January 15, 2021

DIVIDE COUNTY, N.D. (KFGO) – High wind warnings were posted from central North Dakota west into Montana. There was good reason for the warnings.

A powerful storm system brought gale-force winds that caused property damage, including toppled semi’s, uprooted trees, and more than a dozen communities lost power because of downed lines.

Divide County Sheriff Zachary Schroeder says in the northwest corner of the state, it was unlike anything most people have witnessed in winter.

He says early Thurs. morning, they had gusts between 80 mph to 105 mph at a weather station southwest of Crosby.

Schroeder says the winds were still “howling” Thurs. afternoon and were not expected to let up until early Friday. While there is little snow, it’s icy and the sheriff cautioned people walking on ice that they could be be “blown away.”

For comparison, 105 mph winds would be rated as an EF-1 tornado during a summer storm with speeds between 86 and 110 mph.