Power Outage in Fort Benton, MT

Downed power lines reported along highway 87 near Verona.

A power pole was knocked down during a thunderstorm.

Heavy rain measuring .80 inches in 20 minutes was reported in Ft Benton. Electrical power was reported as being knocked out along with pea sized hail.

A thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 60 mph at Fort Benton. The storm downed tree limbs 3 to 4 inches in diameter and caused numerous power outages.

A severe thunderstorm produced 0.25 inch hail and wind gusts to 100 mph as it moved through the city of Fort Benton. Wide spread tree damage occurred. The main power line to all of north-central Montana was blown down.

A late season winter storm moved through much of North Central and Southwest Montana on the 23rd. The snow began to fall over the Rocky Mountain Front late on the 22nd, and over much of the rest of the Northern Plains by day break on the 23rd. The snow moved into Southwest Montana during the morning hours on the 23rd. The snow came to an end across the area early on the 24th. At the peak of the storm, blizzard warnings where issued for several hours for the Rocky Mountain Front and all of the adjacent Plains. Sustained winds of 40 mph, with gusts to 60 mph occurred throughout the morning hours in the blizzard area. Numerous roads were closed across North Central Montana due to zero visibility, and power was temporary knocked out in many locations. Snow drifts ranged from 4 to 8 feet in Glacier and Judith Basin counties. The heaviest snowfall occurred in the western and southern mountains.Some total snow accumulations from this event include: 17 inches at Saint Mary's, 12 inches at Cut Bank and Sweetgrass 25 SE, 10 inches at Shonkin, 8 inches at Ethridge, Showdown Ski Resort, Chester, Boulder Hill, and Shelby, and 4 to 7 inches across the remainder of the plains and valleys in North Central and Southwest Montana.

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 across all of North Central Montana beginning on the 13th and ending on the 14th. The winds began to increase in intensity over the Rocky Mountain Front early on the 13th and then increased in intensity over the northern plains by the mid afternoon hours. The winds subsided a bit during the overnight hours between the 13th and 14th. However, by midday on the 14th, strong winds were once again blowing across all of North Central Montana. Sustained winds between 40 and 50 mph, with wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph occurred across the region.Areas of blowing dust caused near zero visibilities across much of the northern sections of the state, resulting in several roads being closed. The blowing dirt drifted to a depth of 3 feet in some areas. Additionally, numerous power outages occurred due to downed power lines and poles. One downed power line caused a 100-acre grass fire near Box Elder. An empty 60 foot grain elevator was blown over near Cut Bank. Several vehicles were blown off roads during this event.Some peak wind speeds from this event include:75 mph at Browning, 71 mph at Cut Bank, 70 mph at Rudyard, 64 mph at Shelby, 70 mph at Dupuyer and Pendroy, and 60 mph at Inverness, Big Sandy, Sweet Grass, and Del Bonita.

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 high wind event occurred over all of North Central Montana on the 10th and 11th of February. The winds began to pick up in intensity over the Rocky Mountain Front late in the afternoon on February 10th. By late evening, high winds were reported across much of the region. The winds began to diminish in intensity during the morning hours on the 11th.During the peak of the wind event, visibilities were less than one mile in many locations due to blowing dust over the plains, and blowing snow in the mountain passes. Several power outages also occurred in Cascade and Lewis and Clark counties from the wind having knocked down power lines. Here is a list of some of the peak wind speeds recorded.On February 10th:Cut Bank 60 mph at 2233 MSTOn February 11th:13 West of Helena 58 mph at 0024 MST; Great Falls 72 mph at 0210 MST; 25 SE of Sweetgrass 65 mph at 0300 MST; Choteau 58 mph at 0330 MST; 68 to 78 mph gusts recorded across much of Fergus county between 0400 MST and 0700 MST; and Silver City 65 mph at 0625 MST.

Thunderstorms caused 5 wildfires during the evning hours of the 1st. The fires (the largest of which was 500 acres) were started by lightning strikes and by downed power lines. Little damage resulted and the fires were quickly contained and extinguished.