Roof of Great Falls’ elementary school blown off in windstorm

GREAT FALLS — The roof of Lincoln Elementary School in Great Falls blew off midday Sunday during a windstorm with gusts topping 70 mph in Cascade County. There have been no reported injuries, according to Great Falls police.

Other parts of the region — Carbon, Stillwater, Park, Wheatland and Sweet Grass counties — also saw winds as high as 70 mph Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

“The wind has definitely caused a disruption in everyday life here in Great Falls,” Police Sgt. Cara Guderian told Montana Free Press on Sunday evening.

Great Falls police were unable to provide a specific estimate of the property damage Sunday night, but noted that damage was severe and that power lines were toppled.

“I’m not an insurance estimator or anything, but obviously, it’s going to be a lot of damage. You can see by the pictures,” Guderian said.

Lincoln Elementary will not have school on Monday or Tuesday, according to Great Falls Public Schools.

According to city spokesperson Meredith Dawson, tree limbs are down in parts of the city, but weren’t blocking traffic Sunday night. Parks and Recreation staff plan to remove large limbs Monday, Dawson said.

According to Ryan Leach, a weather service meteorologist based in Missoula, strong wind events occur often along the Rocky Mountain Front.

“This happens to be a very strong one,” Leach said.