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Damaging wind gusts possible Tuesday evening into Wednesday

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BOZEMAN – Another high impact weather event will hit Montana Tuesday evening into Wednesday.

A Pacific cold front combined with an energetic upper level Polar jet stream will produce incredibly strong surface winds Tuesday evening into Wednesday.

The National Weather Service has issued a HIGH WIND WARNING for western, central, and SW Montana Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening.

Surface winds will be increasing and holding between 20 to 40 mph by 6 pm and continue all night into most of Wednesday.

Peak wind gusts are the greatest concern for possible property damage and extreme hazard to high profile vehicles in crosswind areas. Peak gusts between 50 to 70 mph are possible.

Wind direction will be mostly out of the West. Watch for dangerous crosswind areas along I-90 and I-15 that run North or South. For example: I-90 between Butte and Deer Lodge. The entire stretch of I-15 from Monida Pass to Cut Bank.

The Livingston area is under a WIND ADVISORY starting at 3 am to 3 pm Wednesday. Dangerous crosswind gusts are likely in the Livingston area between 50 to 70 mph.

This front will also produce scattered valley rain and higher mountain snow with the Rocky mountain front and central mountain ranges likely to see snow above 5,000’.

The National Weather Service has issued a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for the Northern Front Range and central mountains Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening above 5,000'.

Snow accumulations: 3"-7" are possible at 5,000' and above 6,000' there could be 7"-14" of snow. Wind gusts to 50+ mph along with the snow will produce hazardous backcountry conditions.

Another travel hazard will be periods of mountain snow along with the strong wind gusts that could produce reduced visibility Tuesday night through Wednesday evening.

We should see a break from the gusty winds Thursday but another front is coming Friday night into Saturday so look for winds to increase again Friday into Saturday along with increasing rain or snow.