Montana Climate Office

🤯 Top five wind gusts recorded by the #MontanaMesonet so far today: 1) 104 mph (!!!): Bynum W (Teton Co.) 2) 95 mph: Dog Gun Lake E (Glacier Co.) 3) 90 mph: Augusta N (Teton Co.) 4) 88 mph: Mission Lake S (Glacier Co.) 5) 85 mph: Rothiemay W (Golden Valley Co.) #MTwx

Please report any wind gusts or damage you've experienced. Thank you! #MTwx

The #MontanaMesonet Mount Lebanon SE station north of Chester, MT just clocked an 86 mph gust. We are seeing increasing winds in the eastern part of the state. Be safe out there, Montana! 💨❄️ #MTwx #MCO

🤯 Top five wind gusts recorded by the #MontanaMesonet so far today: 1) 104 mph (!!!): Bynum W (Teton Co.) 2) 95 mph: Dog Gun Lake E (Glacier Co.) 3) 90 mph: Augusta N (Teton Co.) 4) 88 mph: Mission Lake S (Glacier Co.) 5) 85 mph: Rothiemay W (Golden Valley Co.) #MTwx

These were all recorded on stations installed during the last three years. We'd never had these wind data without them! Learn more about *your* #MontanaMesonet here: mesonet.climate.umt.edu

Update! The Montana Mesonet's Dog Gun Lake E station has just clocked a gust of 95 miles per hour! mesonet.climate.umt.edu/dash/?state=c7…

Currently (11:15 AM), we are seeing some of our highest wind gusts in the state between the Blackfeet Nation and Havre along the High Line.

We're already seeing some pretty substantial wind gusts clocked by the Montana Mesonet, with a gust of 55 mph at the CSKT Bison Range. Stay tuned for the latest observations as this strong front moves across the state!

The pressure gradient gives us a good sense of the timing of the frontal passage across the state. As of 11:00 AM, the cold front (and arrival of strong winds) extends roughly from Shelby to Billings.

With record-low snowpack in many drainages, the Montana Climate Office warns of potential drought and water shortages later this year. Learn more👉 bit.ly/UMlowSnow

Looking for more information on weather and drought in Montana? Our Mesonet Dashboard has local soil and weather conditions, and our Drought Dashboard has high resolution drought, soil and snow models. Mesonet: mesonet.climate.umt.edu/dash/ Drought Dashboard: drought.climate.umt.edu

These posts were made with the help of NOAA’s Climate at a Glance tool and the US Drought Monitor. Check out the data in more depth: Climate at a Glance: ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitor… Drought Monitor: droughtmonitor.unl.edu Happy New Year!!! 🎉🎉

❗ Last month was Montana's warmest #December on record. This is the first time the average temperature has surpassed 30°F since Montana began recording temperatures in 1895.

Kicking off, a hot year statewide. In #2023, the average temperature for every Montana county was higher than each county’s respective 20th century average, and the entire state was 2.8°F warmer, contributing to Earth’s #hottest year on record.

Montana experienced some interesting trends in weather this year. Let’s talk about it! Welcome to our 2023 Montana #ClimateInReview. In this 🧵 we’ll review the changes to Montana’s weather this year, and put them in the context of Montana’s climate ☀️🌧️ over the last 129 years.

Super impactful research from @umontana, @mt_climate, @MontanaDNRC, and @DRIScience highlighting the unexpected benefits of inefficient irrigation. Hat's off to David Ketchum who led this effort! @FCFCMontana nature.com/articles/s4324…

Do you want to help ensure #Montana's #climate resilience? Come join the leadership team of the MCO! @umontana is an #ADA / EOE / AA / #Veteran's Preference Employer. bit.ly/UMJobs4082