Has Missoula Ever Experienced a Powerful Tornado Event?
Sometimes people lay awake at night thinking about all the ways they could die. For Montanans in the western part of the state, we wonder if the next wildfire is coming for our home. In the eastern part of the state, they hope the storm shelter is strong enough to withstand tornados.
Montana is no stranger to tornadoes. In fact, a giant tornado once tore through the largest city in the state. Destroying everything in its path, including the giant METRA Park event center.
According to the Billings Gazette
On June 20, 2010, a tornado touched down in the Billings Heights, tearing through area businesses and ripping most of the roof off of Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark, known today as First Interstate Arena.
The tornado, which meteorologists believe hit the arena first with winds of at least 130 mph, was believed to be a high EF2 rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
For those of us in more mountainous terrain like Missoula, we don't need to worry much about anything happening like what happened in Billings. The cold air from the mountains makes it harder for tornados to form. However, funnel clouds are common across the state. Including one that went viral last year near St. Ignatius.
Even though Missoula has never had a reported tornado, we have recently experienced tornado-sized winds. Just this past summer, wind gusts reached over 100mph on Mount Sentinal. Knocking out power for thousands and downing trees all over the Garden City.
Montana's Top 10 Record-Setting Wild Weather Events
Gallery Credit: Brian Lee
More From 96.3 The Blaze
