Western Montana Fair staff talk weather protocols

MISSOULA — The 2024 Western Montana Fair is underway with exciting games, delicious food, and thrilling rides.

Given the recent storms in and around Missoula, the fair has a plan in place to handle variable and intense weather. Missoula County staff has established an emergency action plan to ensure the safety of attendees in any situation.

To stay informed about weather conditions, the county and fairgrounds teams regularly communicate with the National Weather Service and conduct briefings every morning. The information from these meetings is shared with fair vendors and partners to keep everyone informed.

Kim Adomo, Missoula County Safety and Training Coordinator, explained, “We receive daily briefings from local meteorologists about the weather expected at the fair. If there are any changes from the morning briefing, we are promptly notified. In case of evacuation or seeking shelter, we would guide everyone to our buildings for safety.”

Despite the excitement of carnival rides towering over Missoula, the fair staff closely monitor weather conditions, particularly in cases of thunderstorms. The staff from Paul Maurer Shows track lightning and wind speeds to ensure safe operations.

Marque Lundgren, General Manager of Paul Maurer Shows, explained, “When wind speeds exceed 20-25 miles per hour, we consider closing down some of the larger rides. If it goes above 40, we shut down all rides. We use apps to alert us when lightning is within 15 miles, prompting us to shut down high rides. When it gets within 10 miles, we consider shutting down the entire show until the threat passes.”

The Western Montana Fair will continue until Sunday, August 11 at the Missoula County Fairgrounds. More information about the fair can be found at https://missoulafairgrounds.com/.