Thunderstorm Wind — Flathead, Montana

2013-08-29 · near Apgar, Flathead, Montana

Event narrative

A Glacier National Park official reported several cars damaged from downed trees. They also reported that there were several areas with rocks on the road partially blocking lanes, but no major landslide activity. Approximately 22 miles to the northwest in Polebridge, the RAWS sensor measured a wind gust to 50 mph at 4:50 pm MDT.

Wider weather episode

As an upper level low approached the Pacific Northwest coast, a mid-level jet maximum of 40 to 50 knots triggered a line of thunderstorms that moved from eastern Oregon into the Idaho Panhandle. As this line continued to track east-northeast, they formed a gust front triggering even stronger storms over western Montana that brought strong gusty winds, frequent lightning, heavy rain and damage. The lightning detection network reported over 1500 strikes during the event.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (48.5300, -113.9800)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 473549. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.