Massive northeast Montana dust storm raises fears of another Dust Bowl era
Winds over 70 mph pushed topsoil off fields and damaged fencing, while the storm forced a one-hour pause at a high school meet, officials said.
- On May 13, a windstorm with gusts over 70 mph swept across eastern Montana, halting a high school conference track meet near Havre. Farmer Jared Miller, attending the event, witnessed the disastrous conditions firsthand.
- The Montana Climate Office identified the storm as a strong midlatitude cyclone fueled by extreme dry conditions. The event struck during crop-planting season across the Hi-Line, compounding challenges from a severe, multi-year drought.
- Stine Decker of Inverness reported the dirt 'sandblasts the tiny plants' trying to grow, while Miller described fencing pushed over by tumbleweeds. Both cited zero visibility that created dangerous driving conditions.
- Widespread dust plumes reduced visibility to Mars-like conditions, impacting local travel and field operations. The Montana Climate Office reported the wind transported valuable topsoil away from fields, threatening future productivity.
- Massachusetts geoscientist Isaac Larsen warned these conditions are part of a worsening pattern of soil loss across roughly 30 million acres of the Corn Belt. Larsen cautioned the U.S. could face Dust Bowl-type events if erosion trends continue.
14 Articles
14 Articles
ABC FOX Montana
Eastern, northern Montana hit with ‘disastrous’ wind storm
Jared Miller, a farmer who lives south of Havre, was at a high school conference track meet on May 13 when a “disastrous” wind storm whipped through eastern Montana. The storm stopped the track meet for an hour. “There was…
Montana Ag Network: reactions to recent massive dust storm
BILLINGS A massive dust storm swept through part of north-central and northeastern Montana last week, closing highways, canceling schools, and damaging structures, and experts warn events like this could escalate into conditions similar to the Dust Bowl era.High winds whipped dirt into a towering plume, limiting visibility across the Hi-Line. While the storm caused some property damage, the biggest long-term concern is what it did to farm and ra…
Massive northeast Montana dust storm raises fears of another Dust Bowl era
BILLINGS A massive dust storm swept through northeast Montana last week, closing highways, canceling schools and damaging structures, and experts warn events like this could escalate into conditions similar to the Dust Bowl era.High winds whipped dirt into a towering plume, limiting visibility across the Hi-Line. While the storm caused extensive property damage, the biggest long-term concern is what it did to farm and ranch land.Click here to le…
Eastern, northern Montana hit with ‘disastrous’ wind storm - Stateline Publications
A camera image from 3:00 p.m. on May 14 is pictured from a Montana Mesonet weather station near Medicine Lake. (Montana Climate Office photo) Jared Miller, a farmer who lives south of Havre, was at a high school conference track meet on May 13 when a “disastrous” wind storm whipped through eastern Montana. The storm stopped the track meet for an hour. “There was no visibility, and the winds were nuts,” Miller said. “Everyone headed to buses. We …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 90% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
