Montana Declares Statewide Disaster — Record 90 MPH Winds Slam All 56 Counties, Tens Of Thousands Lose Power

Montana reels from a ferocious windstorm that ripped through the state on December 17, shattering records with gusts over 100 miles per hour and plunging tens of thousands into darkness. Governor Greg Gianforte responded on December 18 with Executive Order No. 11-2025, declaring a statewide disaster to marshal resources against the widespread devastation.

Record-Breaking Winds Devastate Communities

The storm unleashed Montana’s most extreme winds in decades, striking every county under National Weather Service High Wind Warnings by mid-afternoon. Bynum in Teton County clocked the state’s peak gust at 104 mph, inflicting severe structural damage. Helena endured 91 mph blasts that uprooted trees and battered neighborhoods, while Mount Aeneas near Bigfork hit 96 mph and Stevensville in the Bitterroot Valley recorded 88 mph. Cut Bank faced an 84 mph gust amid the chaos.

Saturated Soils Amplify Destruction

Meteorologists pointed to prior saturation from an atmospheric river event between December 8 and 15, which dumped about five inches of rain in 24 hours in northwestern areas. This softened soils and weakened tree roots statewide, setting the stage for massive failures when the winds arrived. The back-to-back assaults—flooding followed by gales—imposed extraordinary stress on the landscape and built environment.

Power Outages and Tireless Restoration

At its height, over 35,000 customers lost power, with Flathead Electric Cooperative alone reporting 30,625 affected. NorthWestern Energy’s service center fielded a month’s worth of calls in one day. By evening on December 18, crews had resolved more than 90 percent of wind-related outages, though thousands of homes lingered without electricity due to damaged transmission lines. Teams paused work overnight in spots like Elk Park north of Butte and Lincoln amid hazardous gusts, installing generators at key sites and manually patrolling lines for safety. Priorities targeted hospitals, shelters, and critical infrastructure first.​

Local Responses and Cascading Disruptions

Before the governor’s order, Ravalli County, Hamilton, Wheatland County, Harlowton, Mineral County, and Flathead County declared local emergencies to tap funds and resources. Flathead cited winds plus heavy snow for hazardous travel; Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office restricted roads to essentials. Schools in Butte, Missoula, and Helena closed or dismissed early, stranding tens of thousands of students amid debris, downed lines, and blocked routes. Urban zones suffered heavily: Butte’s 1930s-era evergreens crushed vehicles and homes; Missoula’s Jefferson Elementary School had portions of its roof severely damaged; Helena braced for weeks of cleanup.​​

Ongoing Threats and Recovery Hurdles

Highways turned treacherous with fallen trees, lines, and debris. Interstate 15 south of Elk Park was blocked by a downed power line; US-12 faced dangerous conditions from Lolo to Lolo Pass; semis overturned on US-93 near Somers; and on I-15 en route to Butte, a downed cable tore the hood off a vehicle driven by a Helena mechanic. Winter Storm Warnings hit seven counties including Lincoln and Flathead, with Blizzard Warnings for eight more like Phillips and Roosevelt, forecasting up to nine inches of snow on passes. Shelters opened at Butte Civic Center, St. Regis Senior Center, and Superior Elementary, offering heat, meals, and aid. The State Emergency Coordination Center activated fully, anticipating more local declarations. Federal aid arrived for prior flooding—President Trump approved emergency assistance for Lincoln and Sanders counties plus Blackfeet Nation eligibility—while officials eyed a major disaster request. Debris volumes posed months-long challenges, with burning bans and safety alerts against untrained chainsaw use or downed-line contact. This fits a pattern of 2024-2025 disasters, testing Montana’s resilience amid winter rebuilds and looming costs.​

Statewide recovery now hinges on coordinated efforts to repair infrastructure, clear hazards, and fortify against future blows, as assessments reveal the true toll of these compounding crises.