Local thunderstorms bring large hail, heavy showers

A persistent weather pattern is bringing severe thunderstorms to the area including up to tennis ball-sized hail and some short bursts of heavy rainfall.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Paul Nutter in Great Falls said reports came in of nickel-sized hail 9 miles west-southwest of Havre, 2-inch hail 5 miles west of town and tennis ball-sized hail 8 miles west.

He said other thunderstorms also caused hail in the area, but those were the largest-sized hail reported so far by 9:30 this morning.

The storms also caused reports of heavt in the region, Nutter said, with some storms producing ra...