Sirens go off during storm when shouldn't have

A storm brought rain and high winds to the area Tuesday night, with some people reporting hearing a warning siren that officials say should not have gone off.

Dave Sheppard, Hill County Disaster Emergency Services coordinator, said the siren going off may have been the result of a glitch. He said there are two places from where the siren can be triggered  — the Hill County Sheriff’s office and Havre City Hall — but no one has said they set it off.

Sheppard  said those sirens are never set off when there is a weather advisory, as was issued Tuesday night — conditions have to merit at least a severe weather warning.

The National Weather Service has not ruled out that a storm like the one that hit Tuesday night, with the possible addition of hail, may hit the area later today  starting at about 5 p.m.

Keith Jaszka, a meteorologist  with the National Weather Service in Great Falls, said the Tuesday evening storm, which took place between 10:07 and 10:45 p.m. brought .45 inches of rain at the recording station at the Havre City-County Airport. Jaszka said the storm brought low-end severe thunderstorm winds of 58 mph gusts.

Some people in the area reported receiving up to nine-tenths of an inch of rain.

Jaszka said no damage had been reported.