Strong to severe thunderstorms are looking possible (5 to 15 percent chance) this afternoon and evening across much of north central Idaho and western Montana. Any storms that do develop will have the potential of producing very heavy downpours, lightning, hail and damaging winds. A few actions you can take to prepare for storms include: preventing property damage by parking away from trees, staying away from windows once you are indoors, preparing for power outages, setting up a way to receive weather warnings on your phone, and if you are heading into the backcountry, pack a safety kit and/or weather radio. If you have outdoor plans on today, we recommend keeping an eye on the forecast.