New Warning for Montana: Volatile 60 MPH Winds To Affect Monday Travel

The entire northern half of Montana, along with the area through Livingston, is under some sort of high wind warning, advisory, or watch for Monday. Winds gusting to 60 mph or more are bound to affect road travel. The western part of Montana will get high winds on Sunday night.

To be clear - DOZENS of counties in Montana will be affected by these gusty winds on Monday. Tall vehicles will get pushed around, debris might be blowing across highways, and areas that have snow on the side of the road could see some drifting.

Wind will be an issue for the western part of the state first, becoming an issue on Sunday night into Monday morning.

• Northwest Montana: A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM SUNDAY TO 9 AM MONDAY.
• WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected in the valleys.
• Gusts over 60 mph in the higher terrain.
• The strongest winds are anticipated early Monday morning with a cold front passage. *
• WHERE...Flathead/Mission Valleys and Kootenai/Cabinet Region.
• WHEN...From 9 PM Sunday to 9 AM Monday.
• IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects.
• Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
• Watch for choppy conditions on area lakes.
• Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

Moving east across Montana, the warnings and advisories continue - with their duration being extended into Monday night.

• Between Great Falls and Helena: A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM MONDAY.
• WHAT...West to northwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected.
• WHERE...Bears Paw, Highwood, Little Belt, and Snowy Mountains, Hill County, Northern Blaine County, Cascade County below 5000ft, Judith Basin County and Judith Gap, and Fergus County below 4500ft.
• WHEN...From 6 AM to 6 PM Monday.
• IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property and cause isolated power outages.
• Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

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• For the region near Glasgow: A HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MONDAY.
• WHAT...West winds 25 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible.
• WHERE...Northeast Montana.
• WHEN...Monday.
• IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property, and cause power bumps.
• Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. 

What is the difference between a warning, a watch, and an advisory? According to the National Weather Service:

• High Wind Warning: Take Action! Sustained, strong winds with even stronger gusts are happening. Seek shelter. If you are driving, keep both hands on the wheels and slow down.
• High Wind Watch: Be Prepared! Sustained, strong winds are possible. Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.
• Wind Advisory: Take Action! Strong winds are occurring but are not so strong as to warrant a High Wind Warning. Objects that are outdoors should be secured and caution should be taken if driving.