BILLINGS (AP) Wind
gusts of about 80 mph, heavy
rain and grapefruit-sized hail
were reported after thunderstorms
moved through portions
of southern and eastern
Montana.
The brunt of the storms,
which moved through the region
Wednesday, seemed to be felt in
Big Horn, Custer and Rosebud
counties, Keith Meier, meteorologist
in charge at the National
Weather Service in Billings, said
Thursday.
Reports received by his office
included measured wind gusts of
82 mph in Miles City, where
authorities also reported car windows
broken by hail and downed
trees; broken windows and siding
damage on a home in Big Horn
County, where gusty winds and
hail estimated at up to 1.75 inches
also were reported; and large
hail, including some the size of
golf balls and a few as big as
grapefruits north of Colstrip, in
Rosebud County.
An estimated 2 inches of rain,
during a short period of time,
also was reported in Roosevelt
County, according to a preliminary
summary on the agency’s
Web site.
Most of the reports were
made by trained weather spotters.
Local authorities, including
law enforcement, and members
of the public also made reports.
Weather equipment measured
some wind speeds.
Meier said such “vigorous”
storms, brought about the
exchange of air masses, aren’t
unusual for this time of year. But
hail, reported by a trained
weather spotter at an estimated
4 inches, in Rosebud County, is
“pretty exceptional.”
On the Net:
www.wrh.noaa.gov/byz/
