Weather Warnings for Montana

Issued by the National Weather Service

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Montana
Alerts Updated: March 21, 2026, 4:18 am  UTC


High Wind Warning issued March 20 at 10:17PM MDT until March 21 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT

Summary: * WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph, with gusts up to 75 mph. * WHERE...Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera Counties, and Southern High Plains. * WHEN...Until 6 AM MDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property and cause power outages. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
Severity:  Severe    Effective:  March 20, 2026, 10:17 pm      Expires:  March 21, 2026, 6:00 am
Area:  Eastern Glacier, Western Toole, and Central Pondera; Southern High Plains


Flood Watch issued March 20 at 4:58PM MDT until March 22 at 12:00PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT

Summary: An atmospheric river will bring moderate rain rates to the mountains of northwest Montana tonight. This will fall on a deep primed snowpack leading to the melt increasing. Flows in rivers and streams may increase quickly and reach bankfull or exceed their banks. * WHAT...Flooding caused by rain and snowmelt is possible. * WHERE...A portion of northwest Montana, including the following county, Lincoln. * WHEN...Through Sunday morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Rockfall is possible. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - The atmospheric river will bring moderate rain rates between 0.10 to 0.25 inches per hour to the Cabinet Mountains between 9 PM Friday evening and 4 AM MDT Saturday. With conditions already primed, creeks could overflow their banks early Saturday morning. Landslides and rockfalls are possible on windward and leeward sides of the mountains. Ross Creek has swelled into nearby ditches and caused water to flow over Highway 56 south of Bull Lake. The Yaak River and Fisher River are forecast to reach action stage by Saturday night. - https://www.weather.gov/mso/hydrology
Severity:  Severe    Effective:  March 20, 2026, 4:58 pm      Expires:  March 22, 2026, 12:00 pm
Area:  Lincoln, MT


Hydrologic Outlook issued March 20 at 2:24PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT

Summary: ESFMSO Lincoln and Sanders Counties The Yaak River near Troy, and Fisher River near Libby are forecast to rise near flood stage this weekend. There are reports of creeks rising over their banks, and additional runoff may contribute to additional rises through the weekend. Cooler overnight temperatures may help to decrease additional runoff.
Severity:  Unknown    Effective:  March 20, 2026, 2:24 pm      Expires:  March 21, 2026, 12:00 pm
Area:  Lincoln, MT; Sanders, MT


Avalanche Warning issued March 19 at 6:04AM MDT by NWS Missoula MT

Summary: AVWMSO The following message is transmitted at the request of Flathead Avalanche Center Hungry Horse MT. ...AVALANCHE WARNING ISSUED BY THE FLATHEAD AVALANCHE CENTER... 06:00 MDT Thu Mar 19 2026 The Flathead Avalanche Center in Hungry Horse has issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING for the following areas: NWS Missoula MT - MTZ001 (MTZ001)...MTZ002 (MTZ002) * WHAT...Rain and warm temperatures have created very dangerous avalanche conditions that will likely persist through Saturday. * WHERE...Slopes above 5,000 feet in the Whitefish, Swan, Flathead Ranges, and the Lake McDonald and Marias Pass areas of Glacier National Park.

* WHEN...In effect from Thu 06:00 MDT to Sat 06:00 MDT. * IMPACTS...Natural and human-triggered avalanches are very likely. Wet avalanches will entrain a dangerous amount of debris. Weak layers buried several feet deep may fail, resulting in very large and destructive avalanches. * PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Avalanches may run long distances and can run into mature forests, valley floors, or flat terrain. Consult http://www.flatheadavalanche.org/ or www.avalanche.org for more detailed information. Similar avalanche danger may exist at locations outside the coverage area of this or any avalanche center.
Severity:  Unknown    Effective:  March 19, 2026, 6:04 am      Expires:  March 21, 2026, 6:00 am
Area:  Kootenai/Cabinet Region; West Glacier Region