Tornado and Hail in Montana, July 3, 2000

Name: Tornado and Hail in Montana, July 3, 2000
Start: 2000-07-03T16:40
End: 2000-07-03T23:55
Location: Montana

July 3, 2000 · NWS GGW · 35 events in 10 counties and zones

A line of severe thunderstorms moving through northeast Montana brought damaging winds and large hail. Wind gusts over 80 mph were reported and numerous power lines were blown down.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $320,000
Crop damage: $100,000
Events: 35

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GGW wrote it up.

A line of severe thunderstorms moving through northeast Montana brought damaging winds and large hail. Wind gusts over 80 mph were reported and numerous power lines were blown down. Brief tornado touchdowns were reported in southern Valley County along Fort Peck Lake.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

25 thunderstorm wind, 9 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Petroleum

When: July 3, 4:40 PM MST
Where: Petroleum County, 10 mi SW of Flatwillow
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 46.733, -108.550

Thunderstorm Wind, Phillips

When: July 3, 4:56 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, 35 mi S of Malta
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.850, -107.867

Hail, Petroleum

When: July 3, 5:03 PM MST
Where: Petroleum County, 4 mi E of Winnett
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.000, -108.267

Hail, Petroleum

When: July 3, 5:05 PM MST
Where: Petroleum County, Winnett
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 47.000, -108.350

Hail, Petroleum

When: July 3, 5:10 PM MST
Where: Petroleum County, Winnett
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 47.000, -108.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Phillips

When: July 3, 5:15 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, Malta
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.350, -107.867

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When: July 3, 5:25 PM MST
Where: Garfield County, 40 mi NW of Jordan
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.733, -107.483

Thunderstorm Wind, Phillips

When: July 3, 5:30 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, 25 mi S of Malta
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 47.983, -107.867

Ranch lost new 40' by 60' building as well as having 1400 pound hay bales blown around and equipment blown over.

Thunderstorm Wind, Phillips

When: July 3, 5:40 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, 45 mi N of Malta
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL
Coordinates: 49.000, -107.867

Hail, Valley

When: July 3, 6:21 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 2 mi SW of Vandalia
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.333, -106.933

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 3, 6:23 PM MST
Where: Valley County, Glasgow Intl Arpt
Measured: 71 kt (82 mph)
Property damage: $250,000
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 48.217, -106.617

Severe thunderstorm winds in excess of 80 mph knocked down power lines and trees and caused roof damage. A double wide trailer 8 miles north of Glasgow was almost completely destroyed by the winds. The occupants were saved by taking shelter in an interior bathroom. Over 50 power poles were blown down around Glasgow leaving residents in the dark some longer than 24 hours. The roof of the Cottonwood Inn Restaurant was blown off. A new record wind gust of 82 mph was set at the Glasgow International Airport.

Hail, Valley

When: July 3, 6:30 PM MST
Where: Valley County, Glasgow Intl Arpt
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: AIRPLANE PILOT
Coordinates: 48.217, -106.617

Windows were broken out by hail and wind at the Glasgow Intl Airport.

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 3, 6:30 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 4 mi S of Glasgow
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.150, -106.633

Tornado, Valley

When: July 3, 6:40 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 25 mi S of Glasgow
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.833, -106.633

Tornado was reported briefly touching down along the shores of Fort Peck Lake near The Pines Recreation Area

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 3, 6:40 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 10 mi S of Glasgow
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.050, -106.633

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 3, 6:45 PM MST
Where: Valley County, Park Grove
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.017, -106.400

Hail, Valley

When: July 3, 7:00 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 15 mi NW of Glasgow
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.350, -106.867

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When: July 3, 7:03 PM MST
Where: Garfield County, 43 mi NE of Jordan
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.750, -106.233

Thunderstorm Wind, McCone

When: July 3, 7:05 PM MST
Where: McCone County, 55 mi NW of Circle
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.983, -106.433

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 3, 7:10 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 16 mi N of Oswego
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.283, -105.867

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 3, 7:10 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 4 mi N of Frazer
Measured: 68 kt (78 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.100, -106.033

Hail, Garfield

When: July 3, 7:20 PM MST
Where: Garfield County, 43 mi NE of Jordan
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.750, -106.233

Thunderstorm Wind, McCone

When: July 3, 7:25 PM MST
Where: McCone County, Weldon
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.583, -105.833

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 3, 7:27 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 18 mi N of Frazer
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.317, -106.033

Thunderstorm Wind, Daniels

When: July 3, 7:30 PM MST
Where: Daniels County, 5 mi S of Peerless
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.733, -105.817

Thunderstorm Wind, Roosevelt

When: July 3, 7:40 PM MST
Where: Roosevelt County, 20 mi N of Wolf Pt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 48.383, -105.650

Thunderstorm Wind, Roosevelt

When: July 3, 7:43 PM MST
Where: Roosevelt County, Wolf Pt Intl Arpt
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 48.100, -105.567

Thunderstorm Wind, McCone

When: July 3, 8:13 PM MST
Where: McCone County, Circle
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 47.417, -105.600

Severe thunderstorm winds took down eight power lines in Circle leaving 100 customers without power. Strong winds also took the top off of on of the local grain bins.

Thunderstorm Wind, Roosevelt

When: July 3, 8:22 PM MST
Where: Roosevelt County, Poplar
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.100, -105.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Roosevelt

When: July 3, 8:55 PM MST
Where: Roosevelt County, 5 mi N of Brockton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.217, -104.917

Hail, McCone

When: July 3, 9:00 PM MST
Where: McCone County, 4 mi SE of Vida
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.800, -105.433

Thunderstorm Wind, Richland

When: July 3, 9:18 PM MST
Where: Richland County, 20 mi N of Enid
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.983, -104.783

Thunderstorm Wind, Roosevelt

When: July 3, 9:20 PM MST
Where: Roosevelt County, Culbertson
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.150, -104.517

Thunderstorm Wind, Dawson

When: July 3, 9:30 PM MST
Where: Dawson County, 10 mi SW of Richey
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.550, -105.217

Thunderstorm Wind, Prairie

When: July 3, 11:55 PM MST
Where: Prairie County, Terry
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 46.783, -105.300

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.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2000 Every state in 2000 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Montana, 2000 Warnings in Montana, July 2000

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5152065, 5152066, 5152067, 5152068, 5152069, 5152070, 5152071, 5150912, 5152072, 5152073, 5152074, 5150913, 5152075, 5152076, 5152077, 5152078, 5150911, 5152138, 5152139, 5152140, 5152141, 5152142, 5152143, 5152144, 5152145, 5152146, 5152147, 5150904, 5150905, 5150906, 5150907, 5150908, 5150909, 5150910, 5150914.