Montana storms bring problems, maybe floods

A storm system that moved north through central Montana has brought hail and at least one tornado in the rural Hobson area, leaving behind downed trees and power lines.

Central Montana 911 dispatcher Dorothy Gremaux says there were no immediate reports of injuries Tuesday night, but cars, houses and outbuildings have been damaged.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Brusda says funnel clouds were reported near White Sulphur Springs. He says law-enforcement officers reported a tornado touching down in the Coffee Creek area north of Hobson and moving toward Big Sandy.

He says golf ball-size hail was reported in White Sulphur Springs, penny-size hail in Bozeman and pea-size hail in the Great Falls area.

In Northwest Montana, heavy rains were expected to send river levels to flood stage tonight and Thursday.

The North Fork Flathead River at the Canadian border was predicted to rise to 10.6 feet Wednesday night. Flood stage is 10.5 feet.

The Middle Fork of the Flathead River was forecast to rise nearly 3 feet to hit flood stage of 10 feet tonight.

The main Flathead River, as measured at Columbia Falls, had a level of 12 feet Tuesday night and was expected to reach 14.34 feet late Wednesday and early Thursday. Flood stage on the main river is 14 feet, although little damage usually occurs at that level.

The Whitefish and Swan rivers also were expected to rise near flood-stage levels.

Wild weather of a different sort was expected at higher elevations in Northwest Montana.

A winter weather advisory is in effect today for Glacier National Park areas above 4,500 feet, where 6 to 10 inches of snow are expected.