The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for our region. The forecast indicates a strong probability of widespread damaging winds beginning early Wednesday morning and continuing through Wednesday afternoon, with sustained speeds ranging from 50 to 60 MPH and gusts reaching up to 70 MPH in the greater Flathead Valley. Higher wind speeds are anticipated in mountainous areas. In combination with recent warm and wet conditions, this weather event has the potential to cause significant treefall, downed power lines, and extensive, prolonged power outages. Adverse conditions may present additional challenges or delays in restoring power.
The forecast also calls for additional rainfall across much of the state on Wednesday, which could turn to snow late Wednesday as temperatures drop below freezing.
We recommend that residents take precautionary measures by securing loose outdoor items, ensuring devices are fully charged, preparing emergency supplies, and making contingency plans for possible extended outages.
We will continue to monitor conditions closely and share updates as the storm develops. We appreciate your preparedness and patience as we address this significant weather event together.