A very unstable airmass supported the development of widespread thunderstorms over North Central Montana during the afternoon and evening hours of the 16th and continuing into the early morning hours of the 17th. A tornado touched down in the mountains east of the town of Neihart.
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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 episode as NWS TFX wrote it up.
A very unstable airmass supported the development of widespread thunderstorms over North Central Montana during the afternoon and evening hours of the 16th and continuing into the early morning hours of the 17th. A tornado touched down in the mountains east of the town of Neihart. Damage was limited to numerous downed trees. Hail the sixe of baseballs was reported at several locations.
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 Jun 16, 8:15 AM MST, 3 hours 3 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 915 AM MDT SAT JUN 16 2007 UPDATED ZONES AND STATE BY 1000 AM .UPDATE... A RATHER ACTIVE SEVERE WEATHER DAY EXPECTED TO SET UP OVER NORTH CENTRAL/SOUTHWEST MONTANA LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A FEW CHANGES TO THE FORECAST FOR THIS MORNING...ONE AREA OF LIGHT RAIN WAS MOVING THROUGH EAST GLACIER PARK...TOWARDS THE CUT BANK AREA. POPS HAVE BEEN RAISED IN THIS AREA. TEMPERATURES ALSO LOWERED A BIT DO TO CLOUDS/PRECIP. ISOLATED LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS FALLING NORTH OF LEWISTOWN...SO LOW POPS CONTINUE FOR THAT REGION. OTHERWISE...ALL ELSE IS IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THIS MORNING. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON ALONG A LINE FROM JUST SOUTH OF EAST GLACIER PARK TO JUST NORTH OF BUTTE BETWEEN 1 PM AND 3 PM. THESE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST-NORTHEAST THROUGH NORTH CENTRAL/SOUTHWEST MONTANA THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. LARGE HAIL/DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT. SPC HAS PLACED MOST OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA IN A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THIS LOOKS GOOD...AS WIDESPREAD LARGE HAIL/DAMAGING WINDS WILL OCCUR OVER MUCH OF THIS REGION. THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES OVER THIS REGION DOES NOT LOOK AS GOOD AS IT DID YESTERDAY...AS THE DIRECTIONAL SHEAR IS NOT QUITE THEIR. HOWEVER...DO TO THE HIGH INSTABILITY AND STRONG SPEED SHEAR ALOFT...AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS STILL POSSIBLE...MAINLY EAST OF GREAT FALLS. REFER TO THE 1000 AM UPDATED HWO FOR A FEW MORE DETAILS. FOR TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...SEVERE WEATHER WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS OVER THE REGION...AS AN UPPER LEVEL TROF MOVES INTO WESTERN MONTANA BY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. EXPECT A RATHER COOL AND SHOWERY DAY OVER MUCH OF THE REGION FOR SUNDAY. BRUSDA && .AVIATION... UPDATED 1125Z. SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT OVER THE REGION WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY MOIST THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE DAY. THE AIRMASS WILL BECOME QUITE UNSTABLE AFTER 18Z AND A SURFACE TROUGH MOVING THROUGH THE AREA WILL PROVIDE A STARTING POINT FOR CONVECTION. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD OVER THE AREA WITH SOME PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN. VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH 18Z WITH AREAS OF MVFR AND LOCAL IFR IN CONVECTION THROUGH THE EVENING. LATE IN THE EVENING CONVECTION WILL TAPER OFF FROM THE WEST...BUT WILL CONTINUE OVER THE EASTERN ROUTES. THOMSON && .PREV DISCUSSION... (ISSUED 525 AM MDT SAT JUN 16 2007) DISCUSSION... TODAY THROUGH MONDAY...AN ACTIVE WEATHER DAY SHAPING UP FOR THE COUNTY WARNING AREA. A CLOSED UPPER LOW PUSHES ONSHORE OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST THIS MORNING RESULTING IN AN INCREASING SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT OVER THE AREA. THE AIRMASS WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE THIS AFTERNOON AS MORE MOISTURE IS ADVECTED INTO THE AREA. A SURFACE TROF DEVELOPS BY LATE AFTERNOON OVER EASTERN MONTANA AND THIS WILL HELP FOCUS CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT. SPC HAS MOST OF MONTANA UNDER A SLIGHT RISK. PREDICTIVE SOUNDINGS INDICATE STEEP LAPSE RATES AND DECENT CAPE VALUES ACROSS THE AREA. THE SOUNDINGS ALSO INDICATE STRONG SHEAR AND A FAIRLY DEEP MOIST LAYER. SOME THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TO BECOME SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL THE PRIMARY THREATS. MUCH COOLER AIR MOVES INTO THE AREA SUNDAY AS THE CLOSED LOW PASSES OVER CENTRAL MONTANA. WITH THE COLD POOL ALOFT...SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL REMAIN A POSSIBILITY. NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL TAKE UP RESIDENCE ON MONDAY WITH ENOUGH INSTABILITY FOR ISOLATED SHOWERS. TEMPERATURES WILL BE THE WARMEST TODAY WITH READINGS DROPPING BELOW SEASONAL AVERAGES ON SUNDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL CLIMB SLIGHTLY ABOVE SEASONAL AVERAGES ON MONDAY. EMANUEL MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...MODELS ARE STARTING TO COME INTO BETTER ALIGNMENT ON EXTENDED SO CONFIDENCE IN THE FORECAST HAS INCREASED FROM LAST NIGHT. STILL...WENT WITH CONSERVATIVE CHANGES TOWARD THE GFS (AND NEWER ECMWF) SOLUTION AND WILL SEE WHAT TOMORROW NIGHT BRINGS BEFORE MAKING BIGGER CHANGES. MODELS ARE NOW BOTH INDICATING AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDING INTO THE REGION BY TUESDAY NIGHT. RIDGE DOMINATES THROUGH THURSDAY BEFORE GETTING PUSHED EASTWARD AS THE NEXT PACIFIC LOW MARCHES TOWARD THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND SOUTHERN BRITISH COLOMBIA. FLOW THROUGH THE RIDGE SHOULD BE JUST DIRTY ENOUGH FOR SOME AFTERNOON AND EVENING CONVECTION SO ONLY LOWERED POPS A LITTLE. ALSO WARMED TEMPERATURES SLIGHTLY...AGAIN BEING CONSERVATIVE WITH MY CHANGES FOR NOW. THOMSON FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...MODELS CONTINUE WITH A LONG WAVE TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC AND A BROAD UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST. THUS...MONTANA WILL BE UNDER A RATHER MOIST AND UNSTABLE SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT. TEMPERATURES WILL RUN WARMER THAN SEASONAL AVERAGE ALONG WITH ISOLATED/SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...ESPECIALLY OVER THE MOUNTAINS. WILLIAMSON DC && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 78 50 66 43 / 40 70 30 30 CTB 68 48 62 40 / 40 60 40 30 HLN 83 52 70 45 / 40 70 30 20 BZN 84 50 69 40 / 40 50 40 30 WEY 77 42 64 35 / 30 30 20 30 DLN 83 49 72 38 / 30 20 20 20 HVR 79 54 67 45 / 20 70 40 40 LWT 76 52 65 42 / 30 70 40 40 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 1000 AM MDT SAT JUN 16 2007 MTZ008>015-044>055-171200- 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- 1000 AM MDT SAT JUN 16 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MONTANA...NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WHILE A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED OVER MUCH OF SOUTHWEST MONTANA. WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP BETWEEN 1 PM AND 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON BETWEEN EAST GLACIER PARK AND BUTTE. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL QUICKLY BECOME SEVERE AS THEY MOVE EASTWARD TOWARDS THE HELENA...GREAT FALLS...AND BOZEMAN AREAS. THESE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EASTWARD AND AFFECT MUCH OF CENTRAL MONTANA...INCLUDING THE HAVRE AND LEWISTOWN AREAS THROUGH THIS EVENING. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINFALL. THE BEST TIME FRAME FOR ANY SEVERE STORMS TO OCCUR IS FROM 2 PM TO 10 PM. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR ANY UPDATED FORECASTS...WATCHES...OR WARNINGS THAT COULD BE ISSUED LATER TODAY ON THIS DEVELOPING SEVERE WEATHER EVENT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 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.
The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 160 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:17 UTC.
23 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud, 1 tornado, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 60 mph at Hingham 12N.
A severe thunderstorm dropped .75 inch diameter hail at Gilford 5N. The hail damaged the winter wheat crop.
A severe thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 60 mph at Gilford 9N.
A severe thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 60 mph at Havre 12N.
A severe dropped 1 inch diameter hail for 25 minutes at Lohman 13N. The hail damaged numerous trees. In addition to the hail, the storm produced 1.5 inches of rain.
A funnel cloud was reported between the towns of Harlem and Zurich. The funnel lasted approximately 3 to 4 minutes and reached halfway to the ground.
A severe thunderstorm dropped 1 inch diameter hail at Harlem 16NNE. The hail severely damaged the winter wheat crop.
A severe thunderstorm dropped 1 inch diameter hail at Turner 12S. The hail covered the ground to a depth of 1 inch and destroyed the winter wheat crop.
A severe thunderstorm dropped .75 inch diameter hail at Simms 1SSE.
A severe thunderstorm dropped 1.5 inch diameter hail at Helena 6N.
A severe thunderstorm dropped 1 inch diameter hail at Cut Bank.
A severe thunderstorm dropped .75 inch diameter hail at Hauser Dam.
A severe thunderstorm dropped 1.75 inch diameter hail in downtown Great Falls.
A severe thunderstorm dropped 1.5 inch diameter hail on the north and east side of Great Falls.
A severe thunderstorm dropped .88 inch diameter hail at Silver City 1E.
A severe thunderstorm dropped .88 inch diameter hail at White Sulphur Springs 35NNW.
A severe thunderstorm dropped 1.75 inch diameter hail at Belt 9N.
A severe thunderstorm dropped 1 inch diameter hail at Helena.
A severe thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 65 mph at East Helena. The wind damaged numreous trees. A possible funnel cloud was also reported by the public.
A severe thunderstorm dropped .75 inch diameter hail at Neihart.
Storm survey indicated tornadic damage path beginning on the eastern slope of Big Baldy Mountain...then continuing eastward for 5 miles. Path width varied from 10 yards to 100 yards. Damage to trees generally blown down or snapped off. Damage greatest on south side of path with trees converging into the path. Main damage swath continued eastward over an adjacent ridge and down the other side. Near end of damage path...tree fall indicated cyclonic swirl pattern. Tornado damage rated as EF1 consistent with winds of 100 mph.
A severe thunderstorm dropped .75 inch diameter hail at Stanford 10S.
A thunderstorm dropped 1.25 inches of rain at Stanford 7W.
A severe thunderstorm dropped 2.75 inch diameter hail at Checkerboard 10NNE. The hail caused damage to automobiles and recreational vehicles at Whitetail Campground (elevation 6500 feet).
A severe thunderstorm dropped 1 inch diameter hail at Utica 17SW. The hail fell for several miles along the south fork of the Judith River between Corral Creek and Hay Canyon. Hail drifts to a depth of 1 foot were reported.
A severe thunderstorm dropped .75 inch diameter hail at Hobson 3NE.
A severe thunderstorm dropped 1 inch diameter hail at Buffalo 12W.
A severe thunderstorm dropped 1 inch diameter hail at Moore 6S.
A severe thunderstorm dropped 1.5 inch diameter hail at Moore 8SE.
A severe thunderstorm dropped .75 inch diameter hail at Grass Range 3S.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Montana, 2007Warnings in Montana, June 2007
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: 32000, 32001, 32002, 32003, 32004, 32005, 32006, 32007, 32008, 32009, 32010, 32011, 32012, 32013, 32014, 32015, 32016, 32017, 32018, 32019, 32156, 32020, 32021, 32023, 32026, 32027, 32028, 32029, 32030, 32031.