Severe weather rocked parts of southwest Montana on Tuesday evening as a severe thunderstorm rolled into the area.
The weather caused thousands of folks to lose power, but so far no major damage has been reported as a result of the storm.
Claudia Rapkoch of NorthWestern Energy told us that several hundred customers went without power for a little more than an hour in Butte and Elk Park.
There were still scattered power outages reported across southwest Montana as of late Tuesday, with Dillon being hit the hardest by the storm.
East of the Divide, strong, gusty winds hit Bozeman, and what looked like a complete white out hit as heavy rain and hail came pounding down.
Rapkoch says the storm knock out power to thousands of customers in the area
(from July 22, 2008)
Bozeman and the surrounding areas remain under flash flood warning until 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The warning is in effect for central Gallatin County, southeastern Jefferson County and northeastern Madison County and includes the cities of Belgrade, Bozeman, Ennis, Harrison, Manhattan and Pony.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 9 p.m. Tuesday for Gallatin County.
A severe storm swept through the area this evening, dropping quarter-size hail. Estimated wind gusts reached up to 70 miles per hour and flash flooding was reported across the area, according to chief meteorologist Mike Heard.
For complete coverage of today's storm tune in to Z7 at 10 p.m.
Anyone who took pictures of Tuesday's storm can email those to Z7tips@kbzk.com.
Here's a rundown of National Weather Service reports from the storm:
Large hail measuring one-inch in diameter fell four miles west of Dillon at 4:10 p.m., .88-inch diameter hail two miles west of Sheridan at 5 p.m., one-inch diameter hail five miles west of Bozeman at 6:05 p.m., 1.75-inch diameter hail in Bozeman at 6:15 p.m., one-inch diameter hail six miles south of Bozeman at 6:15 p.m., one-inch diameter hail just south of the MSU campus at 6:17 p.m. and 1.75-inch diameter hail on the Bozeman south side that broke windows in the area at 6:25 p.m.
Thunderstorm winds reached speeds of 65 mph in Dillon at 4:13 p.m., 70 mph gusts were reported two miles west of Sheridan 5:05 p.m., 67 mph gusts 20 miles north of Bozeman at 6:20 p.m. and 58 mph gusts in Belgrade at 6:22 p.m.
Heavy rains dumped .63-inches of precipitation in 15 minutes at Dillon. Urban flooding was bumper deep on several roads at 4:35 p.m. and .65 inches fell in 15 minutes five miles west of Bozeman at 6:15 p.m.
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning until 6:30 p.m. in central Beaverhead and northwest Madison counties, which include the cities of Sheridan and Virginia City.
Excessive runoff from heavy rain is expected to cause flooding of small streams and creeks and in urban areas.
A severe thunderstorm watch is also in effect until 9 p.m. for Beaverhead, Madison and Gallatin Counties, according to the National Weather Service.
Severe thunderstorms are likely in these areas. Large hail, damaging winds and very heavy rainfall is also possible.
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Central Beaverhead County, including the city of Dillon, until 4:45 p.m.
Hail the size of pennies and wind gusts to 60 miles per hour are likely with this storm. This is a damaging storm, according to the National Weather Service
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 9 p.m. tonight. Severe thunderstorms are likely for Beaverhead, Madison and Gallatin Counties.
Large hail, damaging winds and very heavy rainfall is possible.
The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for east central Gallatin County until 3:30 p.m. today.
At 3 p.m. the National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm near Bozeman moving northeast at 32 miles per hour.
Hail measuring the size of pennies and wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour are likely, according to the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service warns that this is a dangerous storm. Those in its path should prepare for damaging winds, destructive hail and deadly cloud to ground lightening.
People outside should move to a shelter, preferably inside a strong building but away from windows.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 9 p.m. Tuesday for southwest Montana.
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Beaverhead, Madison and Gallatin counties until 9 p.m. today.
This includes the cities of Bozeman, Ennis, Dillon, Sheridan and Twin Bridges.
Conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms that could produce large hail, damaging winds and brief heavy rain.
Tune into Montana News Station's STORMTracker weather at 5:30 p.m. for more details.
