Funnel Cloud in Montana, August 4, 2004

Name: Funnel Cloud in Montana, August 4, 2004
Start: 2004-08-04T21:51
End: 2004-08-04T21:51
Location: Montana

August 4, 2004 · NWS TFX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

An area of thunderstorms spawned several funnel clouds that were seen and reported by the public. The funnels never reached ground and dissipated several minutes after being spotted.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 TFX wrote it up.

An area of thunderstorms spawned several funnel clouds that were seen and reported by the public. The funnels never reached ground and dissipated several minutes after being spotted.

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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 4, 8:00 PM MST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 4, 8:00 PM MST, 1 hour 51 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MONTANA
900 PM MDT WED AUG 4 2004

.DISCUSSION...

WILL UPDATE TO FRESHEN FORECAST WORDING FOR TONIGHT. ACTIVE SEVERE
WEATHER EVENT THIS EVENING SO WILL LEAVE REMAINDER OF FORECAST AS
IS.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...ISSUED 300 PM MDT WED AUG 4 2004

TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...SHORT WAVES IN SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL
TRIGGER CONVECTION TONIGHT OVER MY CWA. FIRST WAVE HAS LARGELY
MOVED THROUGH SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF CWA AND HAS BEEN TRIGGERING
THUNDERSTORMS IN IDAHO AND WYOMING AS IT MOVES EAST. ANOTHER WAVE
CURRENTLY OVER OREGON WILL ROTATE THROUGH THIS EVENING AND WILL BE
MORE THE FOCUS FOR MY AREA. SPC HAS MOST OF CWA IN SLIGHT RISK SO
HAVE SEVERE WORDING IN ALL ZONES.  WILL SEE A REPEAT OF THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND EVENING AGAIN AS THE UPPER TROUGH
APPROACHES AND ROTATES THROUGH REGION...WITH RISK FOR SEVERE ONCE
AGAIN. AS THE UPPER LOW EJECTS MORE LOBES OF ENERGY WILL SEE
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. THOMSON

SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...ONLY CHANGES WERE TO DROP TEMPERATURES
OVER THE WEEKEND. EACH RUN CONTINUES TO SHOW LOWER THICKNESS VALUES
AND TEMPERATURES AT 850 AND 700MB LEVELS. FEEL MAIN PROBLEM WILL BE
TIMING OF UPPER LEVEL TROF WHICH GIVES TIMING DIFFERENCES TO
DIRECTION AND SPEED OF WINDS. HAVE BASICALLY LEFT GOING FORECAST AS
IS WITH WINDS AND PRECIPITATION. CAMP

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF BB 057/088 057/084 053 11323
    BUUUU 078/049 075/051 081/054 082/054 085 23200000000
CTB BB 054/083 053/079 051 11323
    BUUUU 075/047 072/049 078/052 081/052 081 23400000000
HLN BB 059/087 058/087 056 11333
    BUUUU 083/052 080/054 082/057 085/057 088 232-0000000
BZN BB 056/087 055/087 053 11223
    BUUUU 080/049 076/051 080/054 083/054 085 22100000000
WEY BB 048/076 043/075 044 11222
    BUUUU 065/043 073/041 066/047 069/047 071 --000000000
DLN BB 055/085 052/082 052 11323
    BUUUU 080/048 076/050 078/053 081/053 085 22100000000
HVR BB 056/089 059/087 053 11302
    BUUUU 076/049 079/051 080/054 084/054 088 23400000000
LWT UB 054/088 053/084 051 11323
    BUUUU 076/047 072/049 079/052 082/052 080 22200000000

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 4, 4:30 AM MST, 17 hours 21 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
530 AM MDT WED AUG 4 2004

MTZ008>015-044>055-051105-
BEAVERHEAD-NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN
GLACIER-HILL-CASCADE-CHOUTEAU-CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND
CLARK-MADISON-TOOLE-LIBERTY-EASTERN PONDERA-BLAINE-SOUTHERN ROCKY
MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN TETON-JUDITH
BASIN-FERGUS-JEFFERSON-BROADWATER-MEAGHER-GALLATIN-
530 AM MDT WED AUG 4 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
MONTANA

.DAY ONE...TODAY

SOME THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHWEST MONTANA THIS
AFTERNOON THEN SPREAD NORTHEAST TONIGHT. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS
COULD CONTAIN HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND HAIL...MAINLY
OVER FERGUS...HILL AND BLAINE COUNTIES THIS EVENING.

NO WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES CURRENTLY IN EFFECT

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 4, 5:51 PM MST, 4 hours before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
651 PM MDT WED AUG 04 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 PM     HAIL             8 NE BELGRADE           45.86N 111.06W
08/04/2004  0.25 INCH        GALLATIN           MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN

0608 PM     HAIL             18 N BOZEMAN            45.94N 111.04W
08/04/2004  0.75 INCH        GALLATIN           MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0650 PM     HAIL             NORRIS                  45.57N 111.69W
08/04/2004  0.75 INCH        MADISON            MT   PUBLIC

&&

BRUSDA

Local storm report, Aug 4, 7:44 PM MST, 2 hours 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
844 PM MDT WED AUG 04 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0650 PM     HAIL             NORRIS                  45.57N 111.69W
08/04/2004  0.75 INCH        MADISON            MT   PUBLIC

0721 PM     HAIL             4 W HARLEM              48.53N 108.87W
08/04/2004  0.25 INCH        BLAINE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN

0830 PM     HAIL             GREAT FALLS             47.50N 111.29W
08/04/2004  0.50 INCH        CASCADE            MT   NWS EMPLOYEE

0835 PM     HAIL             GREAT FALLS             47.50N 111.29W
08/04/2004  0.88 INCH        CASCADE            MT   NWS EMPLOYEE

0840 PM     HAIL             GREAT FALLS             47.50N 111.29W
08/04/2004  1.50 INCH        CASCADE            MT   PUBLIC

&&

BRUSDA

Local storm report, Aug 4, 8:02 PM MST, 1 hour 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
902 PM MDT WED AUG 04 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0524 PM     HAIL             3 N DILLON              45.26N 112.63W
08/04/2004  0.25 INCH        BEAVERHEAD         MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            0.70 IN 20 MIN.

0525 PM     HAIL             DILLON                  45.22N 112.63W
08/04/2004  0.50 INCH        BEAVERHEAD         MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0530 PM     HAIL             2 N DILLON              45.24N 112.63W
08/04/2004  0.50 INCH        BEAVERHEAD         MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0600 PM     HAIL             8 NE BELGRADE           45.86N 111.06W
08/04/2004  0.25 INCH        GALLATIN           MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN

0600 PM     HAIL             4 N SHERIDAN            45.51N 112.19W
08/04/2004  1.00 INCH        MADISON            MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN

0603 PM     HAIL             SHERIDAN                45.46N 112.19W
08/04/2004  0.75 INCH        MADISON            MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0608 PM     HAIL             18 N BOZEMAN            45.94N 111.04W
08/04/2004  0.75 INCH        GALLATIN           MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0650 PM     HAIL             NORRIS                  45.57N 111.69W
08/04/2004  0.75 INCH        MADISON            MT   PUBLIC

0650 PM     HAIL             NORRIS                  45.57N 111.69W
08/04/2004  0.75 INCH        MADISON            MT   PUBLIC

0721 PM     HAIL             4 W HARLEM              48.53N 108.87W
08/04/2004  0.25 INCH        BLAINE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN

0830 PM     HAIL             GREAT FALLS             47.50N 111.29W
08/04/2004  0.50 INCH        CASCADE            MT   NWS EMPLOYEE

0835 PM     HAIL             GREAT FALLS             47.50N 111.29W
08/04/2004  0.88 INCH        CASCADE            MT   NWS EMPLOYEE

0840 PM     HAIL             GREAT FALLS             47.50N 111.29W
08/04/2004  1.50 INCH        CASCADE            MT   PUBLIC

&&
HERE IS A SUMMARY OF ALL STORM REPORTS RECEIVED TODAY AT THE NWS
OFFICE IN GREAT FALLS FROM 400 PM TILL 9 PM THIS EVENING.

BRUSDA

Local storm report, Aug 4, 8:11 PM MST, 1 hour 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
911 PM MDT WED AUG 04 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0840 PM     HAIL             GREAT FALLS             47.50N 111.29W
08/04/2004  1.00 INCH        CASCADE            MT   NWS EMPLOYEE

            *** 1 INJ *** ONE PERSON INJURED DUE TO FALLING HAIL ON
            THE NORTH SIDE OF GREAT FALLS.

&&

BRUSDA

Local storm report, Aug 4, 8:15 PM MST, 1 hour 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
915 PM MDT WED AUG 04 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0851 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     BROOKS                  47.20N 109.42W
08/04/2004                   FERGUS             MT   PUBLIC

            SEVERAL FUNNEL CLOUDS. NONE TOUCHED THE GROUND.

&&

BRUSDA

Local storm report, Aug 4, 9:51 PM MST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1051 PM MDT WED AUG 04 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0524 PM     HAIL             3 N DILLON              45.26N 112.63W
08/04/2004  0.25 INCH        BEAVERHEAD         MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            0.70 IN 20 MIN.

0525 PM     HAIL             DILLON                  45.22N 112.63W
08/04/2004  0.50 INCH        BEAVERHEAD         MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0530 PM     HAIL             2 N DILLON              45.24N 112.63W
08/04/2004  0.50 INCH        BEAVERHEAD         MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0600 PM     HAIL             8 NE BELGRADE           45.86N 111.06W
08/04/2004  0.25 INCH        GALLATIN           MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN

0600 PM     HAIL             4 N SHERIDAN            45.51N 112.19W
08/04/2004  1.00 INCH        MADISON            MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN

0603 PM     HAIL             SHERIDAN                45.46N 112.19W
08/04/2004  0.75 INCH        MADISON            MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0608 PM     HAIL             18 N BOZEMAN            45.94N 111.04W
08/04/2004  0.75 INCH        GALLATIN           MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0650 PM     HAIL             NORRIS                  45.57N 111.69W
08/04/2004  0.75 INCH        MADISON            MT   PUBLIC

0650 PM     HAIL             NORRIS                  45.57N 111.69W
08/04/2004  0.75 INCH        MADISON            MT   PUBLIC

0721 PM     HAIL             4 W HARLEM              48.53N 108.87W
08/04/2004  0.25 INCH        BLAINE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY RAIN

0830 PM     HAIL             GREAT FALLS             47.50N 111.29W
08/04/2004  0.50 INCH        CASCADE            MT   NWS EMPLOYEE

0835 PM     HAIL             GREAT FALLS             47.50N 111.29W
08/04/2004  0.88 INCH        CASCADE            MT   NWS EMPLOYEE

0840 PM     HAIL             GREAT FALLS             47.50N 111.29W
08/04/2004  1.00 INCH        CASCADE            MT   NWS EMPLOYEE

            *** 1 INJ *** ONE PERSON INJURED DUE TO FALLING HAIL ON
            THE NORTH SIDE OF GREAT FALLS.

0840 PM     HAIL             GREAT FALLS             47.50N 111.29W
08/04/2004  1.50 INCH        CASCADE            MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0840 PM     HAIL             GREAT FALLS             47.50N 111.29W
08/04/2004  1.50 INCH        CASCADE            MT   PUBLIC

0851 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     BROOKS                  47.20N 109.42W
08/04/2004                   FERGUS             MT   PUBLIC

            SEVERAL FUNNEL CLOUDS. NONE TOUCHED THE GROUND.

&&
HERE IS A SUMMARY OF ALL STORM REPORTS RECEIVED TODAY AT THE NWS
OFFICE IN GREAT FALLS FROM 400 PM TILL 1100 PM THIS EVENING.

BRUSDA

The radar

The Billings radar (KBLX), 164 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:53 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Funnel Cloud, Fergus

When: August 4, 9:51 PM MST
Where: Fergus County, Brooks
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.264, -109.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, August 2004

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: 5419827.