Hail, Big Horn
- When
- July 31, 2:40 PM MST
- Where
- Big Horn County, Pryor
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.430, -108.530
Flood and Hail in Montana, July 31, 1998
5 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood, 1 heavy rain, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $8.0 million
- Crop damage
- $1.0 million
- Events
- 8
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The radar
The Billings radar (KBLX), 47 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:43 UTC.
Event by event
5 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Yellowstone
- When
- July 31, 3:15 PM MST to 3:45 PM MST
- Where
- Yellowstone County, Billings
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Property damage
- $8.0 million
- Crop damage
- $1.0 million
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.800, -108.480
Numerous observations of large hail were reported by spotters, amateur radio operators and National Weather Service personnel. The hail damaged several vehicles in the Billings area, and also caused heavy damage to crops.
Hail, Park
- When
- July 31, 3:25 PM MST
- Where
- Park County, Wilsall
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 46.000, -110.670
Thunderstorm Wind, Yellowstone
- When
- July 31, 3:30 PM MST
- Where
- Yellowstone County, Billings
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph)
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.800, -108.480
A spotter estimated a 60 mph wind gust in Billings. The Billings communications center reported that a tree was downed at 15th and Poly, and an amateur radio operator reported several tree limbs were down at 17th and Lewis.
Flood, Yellowstone
- When
- July 31, 3:30 PM MST to 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Yellowstone County, Billings
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 45.937, -108.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Street flooding was reported throughout Billings. Several underpasses were flooded and about a dozed manhole covers were flooded off.
Hail, Park
- When
- July 31, 3:50 PM MST
- Where
- Park County, 15 mi NE of Livingston
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.820, -110.350
Hail, Rosebud
- When
- July 31, 5:55 PM MST
- Where
- Rosebud County, Birney
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.320, -106.520
Heavy Rain, Rosebud
- When
- July 31, 6:47 PM MST to 7:15 PM MST
- Where
- Rosebud County, Ashland
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 46.230, -106.731 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A spotter reported one inch of rainfall in 28 minutes from a thunderstorm.
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
- Flood
- Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
- Heavy Rain
- Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Colorado, July 31, 1998
- Damaging Wind in North Carolina, July 31, 1998
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Florida, July 31, 1998
- Damaging Wind in North Carolina, July 31, 1998
- Damaging Wind in North Carolina, July 31, 1998
- Drought in New Jersey, July 31, 1998
- Flash Flood in Idaho, July 31, 1998
- Drought in Pennsylvania, July 31, 1998
- Damaging Winds in Georgia, July 31, 1998
- Lightning Strike in Florida, July 31, 1998
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in South Carolina, July 31, 1998
- Damaging Winds in Wyoming, July 31, 1998
More
Every storm in Montana in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, July 1998
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5658262, 5658263, 5658266, 5658264, 5658265, 5658267, 5658268, 5658269.