High winds could hit Rocky Mountain Front towns

High winds could hit northern Rocky Mountain Front communities beginning Friday evening, causing hazardous traveling conditions.

The National Weather Service issued a high-wind watch Thursday for eastern Glacier, Toole and Liberty counties.

The watch will be in effect from late Friday night through Saturday evening, with the strongest expected to begin Saturday morning.

The watch includes the communities of Browning, Cut Bank, Shelby, Chester and Choteau, and extends as far east as the Sweet Grass Hills.

Roger Martin, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Great Falls, said sustained winds of 35 mph to 45 mph are possible, along with gusts of up to 70 mph.

“That can be a threat to truckers or high-profile vehicles as far as blowing them over,” Martin said.

In those conditions, the biggest hazard is driving through mountain passes or across the plains, he said.

A watch means there is the potential for a hazardous high-wind event.

A warning, which was not issued, means high winds are imminent.

The winds could arrive ahead of a cold front approaching from the west, Martin said.

Gusting winds of 30 to 40 mph are possible in Great Falls, but Cascade County was not included in the watch.

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Karl Puckett at 406-791-1471. Twitter: @GFTrib_KPuckett.