Alert archive / Montana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 39, NWS Great Falls, MT
NWS Great Falls, MT issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 8, 2026, 10:49 PM MDT for Hill County, Montana. It was in force for 40 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 8, 2026, 10:49 PM MDT (04:49 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 8, 2026, 11:29 PM MDT
- In force
- 40 min
- Issued by
- NWS Great Falls, MT
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
County Hill County, MT
The radar
The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 208 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:52 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Glasgow Intl Airport, MT (KGGW), launched 00:00Z, 4.8 hours before the alert went out and 236 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1550 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -74 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1532 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 40 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 93 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 142 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.2
- Supercell composite
- 5.8
The text
As transmitted.
917
WUUS55 KTFX 090449
SVRTFX
MTC041-090545-
/O.NEW.KTFX.SV.W.0039.260709T0449Z-260709T0545Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1049 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Northeastern Hill County in north central Montana...
* Until 1145 PM MDT.
* At 1048 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 26 miles north of
Beaver Creek, or 28 miles north of Havre, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage
to roofs, siding, and trees.
* This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northeastern Hill County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4893 10950 4892 10948 4891 10951 4876 10951
4887 11003 4900 11002 4900 10949
TIME...MOT...LOC 0448Z 281DEG 15KT 4893 10991
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
AM2 follow-up statements
279
WWUS55 KTFX 090509
SVSTFX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1109 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
MTC041-090545-
/O.CON.KTFX.SV.W.0039.000000T0000Z-260709T0545Z/
Hill MT-
1109 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM MDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN HILL COUNTY...
At 1109 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 26 miles north of
Havre, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northeastern Hill County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4883 10982 4900 10985 4900 10949 4893 10950
4892 10948 4891 10951 4876 10951
TIME...MOT...LOC 0509Z 275DEG 23KT 4893 10971
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
AM701
WWUS55 KTFX 090529
SVSTFX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1129 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
MTC041-090539-
/O.CAN.KTFX.SV.W.0039.000000T0000Z-260709T0545Z/
Hill MT-
1129 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN HILL COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
&&
LAT...LON 4883 10982 4900 10985 4900 10949 4893 10950
4892 10948 4891 10951 4876 10951
TIME...MOT...LOC 0526Z 281DEG 15KT 4891 10959
$$
AMWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 8, 8:36 PM MDT, 2 hours 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Isolated showers and thunderstorms this evening capable of producing strong wind gusts and large hail.
- Isolated showers and thunderstorms across Southwest and Central Montana Thursday and Friday afternoon.
- Trending hotter toward the weekend, with Saturday and Sunday looking hottest.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 8, 8:36 PM MDT, 2 hours 13 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
836 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Isolated showers and thunderstorms this evening capable of
producing strong wind gusts and large hail.
- Isolated showers and thunderstorms across Southwest and Central Montana
Thursday and Friday afternoon.
- Trending hotter toward the weekend, with Saturday and Sunday
looking hottest.
&&
.UPDATE...
Made small adjustments to PoPs for this evening to represent
current trends. Severe thunderstorm threat is diminishing with all
showers and thunderstorms gradually ending after midnight. Slight
adjustments to minimum temperatures and dewpoints for tonight.
Keeping fog out of forecast presently however patchy mist or low
clouds are still possible in North Central MT near dawn. Otherwise
remainder of forecast is on track. - Akins
&&
.DISCUSSION...
/Issued 557 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026/
- Meteorological Overview:
Upper level troughing well off to the northwest over northern BC
will progress eastward through the day today, eventually emerging
into northwestern AB by the evening. Flow aloft across the region
will largely be zonal, but be ever so slightly cyclonic in nature
given the disturbance off to the northwest. This weakly cyclonic
nature of the flow will combine with sufficient daytime heating to
result in at least widely scattered showers and thunderstorms across
the region by mid-afternoon. Deep inverted-V soundings suggest wind
will be the primary concern with the strongest thunderstorms, but
increasing shear through the afternoon combine with respectable
instability will yield a large hail threat as well. This activity
exits eastward late evening or early overnight.
The main upper level disturbance passes eastward into Thursday,
though some lingering instability across SW MT will yield a few
isolated showers or thunderstorms Thursday and Friday afternoon.
Thereafter an upper level ridge begins to build in across the
Central CONUS and interior west, which will allow for temperatures
to climb heading into the weekend. While the hottest conditions look
to remain off to the east and southeast, afternoon temperatures
rising well into the 90s in many areas this weekend will pose
impacts to those with outdoor plans. Plan for plenty of hydration
and rest breaks if planning to be outside this weekend.
Heading into next week the ridge looks to slide eastward ever so
slightly, which looks to open the door for some afternoon and
evening showers or thunderstorms. -AM
- Forecast Confidence & Scenarios:
Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rainfall through this Evening...
Confidence has increased through the morning that an isolated severe
thunderstorm or two will occur through the timeframe that the Storm
Prediction Center (SPC) has introduced a Marginal Risk for severe
thunderstorms across portions of Southwest through North Central
Montana, generally along and east of a Havre, to Great Falls, to
Helena, to Butte, to Big Hole Pass line. BUFKIT soundings across
these areas show deep inverted-V's with CIGS of 9-12kft, which would
suggest that damaging winds would be the primary hazard for these
areas. With that being said BUFKIT soundings over the plains of
Central and North Central Montana, especially across Fergus and
Blaine Counties, do support sufficient instability within the hail
growth zone for the potential of hailstones to approach 1" but less
than ideal shear will likely be the limiting factor for hail to
exceed severe criteria.
Hot Temperatures this Weekend...
Climate anomaly indicators continue to support the potential for an
unusual to very unusual period of hot temperatures, with respect to
early to mid-July climatology, across the Northern Rockies;
especially along and east of a Lewistown, to Helena, to Chief Joseph
Pass line where EFIs are in excess of 0.6. This is not to say that
areas north and west of this line will not also see hot
temperatures, but with respect to July climatology readings will not
be as anomalous.
The tables below depict Low End (NBM5.0 10th Percentiles), Most
Likely (50th Percentiles), and High End (NBM5.0 90th Percentiles)
scenarios with respect to high and low temperatures over the
weekend; with larger spreads between the three scenarios suggesting
greater uncertainty due to a combination of cloud cover/wind speeds
and directions/latent heat release while smaller spreads suggest
greater certainty.
Saturday's High Temperature Scenarios
LOCATION Low End | Most Likely | High End
Browning 83 | 87 | 91
Cut Bank 89 | 93 | 97
Havre 93 | 100 | 104
Great Falls 94 | 99 | 103
Lewistown 91 | 96 | 100
Helena 93 | 98 | 101
White Sulphur Springs 91 | 95 | 97
Bozeman 95 | 98 | 100
Dillon 91 | 96 | 99
Ennis 92 | 96 | 98
West Yellowstone 86 | 90 | 91
Sunday's High Temperature Scenarios
LOCATION Low End | Most Likely | High End
Browning 78 | 87 | 94
Cut Bank 84 | 93 | 99
Havre 92 | 101 | 107
Great Falls 93 | 100 | 106
Lewistown 92 | 99 | 106
Helena 92 | 99 | 106
White Sulphur Springs 92 | 99 | 103
Bozeman 97 | 101 | 105
Dillon 92 | 98 | 103
Ennis 96 | 100 | 103
West Yellowstone 90 | 94 | 96
Sat. Night's Low Temperature Scenarios
LOCATION Low End | Most Likely | High End
Browning 55 | 58 | 63
Cut Bank 54 | 59 | 66
Havre 59 | 62 | 68
Great Falls 57 | 62 | 67
Lewistown 55 | 59 | 64
Helena 61 | 64 | 68
White Sulphur Springs 53 | 57 | 60
Bozeman 57 | 61 | 65
Dillon 55 | 58 | 62
Ennis 57 | 60 | 63
West Yellowstone 47 | 52 | 57
Sun. Night's Low Temperature Scenarios
LOCATION Low End | Most Likely | High End
Browning 49 | 58 | 65
Cut Bank 50 | 60 | 68
Havre 56 | 63 | 71
Great Falls 57 | 63 | 70
Lewistown 54 | 59 | 66
Helena 61 | 67 | 71
White Sulphur Springs 54 | 58 | 63
Bozeman 57 | 62 | 66
Dillon 56 | 61 | 65
Ennis 57 | 60 | 65
West Yellowstone 49 | 54 | 59
At this time these scenarios would tend to suggest that while
daytime temperatures will be hot across most areas, especially on
Sunday, temperatures will cool sufficiently enough during the
overnight hours to provide some relief from the heat. This relief
offsets the need for Extreme Heat highlights at this time, but at
the event draws closer Heat Advisories may be need for some
&&
.AVIATION...
09/00Z TAF Period
Scattered thunderstorms will continue moving east across
Southwest to Central Montana until 03Z this evening with some
storms capable of producing severe gusts over 55 kts and hail up
to 1". MVFR conditions can occur within precipitation otherwise
VFR conditions will prevail through the evening. A chance for
MVFR/IFR conditions is still possible over North Central MT and
KHVR due to mist/low stratus between 10-16Z Thursday morning but
should not be as widespread as Wednesday morning as most low level
moisture has eroded. - Akins
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF 56 88 55 93 / 20 0 0 0
CTB 54 82 54 86 / 0 0 0 0
HLN 57 88 56 91 / 20 0 0 0
BZN 53 88 54 90 / 20 10 10 0
WYS 46 83 45 84 / 20 20 30 0
DLN 51 86 52 89 / 20 0 0 0
HVR 57 88 56 92 / 60 0 0 0
LWT 54 83 53 89 / 40 10 10 10
&&
.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&
http://www.weather.gov/greatfallsIn the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 8, 9:08 PM MDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
908 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
MTZ306-311-090400-
Northern Blaine County MT-Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine MT-
908 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL BLAINE COUNTY
THROUGH 1000 PM MDT...
At 908 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14
miles southwest of Fort Belknap, or 21 miles southeast of Chinook,
moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Harlem and Fort Belknap.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4844 10836 4844 10842 4842 10841 4834 10841
4823 10902 4834 10911 4867 10854 4849 10834
TIME...MOT...LOC 0308Z 241DEG 27KT 4833 10898
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
AMSpecial weather statement, Jul 8, 9:27 PM MDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
927 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
MTZ327-328-090415-
Northwest Beaverhead County MT-
Beaverhead and Western Madison below 6000ft MT-
927 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL BEAVERHEAD COUNTY
THROUGH 1015 PM MDT...
At 927 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Jackson, or 29 miles east of Salmon, moving east
at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Jackson, Bannack, Polaris, and Bannack State Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4536 11373 4551 11276 4517 11265 4505 11345
4509 11352 4512 11352 4511 11355 4513 11358
4518 11359 4525 11368 4528 11368 4534 11374
TIME...MOT...LOC 0327Z 263DEG 22KT 4530 11332
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
AMSpecial weather statement, Jul 8, 9:57 PM MDT, 52 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
957 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
MTZ305-090445-
Hill County MT-
957 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN HILL COUNTY THROUGH
1045 PM MDT...
At 957 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 23
miles north of Inverness, or 31 miles northeast of Chester, moving
east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Simpson.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4884 11009 4885 11065 4891 11066 4900 11045
4900 11016
TIME...MOT...LOC 0357Z 252DEG 16KT 4889 11059
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
AMSpecial weather statement, Jul 8, 10:19 PM MDT, 30 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1019 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
MTZ327-328-090500-
Northwest Beaverhead County MT-
Beaverhead and Western Madison below 6000ft MT-
1019 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL MADISON AND NORTH
CENTRAL BEAVERHEAD COUNTIES THROUGH 1100 PM MDT...
At 1018 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 17
miles east of Jackson, or 25 miles northwest of Dillon, moving east
at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Polaris, Melrose, and Glen.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4547 11317 4564 11271 4564 11264 4540 11250
4536 11313
TIME...MOT...LOC 0418Z 252DEG 25KT 4544 11305
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
AMSpecial weather statement, Jul 8, 10:24 PM MDT, 25 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1024 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
MTZ305-090515-
Hill County MT-
1024 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT CENTRAL HILL COUNTY THROUGH 1115
PM MDT...
At 1024 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms 10 miles northeast of Inverness, or 22 miles northeast
of Chester, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Gildford, Hingham, Kremlin, and Rudyard.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4852 11068 4885 11053 4884 10990 4843 11001
TIME...MOT...LOC 0424Z 275DEG 21KT 4865 11051
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
AMSpecial weather statement, Jul 8, 10:30 PM MDT, 19 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1030 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
MTZ305-090515-
Hill County MT-
1030 PM MDT Wed Jul 8 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN HILL COUNTY THROUGH
1115 PM MDT...
At 1030 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 28
miles north of Beaver Creek, or 30 miles northwest of Havre, moving
southeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northeastern Hill
County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4889 11012 4900 11003 4896 10957 4875 10976
TIME...MOT...LOC 0430Z 296DEG 12KT 4893 11001
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
AMThe office that day
Everything else NWS Great Falls, MT issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 8, 6:12 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Deer Lodge | 48 min |
| Jul 8, 6:21 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Gallatin | 24 min |
| Jul 8, 6:28 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Fergus | 47 min |
| Jul 8, 7:00 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Deer Lodge | 45 min |
| Jul 8, 7:12 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Fergus | 48 min |
| Jul 8, 7:19 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Chouteau | 41 min |
| Jul 8, 7:45 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TFX | Blaine, Fergus | 34 min |
| Jul 8, 9:02 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Blaine | 28 min |
| Jul 8, 9:08 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Blaine | 52 min |
| Jul 8, 9:27 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Beaverhead | 48 min |
| Jul 8, 9:57 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Hill | 48 min |
| Jul 8, 10:19 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Beaverhead | 41 min |
| Jul 8, 10:24 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Hill | 51 min |
| Jul 8, 10:30 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | TFX | Hill | 45 min |
| Jul 9, 3:23 AM MDT | Extreme Heat Watch | TFX | Blaine, Broadwater, Fergus, Gallatin, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark and 1 more | 9 hr |
| Jul 9, 12:28 PM MDT | Heat Advisory | TFX | Blaine, Broadwater, Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Gallatin and 9 more | 4 days |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Montana, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.