Thunderstorm Wind — Sanders, Montana

2002-05-19 · near Noxon, Sanders, Montana

Wider weather episode

Thunderstorms with strong winds and hail moved through western Montana during the late afternoon and evening hours. In Lolo and two miles south of Missoula, off duty NWS employees estimated wind speeds of 60 mph, which blew down a basketball hoop and mail boxes in Lolo. As the thunderstorm moved into Missoula, a wall cloud was reported by off duty NWS employee. As the thunderstorms continued to move through northwest Montana, damage was reported in Flathead and Sanders Counties where trees and power lines were blown down near Kalispell and Noxon, and from Ferndale to Columbia Falls along Highway 206. Strong thunderstorm winds caused damage in Lincoln County, where numerous trees were reported down in the Silver Butte and Middle Thompson Lake areas, and along Highway 37 outside of Libby. The hardest hit area was from Farm to Market Road from Libby Creek to near Granite Creek were hundreds of trees were uprooted and lying across yards and driveways, and across roof tops and some vehicles. In Yaak, a tree fell across the highway pinning a passing motorist in her car. The woman was transported to St. John's Hospital in Libby. In Libby, a road sign was blown down and a roof was blown off a building and almost hit a car. Later in the evening, one inch hail was reported in Pinnacle in Flathead County.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5295648. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.