Thunderstorm Wind — Billings, North Dakota

2022-07-10 · near Fairfield, Billings, North Dakota

Event narrative

Extensive damage was reported throughout the community of Fairfield and surrounding areas, especially to the west. Approximately 100 power poles were snapped throughout the area. A pad mounted electrical transformer weighing approximately two tons was blown over about eight miles west of Fairfield. Six miles west of Fairfield, a 120 foot communications tower blew over, and an adjacent small building was demolished. Closer to and in the community of Fairfield, a Quonset hut was blown approximately 150 yards, and a roof on a home was severely damaged. Multiple trees in the area were uprooted and snapped, and multiple stock trailers were flipped over.

Wider weather episode

Thunderstorms developed over Montana ahead of a short-wave trough. The storms formed into a line producing primarily damaging wind gusts, and moved into western and eventually central North Dakota. Intense winds occurred with these storms, especially over the Beach and Fairfield areas where significant damage was reported. In the Beach area of Golden Valley County, estimated 90 mph wind gusts uprooted trees, damaged power lines, and damaged a few structures. Even more damage occurred in the Fairfield area of Billings County where estimated 120 mph winds broke approximately 100 power poles, blew over a two-ton transformer, blew down a communications tower, and damaged or destroyed some structures. A few of the storms produced large hail, the largest being golf ball size, and occurred near Heart Butte Dam in Grant County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (47.1800, -103.3904)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1044245. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.