BIG FALLS – The powerful winds that shook most of Montana on Wednesday caused widespread damage – tipping semi-trucks, falling trees, tearing roofs, and more. The National Weather Service in Great Falls said: “This is an extreme wind event even for this area.”
The NWS said three locations set new wind speed records in January: Great Falls, 76 mph; Helena, 74 km / h; Oats, 72 km / h. Stronger gusts have been recorded in other areas, especially along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountain Front.
Highway 87 was closed for several hours between Great Falls and Fort Benton. The strong winds kicked up dust and dirt and caused very poor visibility along the road. There were gusts of wind of more than 70 miles per hour throughout the region. Highway 89 from Great Falls to Belt was also briefly closed.
Great Falls Fire Rescue says a second alarm was called in the city to bring in more firefighters to deal with emergencies due to the strong winds. There were several wind-blown grass fires in the area and scattered power outages in and around Great Falls.
Christian Cassell, a NWS meteorologist, shared this video of an empty 5,000-liter fuel tank blowing off Interstate 15:
There were also several semi-trucks overturned along I-15 near Shelby.
Lincoln Voluntary Fire Rescue mailed: “Lines and trees lie across. Be careful and do not approach any lines. It will run through the ice and snow and can be deadly. Secure anything that can blow away. Roofs are blown down in areas.”
The National Weather Service in Missoula reported that a 125 km / h windstorm was recorded on the west side of Mount Sentinel. Missoula Electric Cooperative says more than 4,300 members were in the dark on Wednesday at 11:15 p.m. Major disruptions have been reported in the Bonner, Frenchtown and Tarkio areas. In addition, several disruptions were reported in the Condon and Seeley Lake area.
Flathead Electric Cooperative says the number of customers without power was more than 13,000. The major disruptions have been reported in the West Glacier, Whitefish Lake and Libby areas – as well as in the Kalispell areas.