Tornado Hits Billings, MT

Sunday afternoon turned stormy for many as severe thunderstorms developed along the leeside of the Rockies and across the central and northern high plains states.

There were numerous reports of large hail and heavy rain from the storms, and even a few tornadoes.

One tornado touched down on the northeast side of Billings, Mont. around 4:45 pm Sunday.

The twister did a considerable amount of damage to area businesses and homes, including a McDonalds and an arena.

Click here to see an update from KTVQ - you have to scroll down and look at the videos - especially the second one. Wow - an up close and personal shot of the twister and it's powerful circulation of wind.

I was online yesterday watching all the storms and found this picture on KULR's web site - it shows the wall cloud hanging over the city as the twister tore through.

The National Weather Service office in Billings will have to conduct a damage survey today - but preliminary reports say this is the strongest tornado to hit Billings since July of 1958.

Tornadoes are not rare in eastern Montana - but tornadoes of this strength over populated areas are not common.

Here is a link to a table of all Montana tornadoes since 1950.

The last time I could find that a tornado struck in the immediate Billing vicinity was on July 4, 1998 - a small EF0.