Montana, 2009

Hail and Damaging Winds in Montana, July 12, 2009

July 12, 2009 · NWS TFX · 5 events in 4 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms developed over portions of North Central Montana. Hail the size of quarters and wind gusts in excess of 60 mph was reported.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

Severe thunderstorms developed over portions of North Central Montana. Hail the size of quarters and wind gusts in excess of 60 mph was reported.

The radar

The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 52 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:54 UTC.

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Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lewis and Clark

When
July 12, 1:56 PM MST
Where
Lewis and Clark County, 5 mi NE of Craig
Measured
53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
47.131, -111.875

A thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 61 mph at Craig 5NE (the Gary Cooper Bridge DOT site).

Thunderstorm Wind, Cascade

When
July 12, 2:44 PM MST
Where
Cascade County, 5 mi WSW of Great Falls
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
47.492, -111.399

A thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 58 mph at the Great Falls ASOS site.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cascade

When
July 12, 2:58 PM MST
Where
Cascade County, 5 mi SW of Belt
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
47.329, -111.005

A thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 60 mph at Belt 5SW.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chouteau

When
July 12, 3:58 PM MST
Where
Chouteau County, 1 mi N of Loma
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
47.944, -110.500

A thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 58 mph at Loma 1N (the Loma DOT site).

Hail, Madison

When
July 12, 4:40 PM MST
Where
Madison County, 5 mi SW of Ennis
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.299, -111.803

A thunderstorm dropped 1 inch diameter hail at Ennis 5SW.

What these are

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, July 2009

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: 172777, 172775, 172778, 172780, 172781.