Thunderstorm Wind in Mineral County, Montana

Strong thunderstorm winds gusting between 58 to 65 mph caused wind damage in northwest Montana during the evening hours. Most significant damage was on the west end of St. Regis in Mineral County, where numerous large pine trees fell down causing damage of $360,000. Fallen trees damaged a camper and 12 homes on Camels Hump Road. Twelve separate fires were started in Mineral County as trees fell onto power lines and roadways. Highway I-90 was temporarily closed due to fallen trees. A search and rescue worker was injured on I-90, when she was struck in the head by a four-inch diameter falling cottonwood branch. Wind damage was reported near Plains in Sanders County, where strong winds blew a barn off it's foundation 15 feet, and a garage was damaged by a fallen tree. Power outages and small fires were also reported by fallen trees onto power lines in Sanders, Missoula, Lake and Flathead Counties. In Kalispell, a section of awning along the roof line of Wendy's restaurant blew off onto two cars.