Severe Thunderstorm Warning 3, NWS Missoula, MT

027 
WWUS55 KMSO 282356
SVSMSO

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Missoula MT
556 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

MTC029-290015-
/O.CON.KMSO.SV.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260529T0015Z/
Flathead MT-
556 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM MDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN FLATHEAD COUNTY...

At 556 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Columbia Falls,
or 12 miles north of Evergreen, moving northwest at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

Locations impacted include...
  Coram.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing large hail.

&&

LAT...LON 4841 11402 4837 11414 4841 11421 4849 11413
TIME...MOT...LOC 2340Z 122DEG 16KT 4835 11410

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...<50 MPH

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
157 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGES:

- Warm temperatures and showers/thunderstorms with a few strong
  storms this afternoon, especially across northwest Montana and
  through north central Idaho

- Prolonged heavy rainfall this weekend in western Montana,
  elevating risks for hydrologic responses and rockfalls
  especially near and along the Continental Divide.

- High elevation snowfall on Saturday night into Monday could
  create difficult backcountry conditions.

This Afternoon/Evening:

This afternoon will bring the warmest temperatures of the week,
with valley highs climbing into the upper 80s to near 90 degrees
across western Montana and north-central Idaho. Similar to
yesterday, thunderstorms will develop by early afternoon and track
northwestward. Activity will focus primarily from the Bitterroot
Valley northward and across north-central Idaho, including the
Camas Prairie. A few stronger storms could produce erratic wind
gusts, brief heavy downpours, and small hail. Meanwhile, elevated
fire weather concerns persist across southwest Montana this
afternoon, particularly south of Dillon due to gusty winds and
relative humidity dropping into the teens.

Friday:

The weather pattern shifts significantly on Friday as an incoming
Pacific low-pressure system brings a band of heavy rain. South to
north moving showers and storms will bring localized heavy rain
and the potential for gusty winds and hail once again. Storms may
train over parts of the region particularly the US-12 and US-95
corridors in Idaho, thus localized flash flooding is a concern.

Saturday through Monday:

By Saturday, the low-pressure system is projected to settle near
the Yellowstone region, placing western Montana within a robust
deformation zone. Tapping into anomalous moisture, this setup
will trigger a prolonged, highly efficient rainfall event into at
least Monday.

- Hydrologic & Terrain Impacts: Saturated soils from recent rains
  combined with ongoing high-elevation snowmelt will elevate the
  risk for significant rises on rivers and streams, as well as
  rockfalls in steep canyon terrain.

- Precipitation Totals: The heaviest totals are forecast near the
  Continental Divide, where there is a 70 to 90 percent chance of
  exceeding 1 inch of rain, with localized amounts of 2 to 4
  inches possible.

- Snow Levels & Backcountry: Sharp cooling aloft will cause snow
  levels to drop to around 6,000 feet along the Continental Divide
  by Sunday morning. Backcountry users should prepare for raw,
  winter-like conditions and difficult travel.

Extended Outlook:

Looking further ahead, ensemble clusters favor a quick transition
back to building high pressure and above- normal temperatures by
mid-next week, offering a reprieve from this weekend's wet
pattern.

&&

.AVIATION...VFR conditions will prevail across western Montana and
north-central Idaho terminals this afternoon, though valley
temperatures approaching 90F will contribute to elevated density
altitude. Scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms will focus
from the Bitterroot Valley northward and across north-central
Idaho, with high-resolution models maintaining coverage trends
similar to yesterday. Any developing convective cells could
produce short- lived, localized MVFR/IFR conditions due to heavy
downpours and low ceilings, alongside erratic outflow wind gusts,
hail, and mountain obscurations. Outside of convective activity,
terminals in southwest Montana and Lemhi County (including KBTM
and KSMN) will experience breezy southeasterly surface winds this
afternoon. Patchy fog and low stratus may develop Friday morning
in areas that receive rain this evening, ahead of another
widespread round of showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...None.
ID...None.
&&

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Missoula MT
444 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

MTZ007-282315-
Butte/Blackfoot Region MT-
444 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL POWELL COUNTY UNTIL 515
PM MDT...

At 444 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13
miles southeast of Ovando, or 21 miles northeast of Drummond, moving
northwest at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Ovando and Helmville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4693 11280 4681 11300 4700 11329 4718 11299
      4718 11298
TIME...MOT...LOC 2244Z 141DEG 11KT 4693 11292

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Missoula MT
446 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

MTZ006-043-282315-
Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains MT-Potomac/Seeley Lake Region MT-
446 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL MISSOULA...
NORTHEASTERN RAVALLI AND NORTHWESTERN GRANITE COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM
MDT...

At 446 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14
miles southeast of Bonner-West Riverside, or 18 miles southeast of
Missoula, moving north at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Clinton and Turah.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4670 11362 4667 11361 4662 11381 4681 11396
      4687 11366
TIME...MOT...LOC 2246Z 161DEG 10KT 4669 11376

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Missoula MT
459 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

IDZ006-008-282330-
Lower Hells Canyon/Salmon River Region ID-Southern Clearwater
Mountains ID-
359 PM PDT Thu May 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL IDAHO COUNTY UNTIL
430 PM PDT...

At 359 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles southeast of White Bird, or 19 miles south of Grangeville,
moving northwest at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.

Locations impacted include...
  White Bird, Slate Creek and Copperville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 4556 11625 4566 11649 4587 11634 4565 11598
      4552 11614
TIME...MOT...LOC 2259Z 124DEG 25KT 4566 11621

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Missoula MT
516 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

MTZ006-043-282345-
Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains MT-Potomac/Seeley Lake Region MT-
516 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL MISSOULA COUNTY
UNTIL 545 PM MDT...

At 516 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles southeast of Bonner-West Riverside, or 12 miles southeast of
Missoula, moving north at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Bonner-West Riverside, East Missoula, Turah, Clinton and Twin
  Creeks.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4685 11394 4689 11395 4690 11394 4693 11368
      4675 11369 4673 11390
TIME...MOT...LOC 2316Z 174DEG 12KT 4679 11381

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Missoula MT
523 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

MTZ002-003-290000-
Flathead/Mission Valleys MT-West Glacier Region MT-
523 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL FLATHEAD COUNTY UNTIL 6
PM MDT...

At 523 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14
miles south of West Glacier, or 15 miles east of Evergreen, moving
northwest at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Columbia Falls, Hungry Horse, Martin City and Coram.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4843 11418 4850 11407 4831 11383 4822 11396
      4835 11430
TIME...MOT...LOC 2322Z 122DEG 13KT 4830 11396

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Missoula MT
524 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

MTZ007-290000-
Butte/Blackfoot Region MT-
524 PM MDT Thu May 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL POWELL COUNTY UNTIL 6 PM
MDT...

At 524 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles east of Ovando, or 25 miles north of Drummond, moving north at
5 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Mainly rural areas of Central Powell County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4693 11307 4709 11318 4716 11285 4699 11281
TIME...MOT...LOC 2324Z 161DEG 5KT 4701 11296

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH