After Heavy Winds, Colder Temperatures Predicted

Strong wind gusts swept through Eastern Montana on Thursday night and Wolf Point was one of the communities that experienced the conditions.

Culbertson had several reports of area homes with some limited roof damage. “I was patching all weekend,” Steve Baldwin told the Northern Plains Independent. He said the property most impacted was on the south edge of town, overlooking the Missouri River. “The wind really whipped around the hill,” Baldwin said.

Roosevelt Councy 911 Dispatch was notified Wednesday evening that the roof on a home located on the 300 Block of Edgar Street in Wolf Point was damaged in the wind. The homeowner’s son was able to secure the damaged section. A powerline was reported down on the 200 Block of Front Street. The Wolf Point Police Depeartment, Wolf Point Volunteer Fire Department and Montana Department of Transpoertation closed the street for workers.

According to the National Weather Service, Wolf Point recorded a peak wind guest of 63 miles per hour. Poplar had a peak wind guest of 61 miles per hour. In addition, there was a peak wind gust of 73 mph recorded north of Wolf Point.

Glasgow registered a peak wind gust of 79 mph. There was a reading of 88 mph south of Fort Peck Lake.

Other high mph marks in Eastern Montana included 82 in Plentywood, 66 in Scobey, 78 in Opheim, 71 in Winnett, 75 in Jordan, 64 in Culbertson, 68 in Circle, 60 in Sidney, 69 in Malta and 68 in Terry.

Glasgow’s peak wind of 79 mph was its second highest in history. The top mark is 82 mph on July 3, 2000. Tied for third at 76 mph are the dates of Aug. 28, 1997, and July 4, 1988.

According to the National Weath- er Service, the high wind event has created a shift in the general weather pattern. The area is anticipated to experience colder and wetter conditions until the end of January.

Forecast is for high temperatures to be in the 20s during the weekend with lows below zero.