Montana Thunderstorm Causes Widespread Damage and Power Outages

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) — A strong thunderstorm that blew across northern Montana brought strong winds and large hail that caused property and crop damage and power outages along a 300-mile stretch of the state from Cut Bank to Fort Peck.

The National Weather Service says straight-line winds blew at speeds of up to 72 mph and hail as large as tennis balls fell, uprooting trees, flatting crops, damaging buildings, breaking windows and, in northern Hill County, picking up 1,000-pound straw bales and tossed them around.

The Great Falls Tribune reports two Hutterite colonies north of Havre reported crop damage while Hill County farmer Bim Strauser says the wind blew apart his calving barn.

The strong winds knocked over power poles, causing power outages for about 8,000 people.

The Havre Daily News reports Havre's fireworks show was postponed due to the storm.