High Wind Warning Issued for Central and South Central Montana: Gusts Up to 85 MPH Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Billings, MT has issued a High Wind Warning for portions of central and south central Montana. This alert indicates that severe wind conditions are likely, posing a threat to property and travel safety.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions in Montana:

• Northern Stillwater
• Golden Valley
• Judith Gap
• Northern Sweet Grass
• Melville Foothills
• Southern Wheatland

Expected Conditions

Residents should prepare for west wind gusts ranging from 60 to 85 mph. The National Weather Service notes that locally higher gusts are possible. The strongest winds are expected to occur during the day on Thursday. Additionally, the combination of warm and windy conditions could lead to rapid fire spread in grasses.

Timeline

The High Wind Warning is effective starting at 6:00 PM MDT this evening, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The alert is scheduled to remain in effect until 9:00 PM MDT on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

What You Should Do

• Secure Property: People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind.
• Travel Precautions: Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Strong to dangerous crosswinds are expected along Highway 191 from Big Timber through Judith Gap, and Highway 12 from Harlowton to Lavina. Use extra caution and consider postponing travel until winds subside, or take an alternate route.
• Prepare for Outages: Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines, making power outages possible.