Severe Winds Hit ND - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Severe Winds Hit ND

North Dakotans endure pretty much every kind of weather mother nature can dish out.

But today - and tomorrow - might provide a somewhat unusual weather challenge - winds that could be close to hurricane strength.

Wicked winds hit the region Wednesday -- gusting over 60 miles per hour in some parts of western North Dakota.

It makes for some tough times outside, as Perry Olson discovered today.

(Perry Olson) To say Wednesday was a bit windy would be quite an understatement. Image having to work in conditions like this...or drive...plenty who spot here at a truckstop do that. The drivers say being on the road is miserable."

(Rick Kubat - Minnesota Trucker) "It is bad...the wind blows you all over the place."

Rick Kubat is comfortable on the road...but it is tough to settle in on a day like today...

(Rick Kubat - Minnesota Trucker) "It blows you all over...you have to watch and hang on because if you take your eyes off the road for a minute it will put you in the ditch."

In fact, the only reason he is driving today? -- he has a load that is helping keep him between the lines...

(Rick Kubat - Minnesota Trucker) "If I didn't have any weight in the back I probably wouldn't even run I would just shut it down."

Shut down wasn't an option for construction crews...you want to make sure the framing is good and braced when gusts like this roll through...and you know it is bad when the concrete guys have to battle it...

(Duane Franzn - Minnesota Contractor) "The top dries out before the rest does so it makes it tough..."

Even Old Glory had to call it a day today...Perkins was flag-less --

(Jesse Zwak - Perkins of Minot) "When the wind sucks the water out of the toilets we don't fly the flag!"

And for good reason...

(Jesse Zwak - Perkins of Minot) "We took it down yesterday because of Tom's always spot on forecast that the wind would be blowing like a hurricane! We thank Tom for the heads up...and we will put it back up on Friday."

When those tolerable winds roll in -- In Minot, Perry Olson, KX News.

The forecast calls for another day of very strong winds across western North Dakota.