Severe thunderstorms bring dangerous flooding, hail, lightning to Great Falls

GREAT FALLS — Severe thunderstorms — bringing dangerous flooding, quarter-sized hail and cloud-to-ground lightning — moved across north-central Montana Saturday evening.

A Flash Flood Warning was also issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) just after 6:45 p.m. until 9:45 p.m. for Great Falls and Black Eagle. “Slow moving, severe thunderstorms in the Great Falls area are dropping very heavy rain,” wrote NWS Great Falls in a social media post. “If you come across flooded roadways, please do not drive through.”

Dangerous flooding was reported on Central Avenue, most heavily concentrated near Fourth and Fifth Street, as well as River Drive North and off Northwest Bypass around 6:30 p.m. Observers told MTN News that cars were inundated with floodwater in some areas.

Just before 7 p.m., people were reportedly trapped inside their cars at the First Avenue North overpass near River Drive North due to accumulating floodwater. There were also reports of floating cars near Sixth Street and American Avenue. Some storm drains were not working.

Cascade and Choteau counties remain under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 6:30 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning that lasted until 6:00 p.m. also included Teton County.

Winds up to 60 miles per hour can be expected as well as hail damage, leaving trees and houses vulnerable to worsening conditions. According to NWS, the main impact will be felt from small hail, gusty winds and lightning. There were reports of downed power lines impacting traffic in Great Falls, and a tree down at First Avenue North and Park Drive.

To monitor power outages in your area, visit NorthWestern Energy’soutage map here. Several have been listed in the Great Falls area as of 7 p.m. Saturday.

The storm cell is moving eastward across the Treasure State as of 6 p.m. Saturday, beginning at approximately 5:53 p.m. in Great Falls, reaching into Centerville and Fife. Severe weather is predicted to roam into Belt around 6:36 p.m.

The National Weather Service is reminding that residents within the range of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are encouraged to take shelter and remain inside.

Follow our STORMTracker Weather page for continuous updates on changing weather conditions in and around central and north-central Montana.

You can also download the STORMTracker Weather app, available on Google Play and the App Store.

Montana Department of Transportation resources:

• Road conditions map
• MDT webcams across Montana
• Non-MDT webcams across Montana
• Road conditions mobile app
• Reported crashes/slide-offs

STORMTracker Weather resources:

• Live interactive radar
• Montana live webcams
• STORMTracker Weather page
• STORMTracker Weather on Facebook

Cars are stuck under the bridge on 1st Ave N.

Posted by STORMTracker Weather on Saturday, July 6, 2019