts of 75 mph or greater. On Sunday across the plains west of I-15 there is a 40 - 80% chance for wind gusts of 70 mph or greater. As a result during the day on Sunday a High Wind Watch is in effect for the Hi-Line through Hill County, the Rocky Mountain Front, and the lower-elevations of Cascade County. -IG

AVIATION

07/00Z TAF Period

Primary concern will be for gusty winds over much of the plains through the entire TAF period. Mountain wave turbulence will continue through 07/15Z or so along and east of the Rocky Mountain Front, with mid- level winds rapidly decreasing thereafter. -AM

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

GTF 47 63 44 63 / 0 0 0 0 CTB 41 59 39 54 / 0 0 0 0 HLN 35 57 36 60 / 10 0 0 0 BZN 30 55 32 58 / 0 0 0 0 WYS 21 47 25 47 / 0 0 0 0 DLN 29 53 32 56 / 10 0 0 0 HVR 40 63 38 64 / 0 0 0 0 LWT 40 62 40 63 / 0 0 0 0

TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

High Wind Warning until 9 AM MST Saturday for East Glacier Park Region-Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera- Northern High Plains-Southern High Plains.

High Wind Watch from Sunday morning through Sunday evening for Cascade County below 5000ft-East Glacier Park Region-Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera-Eastern Toole and Liberty-Hill County-Northern High Plains-Southern High Plains.