Windstorm hammers Butte: Forecasters say worst is over; power outages, damage persists

Updated at 6:15 p.m.

Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester said the “High Wind Warning” for the area remains in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday.

He said the Emergency Travel Advisory for the City of Butte will be rescinded at 9 p.m. Wednesday, “at which time normal activity and travel may resume. Travelers are urged to use caution, as some streets remain blocked.”

Residents are also asked to remain aware of ever-changing weather conditions, Lester said.

Updated at 2:55 p.m.

The regular council meeting of the Butte-Silver Bow Commission for Wednesday was canceled due to the windstorm and it is rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday. A committee of the whole meeting will be 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Agendas for those meetings will be posted soon.

Updated at 2:20 p.m.

Severe winds walloped Butte Wednesday, causing damage throughout the city and closing all public schools.

Luke Robinson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Missoula, said the strongest wind gust on Wednesday clocked in at 63 miles per hour at the Bert Mooney Airport.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were higher gusts,” he said and added, “we’ve seen the worst now.”

Liz Lahey heard a sound that reminded her of a thunderclap, only louder.

The National Weather Service had predicted dangerously high winds for Butte-Silver Bow County and the evidence of the service’s accurate forecast was visible everywhere Wednesday morning in the Mining City.

Downed powerlines. Downed trees. Traffic lights disabled. Rain blowing sideways. Power outages.

A remarkable mess.

That was true on West Porphyry Street in the vicinity of Lahey’s house.

The source of the roar she heard was the splintering of two of her neighbor’s conifers. The wind had topped two of the towering trees and the shattered portions had fallen within inches of her Subaru.

Lahey said she was relieved to discover that the vehicle apparently escaped damage.

“It is a very busy time of year and having a car totaled would not be good,” she said.

Lahey moved the Subaru away from the neighbor’s remaining trees.

The winds did not spare tractor trailers traveling regional interstates.

"This morning on I-15 South near mile marker 199, two semi-trucks with trailers caught the wind and rolled," reported Kylie Gibson, a spokesperson for the Montana Highway Patrol.

"Both trailers were safely removed from the interstate, and luckily there were no injuries," Gibson said. "Drivers passing by can expect to see those trailers on the side of the highway until tomorrow morning, as the winds are too dangerous to keep hauling them."

Many of the trees down across the city were conifers. One tree toppled just outside a facility for NorthWestern Energy.

Emergency responders stayed busy reacting to reports of downed trees, especially trees that had fallen across powerlines. Firefighters looked for “arcing and sparking.”

As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, NorthWestern Energy reported there were 6,208 homes and businesses without power in Butte-Silver Bow County.

Butte School District dismisses classes due to wind

Updated Dec. 17 at 12:25 p.m.

At 9:30 a.m., Butte School District No. 1 Superintendent Judy Jonart dismissed classes at Butte High School, the Webster Garfield Complexl and Margaret Leary Elementary.

“They were completely without power,” said Jonart.

As a precaution, by 11 a.m., students from East Middle School, and the elementary schools of West, Kennedy, Emerson, Whittier and Hillcrest were also sent home.

“Officials were asking us to limit traveling, so we wanted to get them home and safe,” said Jonart.

Classes were dismissed at 10:30 a.m. at Butte Central Elementary-Junior High School, but the high school remained open.

Wind prompts emergency travel only order in Butte; trees and power lines down

Updated Dec. 17 at 12:20 p.m.

Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester hopes residents will continue to limit travel within the city to emergency situations only during to the ongoing windstorm

“Numerous trees have been blown over, and multiple power lines are down throughout the community,” Lester said Wednesday. “Power outages are expected, and travel conditions will be hazardous.”

Lester said hazardous wind conditions are expected to persist throughout the afternoon. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

According to NorthWestern Energy's outage map, there are reported outages all over Butte, Anaconda and up to Elk Park.

At 9:30 a.m. the Montana Department of Transportation reported a downed power line blocking the southbound lanes of Interstate 15 south of Elk Park.

An emergency shelter has been set up at the Butte Civic Center, Lester said, adding it is fully operational.

This story will be updated.