Power Outage in Chinook, MT

Wind gust of 58 MPH measured at Fort Belknap Raws. Later, a gas station pump covering was damaged (blown off) and power outages occurred through night.

Northwestern Energy reports about 7000 customers without power due to the winter storm in Havre and points east. Power could be out for several days.

Power lines down on HWY 2 in Harlem, blocking lanes.

Six power poles snapped near observer's house. Power out in the area. 5 inches of snow fell.

Highway 2 is bad due to slush and wet, heavy snow. Power is out on the Fort Belknap Reservation.

Severe driving conditions reported on Montana Highway 66 near the junction with U.S. Highway 191. Power was also reported out in Hays and Lodgepole.

Nine inches of snow fell at Fort Belknap. Heavy wet snow fell across much of Blaine County. NorthWestern Energy reported 50 homes were without power due to downed power lines. Additionally, a semi-tractor trailer jackknifed on U.S. Highway 2, blocking both lanes of traffic.

Snowfall of 9 inches reported around Hays and Fort Belknap. Snowfall took out power to the area as well.

A strong Canadian cold front pushed through North Central MT during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 16th. Strong sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph, with gusts over 70 mph accompanied the front. Enough cold air filtered in behind this cold front to produce light snow along the Rocky Mountain Front and the adjacent plains. There was widespread wind damage with this event. Over 50 power lines were knocked down in the Great Falls area. Major tree damage was reported in Cascade, Teton and Lewis and Clark counties. Here is a list of some of the top wind speeds recorded during the event:Augusta 10W 80 mph at 1135 MST; Choteau 73 mph at 0920 MST; Vaughn 70 mph at 0955 MST; Fort Shaw 70 mph at 1020 MST; Great Falls 70 mph at 1020 MST; Hobson 66 mph at 0930 MST; Helena 15S 66 mph at 1030 MST; Cascade 5W 65 mph at 1030 MST; Lewistown 10N 60 mph at 1035 MST; Lewistown 20S 59 mph at 1100 MST; Inverness 45-50 mph sustained winds from 1000-1100 MST; Hays 42 mph sustained winds at 1224; Sweetgrass 42 mph sustained winds at 0945 MST.

A high wind event occurred over much of North Central Montana during the afternoon and early evening hours of the 22nd. Sustained winds over 40 mph, with gusts near 60 mph were recorded.Some of the strongest wind gusts recorded from this event include: 67 mph at Great Falls, 63 mph at Rudyard, and 60 mph at Loma and Power 7 SW.

A high wind event occurred over all of North Central Montana and a portion of Southwest Montana, which began on the afternoon of the 21st and ended on the afternoon of the 22nd. Some of the strongest winds of the winter season were recorded during this event. Sustained winds of 45 to 65 mph were common across much of North Central Montana, with gusts between 60 and 80 mph. However, locations near the Rocky Mountain Front had wind gusts in excess of 100 mph.This high wind event caused scattered power outages throughout much of North Central Montana. One power line that was blown down 15 miles Southwest of Choteau sparked a grass fire. This fire was fanned by the wind, and burned 6000 acres. One farm and homestead were lost in the blaze. A few vehicles were blown off Interstate 15, while other vehicles had windshields cracked as stones were blown into them while driving. Many locations reported visibilities near zero at times, due to blowing dust over the plains and blowing snow over the mountains. Here is a list of some of the top wind speeds recorded during this event.On February 21st:Cut Bank 70 mph at 2046 MST; 4 W Augusta 75 mph at 2225 MST; Fort Shaw 80 mph at 2230 MST; Browning 81 mph at 2255 MST; 18 W Pendroy estimated 100 mph at 2310 MST.On February 22nd27 W Choteau 115 mph at 0040 MST; Silver City 73 mph at 0606 MST; 6 N Big Sandy estimated 85 mph at 0900 MST; 4 E Hobson estimated 70 mph at 1230 MST.

A severe thunderstorm produced a 60 mph wind gust at Chinook 15N. 2 Power poles were knocked down.