Great Falls, Montana – Central and eastern Montana residents are bracing for fast-moving severe thunderstorms Monday evening, with the National Weather Service warning of damaging winds up to 75 mph and isolated large hail through 11 p.m. According to the NWS Storm Prediction Center, counties from Great Falls to Billings—including Cascade, Yellowstone, Fergus, and Valley—are under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch as multiple storm clusters race east-northeast across the region.
Winds topping 60 mph have the potential to down trees and power lines, causing scattered outages and making travel hazardous along I-15, U.S. 87, and secondary highways. Hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter could dent vehicles and threaten unprotected crops, especially in rural areas. The NWS cautions that “severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes,” so those in mobile homes or outdoor settings should seek sturdy shelter at the first sign of approaching storms.
Travelers and residents are urged to secure outdoor items, stay off open roads if storms approach, and monitor local alerts on NOAA Weather Radio or smartphone apps. Power up devices now and have flashlights ready in case of outages.
The threat will persist until late Monday, with additional advisories possible as storms continue east. Stay tuned for updates and heed all warnings as conditions can change rapidly.
