Rating:

5.0 (3 votes)

The tornado that killed two people in northeast Montana has been tentatively classified as an EF-3 twister by the National Weather Service, with wind speeds of up to 150 miles per hour.

The tornado struck about 11 miles northwest of Medicine Lake, between Plentywood and Culbertson, killing 46-year old Steven Smith and 10-year old Robert Richardson. Barbara Smith, 71, suffered serious injuries and was transported to Billings for medical care.

The twister caused significant property damage, including a two-story house that was completely destroyed, a single-wide trailer blown away, numerous outbuildings and ranch vehicles destroyed, and livestock and crop losses reported. Approximately 20 cows were killed or seriously injured. The tornado also ripped the deck off a county bridge over Wolf Creek on Three Corner Road.

After touring the area, Sheridan County Sheriff Pat Ulrickson stated, "I've never seen anything like this before. The destruction is just indescribable. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Smith family today."

Tanja Fransen, NWS warning coordination meteorologist based in Glasgow, said that Monday's tornado was one of the strongest and most deadly in Montana history.

Only three previous F3 tornadoes have been officially recorded, she noted. In 1946 a tornado killed one person in Roosevelt County; in 1952 a twister in Wibaux County killed one person; in July 1988, an F3 tornado struck in Chouteau County, but did not cause any deaths.

Monday's tornado was the deadliest in Montana since the June 10, 1923 tornado in Mineral County which killed two people.

The tornado that struck Billings in June 2010 caused extensive property damage, including the MetraPark, but did not cause any deaths or significant injuries.

The pictures below are courtesy of Bayard Brekke