Strong Wind in Sanders County, Montana

Strong Wind May 20, 2026 · Sanders County, Montana

55 mph

Estimated gust (48 kt)

$5K

Damage as recorded

What the National Weather Service wrote

Falling trees and branches brought down power lines and damaged a number of power poles, which sparked two small fires along Highway 200 west of Thompson Falls. Several trees were reported on power lines from Trout Creek to Noxon, as well as on Blue Slide Road and Highway 200. The damage resulted in overnight power outages for roughly 400 customers.

The wider storm

A shortwave dropping down in northwest flow, paired with a weak cold front and most unstable CAPE around 450 J/kg, produced showers and isolated thunderstorms across western Montana during the evening hours of May 20th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 1329754. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

Tornadoes near your address

See every tornado that passed near a place you know, measured to its path.