Storms Bring High Winds, Rain

A severe weather thunderstorm warning was issued for Saturday evening by the National Weather Service team in Glasgow, directed at communities from Fort Peck, Frazer and Lustre eastward to Bainville and the North Dakota border.

According to NWSG meteorologist Angel Enriquez, thunderstorms hit the region Saturday afternoon and evening, resulting in wind gusts of 78 mph in Fort Peck and 75 mph in Lambert, as well as reports of a funnel cloud between Wolf Point and Poplar. Dime-sized hail was also reported near Fort Peck but little to no damage has been reported.

The heaviest rainfall of 0.78” was reported in Culbertson, with accumulations of a half-inch or better noted across the region.

“The storms moved across the area in a huge line extending from Canada down towards Billings,” Enriquez said.

Enriquez said a report of a funnel cloud was phoned into Roosevelt County Dispatch, resulting in a tornado warning for the Wolf Point and Poplar area from 7:20-8 p.m. “The storm moved in from the Great Falls area in the afternoon,” Enriquez said, eventually becoming, “one big, cool looking shelf cloud.” At press time, June 17, Enriquez told the Northern Plains Independent that no large storms are expected, but said the region will remain cool and wet through the weekend.

Wolf Point resident David Arndt told that the Northern Plains Independent the wind gust recorded at Wolf Creek was 62 mph.

Bree Strickland of Bainville said one mile west of the state line experienced no damage, but high wind, heavy rain and pea-size hail.

Visit weather.gov/ggw for more information or check the National Weather Service Glasgow Facebook page and other social media accounts.