Thunderstorm Wind — Powell, Montana

2017-05-06 · near Elliston, Powell, Montana

Event narrative

The media reported A Montana woman was killed when a tree struck her during a weekend thunderstorm. She was reportedly running back to camp when a tree broke, striking her on the head. She died on the way to the hospital.

Wider weather episode

One isolated severe thunderstorm tracked NE from Lost Trail to Georgetown Lake to Garrison to Elliston and eventually Great Falls. Strong shear and modest instability allowed for the storm to maintain its structure and become a long-tracked super cell. Both wind and hail damage were reported throughout the track, with one fatality blamed on the storm as a wind gust blew over a tree onto a woman near Elliston.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (46.4724, -112.3612)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 693652. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.