Dangerous winds forecast for Tuesday

Powerful winds are expected to hit the Flathead Valley on Tuesday afternoon, with gusts over 50 mph possible.

The National Weather Service in Missoula cautions that gusty winds will develop in Northwest Montana during the afternoon with the strongest winds to be between 3 and 7 p.m. A wind advisory is in effect from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

“Winds between 30 and 40 mph will be common, so small tree and branch damage is expected,” the Weather Service warned in a media release.

Large waves are also possible on area lakes.

Stronger wind gusts over 50 mph are likely in the in high terrain and also possible at valley level. Broad valleys and valleys oriented east to west will have the biggest impacted from the winds, the Weather Service states.

The stronger winds may cause tree and power line damage.