Tornadoes and Hail in Montana, July 8, 2002

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Montana, July 8, 2002
Start: 2002-07-08T16:10
End: 2002-07-08T20:03
Location: Montana

July 8, 2002 · NWS GGW · 32 events in 7 counties and zones

21 thunderstorm wind, 7 hail, 4 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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: $245,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 32

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 forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Glasgow, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 8, 1:40 PM MST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 8, 1:40 PM MST, 2 hours 30 minutes before

NORTHEAST MONTANA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
240 PM MDT MON JUL 8 2002

.SHORT TERM...SEVERE WATCH BOX INCLUDES WESTERN 4 COUNTIES.  EXPECT
THE COLD FRONT TO GENERATE ENOUGH DYNAMIC MIX TO GENERATE STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS.  FRONT IS MOVING RAPIDLY EAST AND WILL COMPLETELY
CROSS THE CWA BY LATE EVENING.  THETA E RIDGE AND CAPE GRADIENTS ARE
CONCENTRATED OVER THE CWA.  30+ KT LOW LEVEL JET CONTINUING STRONG
SOUTHEAST FLOW INTO THE CWA.  LAKE WIND ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE THIS
EVENING BECAUSE OF PROXIMITY TO CONVECTION OUTFLOW AND LOW LEVEL JET.

19Z SOUNDING SHOWING SOUTHEAST FLOW THROUGH 725MB BETWEEN 25-35
KTS.  ABOVE 725MB FLOW VEERS TO SOUTHWEST FOR REMAINDER OF
SOUNDING.  CAPE APPEARS LARGER THAN 12Z SOUNDING.  AIR COLUMN IS
WETTER THAN THE MORNING SOUNDING AND HINTS AT A LAPSE RATE NEARLY
PARALLEL TO THE MOIST ADIABATS FOR THIS AFTERNOON.  CWA IS STILL
AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT AND LEADING INSTABILITY.  INDICES ARE: 2800+
J/KG CAPE  -8 LI  1.41 PW  314 SWEAT  63 M/S MAX VERT VELOCITY  82F
CONV TEMP

CIRRUS BLOW OFF FROM THUNDERSTORMS WEST OF CWA IS BEGINNING TO REACH
GGW.  CU FIELDS ARE DEVELOPING OVER THE AREA AND SHOWING SIGNS OF
INCREASED INSTABILITY.

.LONG TERM...MEDIUM RANGE MODELS IN FAIR AGREEMENT SO WILL CONTINUE
WITH THE AVN/MRF SOLUTION.  RIDGE WILL DOMINATE FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY.  A STRONG LOW WILL PUSH THROUGH THE RIDGE SUNDAY WITH A
TRAILING COLD POOL LASTING INTO MONDAY.  LOOKING AT POTENTIAL
THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AND MONDAY.  MCNULTY

KGGW BBB 057/082 056/085 052/078 81810011
     BBBW 059/087 059/091 058/090 055/087 8100000466
KGDV BBB 063/084 056/084 051/077 81710011
     BBBW 056/090 060/092 061/089 055/091 8100001337

.GGW...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR FORT PECK LAKE TONIGHT.

The radar

The Billings radar (KBLX), 153 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:10 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

21 thunderstorm wind, 7 hail, 4 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Petroleum

When: July 8, 4:10 PM MST to 4:15 PM MST
Where: Petroleum County, 15 mi N of Winnett
Rating: F0
Path length: 2 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 47.217, -108.350

Two spotters saw a tornado 15 miles north of Winnett. It travelled through a rural area and caused no damage.

Hail, Petroleum

When: July 8, 4:21 PM MST
Where: Petroleum County, Winnett
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.000, -108.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Petroleum

When: July 8, 4:30 PM MST
Where: Petroleum County, 17 mi N of Winnett
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 47.250, -108.350

Wind gust reported at the Dry Blood Creek RAWS site.

Hail, Petroleum

When: July 8, 4:30 PM MST
Where: Petroleum County, 6 mi N of Winnett
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.083, -108.350

Hail, Petroleum

When: July 8, 4:47 PM MST
Where: Petroleum County, 8 mi ESE of Winnett
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 46.950, -108.200

Hail, Garfield

When: July 8, 5:16 PM MST
Where: Garfield County, 26 mi WSW of Sand Spgs
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 46.950, -108.000

Thunderstorm Wind, Phillips

When: July 8, 5:30 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, 6 mi N of Saco
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.550, -107.333

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When: July 8, 5:40 PM MST
Where: Garfield County, 33 mi NW of Jordan
Measured: 78 kt (90 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 47.650, -107.383

Wind gust reported from the South Sawmill Creek RAWS site.

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 8, 5:45 PM MST to 5:50 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 2 mi W of Hinsdale
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.400, -107.133

Thunderstorm wind gust damaged several sheds and outbuildings 2 miles west of Hinsdale, lifted pickup truck 2 feet off the ground 1 miles west of Hinsdale and blew off the roof on the Nemontel building and downed power lines in Hinsdale.

Hail, Garfield

When: July 8, 5:48 PM MST
Where: Garfield County, 15 mi N of Jordan
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.533, -106.883

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When: July 8, 5:48 PM MST
Where: Garfield County, Jordan Arpt
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 47.333, -106.933

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 8, 5:51 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 14 mi NW of Glasgow
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.350, -106.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 8, 5:51 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 34 mi SW of Glasgow
Measured: 83 kt (96 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 47.850, -107.150

Wind gust reported at the King Coulee RAWS site.

Tornado, Valley

When: July 8, 6:15 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 45 mi SW of Glasgow
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.733, -107.317

A spotter reported a tornado on their ranch. It did not stay on the ground for long, and caused no damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 8, 6:17 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 16 mi NW of Hinsdale
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.567, -107.333

Tornado, Valley

When: July 8, 6:25 PM MST to 6:30 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 5 mi W of Hinsdale
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 48.400, -107.200

A small tornado damaged a shed and metal livestock stall on a ranch 5 miles west of Hinsdale.

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 8, 6:28 PM MST
Where: Valley County, Hinsdale
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.400, -107.083

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When: July 8, 6:34 PM MST
Where: Garfield County, 43 mi ENE of Jordan
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.550, -106.033

Tornado, Valley

When: July 8, 6:40 PM MST to 6:45 PM MST
Where: Valley County, Park Grove
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 48.017, -106.400

A small tornado along the edge of a gust front damaged two modular homes and downed several trees in Park Grove. Many homes had some damage to awnings, and gutters and roofs.

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 8, 6:40 PM MST
Where: Valley County, Hinsdale
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.400, -107.083

Several roofs were blown off houses and several trees downed by thunderstorm winds in Hinsdale.

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 8, 6:45 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 24 mi W of Opheim
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 48.850, -106.933

Wind gust reported at the Bluff Creek RAWS site.

Hail, Garfield

When: July 8, 7:00 PM MST
Where: Garfield County, 35 mi E of Jordan
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.317, -106.133

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 8, 7:00 PM MST to 7:10 PM MST
Where: Valley County, Park Grove
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.017, -106.400

A strong thunderstorm gust front uprooted cottonwood trees, and damaged roofs and siding on several modular homes in the Park Grove area. One car was destroyed when a portion of a trailer roof was blown on top of it.

Thunderstorm Wind, Valley

When: July 8, 7:05 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 3 mi N of Oswego
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.100, -105.867

Thunderstorm Wind, Roosevelt

When: July 8, 7:15 PM MST
Where: Roosevelt County, 5 mi N of (Olf)wolf Pt Int Arpt
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.283, -104.983

Hail, Prairie

When: July 8, 7:23 PM MST
Where: Prairie County, Terry
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 46.783, -105.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Prairie

When: July 8, 7:30 PM MST
Where: Prairie County, Terry
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 46.783, -105.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When: July 8, 7:30 PM MST
Where: Garfield County, Brusett
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.350, -107.250

Thunderstorm Wind, Prairie

When: July 8, 7:30 PM MST
Where: Prairie County, 10 mi NW of Mc Cloud
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.000, -105.733

Thunderstorm Wind, Prairie

When: July 8, 7:30 PM MST
Where: Prairie County, 30 mi N of Terry
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.217, -105.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When: July 8, 7:35 PM MST
Where: Garfield County, 35 mi E of Jordan
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.317, -106.133

Thunderstorm Wind, Dawson

When: July 8, 8:03 PM MST
Where: Dawson County, 10 mi S of Lindsay
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.067, -105.150

60 mph wind tore awning off roof 10 miles south of Lindsay.

What these are

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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Montana, 2002 Warnings in Montana, July 2002

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: 5310188, 5310187, 5310184, 5310186, 5310185, 5310183, 5310182, 5310181, 5310180, 5310178, 5310179, 5310089, 5310177, 5310088, 5310086, 5310087, 5310085, 5310081, 5310083, 5310084, 5310079, 5310080, 5310082, 5310078, 5310077, 5310076, 5310070, 5310071, 5310072, 5310073, 5310075, 5310074.