High Wind, Flathead/Mission Valleys
- When
- November 27, 12:00 AM MST to 4:00 PM MST
- Where
- Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $145,000
- Reported by
- Utility Company
- Coordinates
- 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A local utility remarked that this was one of the most damaging storms they've ever experienced. The owner of a tree farm, located north of Echo Lake, stated to a local newspaper that he had never seen such damage since 1958. The Echo Lake area was one of the most hard hit: four houses had minor structure damage, one truck and trailer were totaled, and one mobile home had moderate to severe damage. Dozens of trees, mostly pines and firs, some estimated to be 100 feet tall and three feet wide, were reported to have fallen in this area. One resident was sleeping when a tree fell onto his house into his bedroom, but escaped unharmed. Sporadic tree damage and power outages were reported in the Columbia Falls to Lake Blaine areas. There were dozens of fallen large trees, as well as broken power poles and lines, along Highway 83 between Ferndale and Swan Lake. One resident reported at least 10 fallen trees on their property, with one 80 foot tree damaging their garage. Multiple trees, some snapped in half and some uprooted, went down over Highway 35 between mile-markers 19 and 23, causing damage to telephone and power lines. This also caused the highway to be closed for two hours. Several homes were damaged and in one case, a large tree smashed through the roof and lower room of a home, but didn't cause any injuries. Three large trees, up to three feet in diameter, took out a power line on Finley Point.