Rain and snowmelt. Presidential Disaster Declaration for Montana made on 6/17/11.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
Rain and snowmelt. Presidential Disaster Declaration for Montana made on 6/17/11.
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 2, 9:45 PM MST, 2 hours 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 1045 PM MDT THU JUN 2 2011 ...UPDATE TO AVIATION... .UPDATE... HAVE ALREADY UPDATED ZONE AND STATE FORECASTS. HAVE DECREASED CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA...AM NOT EXPECTING MOISTURE TO REMAIN GENERALLY ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. HOWEVER...HAVE LEFT MENTION OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING...AS THERE ARE A FEW STRONGER RADAR ECHOES DOWN THERE. PRECIPITATION HAS BECOME WIDESPREAD ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA...SO HAVE RAISED PRECIPITATION TO CATEGORICAL. ALTHOUGH...LOW TO MID LEVEL WESTERLY DOWNSLOPE WINDS ARE KEEPING THE GREAT FALLS AREA DRY AT THE CURRENT TIME...AM EXPECTING THESE WINDS TO SHIFT JUST ENOUGH TO ALLOW SHOWERS TO SPREAD INTO THE AREA OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. OVERALL...WESTERLY WINDS WILL REMAIN QUITE BREEZY AND GUSTY OVERNIGHT IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT THAT MOVED THROUGH THE AREA EARLIER TODAY. MOUNTAIN SNOWFALL MAY NEED TO BE MONITORED OVERNIGHT...BUT AM EXPECTING AMOUNTS TO BE RELATIVELY LOW. COULSTON && .AVIATION... UPDATED 0445Z. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER THE NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION WILL MOVE EAST OVERNIGHT LEAVING A WEAKLY CYCLONIC NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT OVER THE FORECAST AREA BY LATE FRIDAY. GUSTY WESTERLY WINDS OVER NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 02Z SATURDAY BEFORE DIMINISHING. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS OVER CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA WILL ALSO CONTINUE THROUGH ABOUT 00Z SATURDAY WITH AREAS IFR/MVFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE IN AND AROUND SHOWERS. CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY IMPROVE AFTER 00Z SATURDAY. MPJ && .HYDROLOGY... PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE REGION THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...BEFORE TAPERING OFF DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS ON FRIDAY. THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT. THE COMBINATION OF RAINFALL AND RUNOFF WITH THE INCREASED SNOWMELT WILL LIKELY CAUSE MOST RIVERS...CREEKS...AND STREAMS TO CONTINUE SLOWLY RISING THROUGH AT LEAST THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. AREAL FLOOD HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUE FOR THE AREA...AND SOME RIVER FORECAST POINTS MAY REACH FLOOD STAGE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 535 PM MDT THU JUN 2 2011/ THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING...COMPLEX UPPER LEVEL WEATHER SYSTEM CURRENTLY LOCATED NEAR THE ID/WA/OR BORDER CONTINUES TO LIFT NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS WESTERN MT. SMALLER DISTURBANCES EMBEDDED WITH THE BROAD SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT ARE COMBINING WITH FAVORABLE INSTABILITY AND MOISTURE TO PRODUCE AREAS OF RAIN SHOWERS...THUNDERSTORMS..AND EVEN SOME MOUNTAIN SNOW ACROSS THE REGION. BEST CHANCE FOR THUNDER THIS AFTN/EVE REMAINS NORTH/EAST OF A LINE FROM CONRAD TO BUTTE TO LEWISTOWN. SOME STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG-TO-SEVERE WITH HAIL GREATER THAN ONE-HALF INCH AND GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS OF 50 MPH OR MORE. THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL SHOULD GRADUALLY DECREASE TONIGHT AS BEST INSTABILITY MOVES INTO ERN MT. HOWEVER...STILL EXPECT WIDESPREAD RAIN SHOWERS AND COOL TEMPERATURES TONIGHT AS THE WEATHER SYSTEM TRACKS THROUGH CENTRAL MT. BULK OF THE SYSTEM WILL BE IN SASK BY FRI MORNING BUT FORECAST MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT THAT WIDE MOISTURE PLUME WILL WRAP AROUND THE BACKSIDE OF THE SYSTEM TO PRODUCE RAIN SHOWERS...WITH SOME MTN SNOW OVER THE ROCKY MTN FRONT...OVER CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL COUNTIES INTO TOMORROW AFTN. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN ABOUT 8 TO 10 DEG BELOW NORMAL ON FRI. PRECIP TAPERS OFF TOWARD FRI EVENING WITH CLEARING SKIES AND DRIER/WARMER CONDITIONS ARRIVING SATURDAY AS UPPER LEVEL RIDGING BUILDS INTO THE NRN ROCKIES. WARANAUSKAS OTHER ITEM OF NOTE THIS AFTN IS STRONG WINDS ACROSS NRN MADISON COUNTY. TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING SYSTEM HAS PRODUCED SUSTAINED WINDS OF 40-45 MPH NEAR NORRIS HILL/ENNIS...PROMPTING A HIGH WIND WARNING TO BE ISSUED AND VALID UNTIL 7 PM TONIGHT. SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...MODELS CONTINUE TO POINT TOWARD A WARM AND DRY WEEKEND AS A NEGATIVE TILT UPPER RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE AREA. AFTERNOON READINGS ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY MAY REACH THE WARMEST TEMPERATURES OF THE SEASON THUS FAR. BY SUNDAY NIGHT...INCREASING SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT FROM A DEEP UPPER TROF SITUATED ALONG THE WEST COAST WILL BRING MOISTURE AND DESTABILIZE THE AIRMASS OVER SOUTHWEST MONTANA AND ALONG THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD MONDAY AFTERNOON AS THE UPPER TROF CONTINUES TO PUSH SLOWLY EAST. THE UPPER TROF WILL BEGIN TO PUSH ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY WITH A CONTINUATION OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE COUNTY WARNING AREA. PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE WEDNESDAY AS BROAD LOW PRESSURE REMAINS OVER THE AREA. THE MODELS HAVE DIFFERENCES IN PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS. TEMPERATURES WILL BE ABOVE SEASONAL AVERAGES SUNDAY AND MONDAY BUT FALL BELOW SEASONAL AVERAGES TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AS COOLER AIR ACCOMPANIES THE UPPER TROF PASSAGE. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 42 60 42 70 / 80 60 10 0 CTB 42 61 39 69 / 100 40 10 0 HLN 42 60 41 73 / 80 60 10 0 BZN 36 60 36 73 / 20 40 10 0 WEY 28 49 29 64 / 40 30 20 0 DLN 34 56 36 71 / 20 30 10 0 HVR 44 63 45 70 / 100 70 20 0 LWT 41 56 39 69 / 100 60 10 0 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLOOD WATCH UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE FOR BEAVERHEAD...BROADWATER... CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK...EASTERN GLACIER...EASTERN PONDERA...EASTERN TETON...GALLATIN...HILL...JEFFERSON... LIBERTY...MADISON...NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT...SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT...TOOLE. AREAL FLOOD WARNING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE FOR CASCADE...FERGUS...JUDITH BASIN...CHOUTEAU...BLAINE AND MEAGHER COUNTIES. FLOOD WARNING FOR THE MISSOURI RIVER NEAR ULM FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. FLOOD WATCH FOR THE BIG HOLE RIVER NEAR MELROSE FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. && SHORT TERM...COULSTON/WARANAUSKAS LONG TERM...EMANUEL AVIATION...MPJ WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 354 AM MDT THU JUN 2 2011 MTZ012-013-047-050-051-054-031000- CASCADE-CHOUTEAU-BLAINE-JUDITH BASIN-FERGUS-MEAGHER- 354 AM MDT THU JUN 2 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MONTANA...NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT MUCH OF THE REGION TODAY. SOME STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. AN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS POSSIBLE DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL THE THREAT FOR FLOODING HAS ENDED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ANY SPOTTER REPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OR FLOODING WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. MTZ008>011-014-015-044>046-048-049-052-053-055-031000- BEAVERHEAD-NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN GLACIER-HILL- CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-MADISON-TOOLE-LIBERTY- EASTERN PONDERA-SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN TETON- JEFFERSON-BROADWATER-GALLATIN- 354 AM MDT THU JUN 2 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT MUCH OF THE REGION TODAY. SOME STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. AN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS POSSIBLE DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL THE THREAT FOR FLOODING HAS ENDED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ANY SPOTTER REPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OR FLOODING WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
739 PM MDT THU JUN 02 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0305 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 S NEIHART 46.84N 110.72W
06/02/2011 M50 MPH MEAGHER MT MESONET
50 MPH WIND GUST REPORTED AT 305 PM MDT AT THE PORPHYRY
RAWS SITE IN THE LITTLE BELT MOUNTAINS.
&&
COULSTONThe Great Falls radar (KTFX), 147 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:59 UTC.
14 flood, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding of Box Elder Creek affected the Rocky Boy area. Area bridges washed out. Flooding on the Milk River also affected area roads and communities.
U.S. Highway 89 closed northwest of Sun River due to flooding from rising waters along the Sun River on 6/6/11. Significant and devastating flooding in Sun River. Numerous roads and homes were flooded in the town of Sun River by 6/8/11. Highway 200 from Sun River to Bowmans Corner also closed. North Fort Shaw Road and Simms-Fairfield Road were also closed. In Great Falls, a portion of River Road and McIver Road was closed due to water over the roadway. Woodland Estates Road closed due to flooding on 6/11/11.
KFBB reports flash flooding due to heavy rainfall in Belt and Armington.
Flooding along the Milk River continued to affect area roads and communities until water receded to more normal levels.
Flooding continued to affect area roads and communities until water receded to more normal levels.
Flooding continued to affect area roads and communities until water receded to more normal levels.
Flooding continued to affect area roads and communities until water receded to more normal levels.
Two Medicine River and Badger Creek near Browning rose one to one and a half feet above flood stage.
Several area roads closed due to flooding including parts of U.S. Highway 89.
Several area roadways were closed due to flooding.
Parts of Highway 287 near Ennis closed due to flooding.
Flooding near Three Forks closed Old Town Road. Flooding also occurred in the Gallatin Canyon near Greek Creek campground. Parts of the Missouri Headwaters State Park and Drouillard Fishing access also closed due to flooding.
Emergency declaration made for Broadwater county on 6/8/11. Some homes inaccessible and area roads closed. York Island Park also flooded.
Numerous road closures and flooding to homes in the East Helena and Rimini areas. Private access bridges damaged in the Rimini area. Highway 435 near Augusta had water flowing over the road. Homes inaccessible in the Blue Cloud area. Chessman and Scott Reservoirs inaccessible. Roads in the Wolf Creek area also closed due to flooding. On 6/7/11, a flood emergency was declared for Lewis and Clark county.
Flooding of the Prickly Pear Creek caused significant damage to Tizer Botanic Garden and Arboretum.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, June 2011
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: 370424, 370428, 370431, 370432, 370433, 370434, 370436, 370151, 370152, 370153, 370440, 370441, 370438, 370430, 370437.