Montana, 2009

Hail and Damaging Wind in Montana, July 13, 2009

July 13, 2009 · NWS TFX · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms developed during the late morning hours over portions of North-central Montana. Hail the size of golf balls was reported along with wind gusts to 60 mph.

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
4

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 during the late morning hours over portions of North-central Montana. Hail the size of golf balls was reported along with wind gusts to 60 mph.

The radar

The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 49 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Cascade

When
July 13, 9:35 AM MST
Where
Cascade County, 17 mi SSE of Cascade
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
47.043, -111.582

A thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 60 mph at Cascade 17SSE. Numerous tree limbs up to 2 inches in diameter were reported down.

Hail, Pondera

When
July 13, 11:00 AM MST
Where
Pondera County, 3 mi E of Valier
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
48.300, -112.185

A thunderstorm dropped 1.75 inch diameter hail at Valier 3E.

Hail, Toole

When
July 13, 11:40 AM MST
Where
Toole County, 10 mi E of Shelby
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
48.500, -111.632

A thunderstorm dropped 1 inch diameter hail at Shelby 10E.

Hail, Toole

When
July 13, 12:20 PM MST
Where
Toole County, 6 mi N of Devon
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
48.557, -111.480

A thunderstorm dropped 1 inch diameter hail at Devon 6N.

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 172758, 172759, 172761, 172763.