Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Montana, June 6, 2011

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Montana, June 6, 2011
Start: 2011-06-06T18:01
End: 2011-06-06T22:12
Location: Montana

June 6, 2011 · NWS BYZ · 38 events in 6 counties and zones

Considerable forcing and ascent and deep-layer wind fields resulted in widespread and intense thunderstorm activity. Boundary layer dewpoints in the 50s, steep lapse rates and pronounced veering of winds with height fostered an environment favorable for supercells capable of large hail and tornadoes.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 38

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 BYZ wrote it up.

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 Billings, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 6, 4:53 PM MST, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 6, 4:53 PM MST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
553 PM MDT MON JUN 6 2011

.SHORT TERM...VALID FOR TUE AND WED...

UPDATE THIS EVENING TO ADD TORNADO WATCH FOR ROSEBUD COUNTY WEST
TO PARK COUNTY. MOIST AND DEEP INSTABILITY WILL REACT WITH STRONG
ASCENT MOVING IN FROM A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE OVER THE GREAT
BASIN. THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS
WITH A FEW OF THESE PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND
TORNADOES. RICHMOND

PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...

SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EPISODE EXPECTED LATER THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN ARE ALL
THREATS...AND A FEW TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. HEAVY RAIN WILL
COMPLICATE THE FLOODING POTENTIAL...ESPECIALLY OUT WEST WHERE
HEAVY CONVECTIVE SHOWERS WILL BE MOST WIDESPREAD INTO TUESDAY.

LINGERING CLEAR SKIES INDICATIVE OF CAPPING WHICH EXISTS ACROSS
OUR PLAINS...BUT A FEW CUMULUS BEGINNING TO BE OBSERVED OVER THE
MOUNTAINS. EAST FLOW IS INCREASING THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AS IT
TAPS INTO A VERY HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATER AIRMASS IN THE NORTHERN
PLAINS. DEW POINTS HAVE BEEN STEADILY RISING AND ARE MOSTLY IN THE
50S WITH LOWER 60S IN SPOTS. DEEP UPPER LOW LIFTING THROUGH THE
GREAT BASIN IS FIRING CONVECTION IN IDAHO. DIFFLUENCE WILL
INCREASE RAPIDLY OVER OUR WEST IN THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS...THUS
CONVECTION SHOULD BE ONLY A FEW HOURS AWAY NOW. OTHER ITEM TO NOTE
IS DRY AIR SURGING TOWARD NORTHERN WYOMING FROM THE SOUTHWEST. DEW
POINT AT BUFFALO IS 31F WHEREAS AT SHERIDAN IT IS 60F. WILL BE
INTERESTING TO MONITOR THIS DRYLINE AS IT PUSHES NORTHWARD...IT
MAY LARGELY PREVENT CONVECTION IN OUR FAR SOUTH IN THE LEE OF THE
BIG HORNS.

PEOPLE ARE URGED TO NOT BECOME COMPLACENT WITH THE CLEAR SKIES OUT
THERE NOW. CONVECTION WILL FIRE QUICKLY AND INTENSELY WHEN IT DOES
LATER THIS AFTERNOON. SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL ONLY INTENSIFY
THE LONGER IT HOLDS OFF...LATEST CAPE VALUES PER SPC ANALYSIS ARE
UP TO 1500-2500 J/KG AS OF 20Z...WITH A MAXIMUM BETWEEN BILLINGS
AND LIVINGSTON. FOR INSTABILITY TO BUILD TO SUCH A DEGREE IN OUR
WEST WITHOUT THE MEDDLING OF MOUNTAIN CONVECTION THIS LATE IN THE
AFTERNOON IS CERTAINLY NOTEWORTHY AND OMINOUS FOR WHAT MAY BE TO
COME. AGAIN...ALONG WITH THE USUAL HAIL AND WIND THREATS WILL BE A
TORNADO RISK. TRACK OF SURFACE LOW THROUGH SOUTHEAST MONTANA LATER
TONIGHT CERTAINLY PUTS THE CITY OF BILLINGS WITHIN THE AREA WHICH
WILL BE AT RISK FOR TORNADIC STORMS.

ALL OF THAT BEING SAID...HAVE ADDED YELLOWSTONE COUNTY TO THE
FLOOD WATCH AND HAVE SUSTAINED ALL OTHERS WHICH INCLUDE ROSEBUD
COUNTY WESTWARD. IMMEDIATE THREAT IS FLASH FLOODING WITH TODAYS
CONVECTION. ISSUES WILL THEN MANIFEST INTO THE MAINSTEM RIVERS
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS AS A RESULT OF RECENT SNOWMELT AND ANY
HELP FROM HEAVY RAIN OVER THE NEXT 12-24 HOURS. MOST WIDESPREAD
RAIN MAY IMPACT THE SHIELDS AND MUSSELSHELL RIVERS THE MOST...WITH
PCPN ON THE ORDER OF 1-2 INCHES POSSIBLE BY MIDDAY TUESDAY. HAVE
RAISED POPS IN OUR NORTHWEST PARTS FROM 12-18Z TUESDAY AS MODELS
HAVE TRENDED A BIT SLOWER AND DEEPER WITH THE UPPER LOW TOMORROW
MORNING...AS WE GET ON ITS TROWAL SIDE. HAVE RAISED POPS AND QPF
ACCORDINGLY. IF THERE IS ONE BRIGHT SIDE IT IS THAT SNOW MELT WILL
SLOW DOWN WITH THE COOLER TEMPS THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.

GUSTY WEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP TUESDAY AS THE LOW TRACKS EAST.
GRADUAL SHIFT TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL OCCUR BY WEDNESDAY AS COOL
SURFACE RIDGE SETTLES OVER EASTERN MONTANA AND THE DAKOTAS.
CONVECTION WILL BE ISOLATED AND NOT NEARLY AS INTENSE BOTH TUESDAY
AND WEDNESDAY WITH THE COOLER AND MUCH MORE STABLE AIRMASS IN
PLACE. TEMPS WILL FALL BACK BELOW NORMAL. NEXT PACIFIC SYSTEM WILL
BRING INCREASING CHANCES OF PCPN AGAIN BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

JKL

.LONG TERM...VALID FOR THU...FRI...SAT...SUN...MON...

MADE JUST A FEW CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED FORECAST THIS
AFTERNOON...MAINLY ANOTHER STRONG SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE
REGION ON THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...BRINGING ANOTHER ROUND OF
POTENTIALLY WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION. DID RAISE THE CHANCES OF
PRECIPITATION FOR THIS PERIOD. TEMPERATURES ALSO LOOK COOL AND
DID LOWER THEM A FEW DEGREES. TEMPS IN THE 50S CAN BE EXPECTED.
THIS SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED CLOSELY AS IT COULD BRING
ANOTHER INCH OR MORE OF PRECIPITATION TO THE REGION. THIS SYSTEM
WILL EXIT THE REGION ON FRIDAY AND A BRIEF DRY PERIOD CAN BE
EXPECTED FRIDAY NIGHT. BY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...THE REGION
RETURNS TO A SOUTHWEST FLOW WITH A GOOD CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS.
TEMPERATURES WILL REBOUND BACK INTO THE 60S TO LOWER 70S BY THE
WEEKEND WHICH WILL HELP THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. SOLUM

&&

.AVIATION...

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AFTER 21Z THIS
AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT. EXPECT THE STORMS TO
INITIALLY DEVELOP WEST OF A ROUNDUP TO BILLINGS LINE...SPREADING
EAST TO A BAKER TO BROADUS LINE BY 03Z. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL
RESULT IN IFR OR LOWER CONDITIONS NEAR STORMS. LARGE HAIL IS
LIKELY WITH ANY STORMS THAT DO FORM TODAY...ALONG WITH WIND GUSTS
TO 60 MPH AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. SOLUM

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    TUE     WED     THU     FRI     SAT     SUN     MON
-----------------------------------------------------------
BIL 055/065 046/057 045/057 045/067 047/066 047/065 051/064
    84/T    34/W    67/T    54/T    33/T    33/T    33/T
LVM 049/058 041/056 041/059 041/066 043/065 043/064 045/063
    97/T    56/T    67/T    43/T    33/T    33/T    33/T
HDN 056/069 046/062 046/063 046/069 047/071 047/069 051/067
    63/T    33/W    57/T    64/T    33/T    33/T    33/T
MLS 061/069 047/060 046/060 048/065 049/069 050/068 053/066
    54/T    53/W    47/T    64/T    23/T    33/T    33/T
4BQ 060/076 047/061 045/062 047/065 048/071 048/070 051/068
    33/T    33/W    47/T    64/T    23/T    43/T    33/T
BHK 061/073 048/058 044/060 046/063 046/067 047/067 051/067
    44/T    53/W    34/T    54/T    23/T    43/T    33/T
SHR 052/069 045/060 044/062 043/064 044/067 043/067 046/065
    23/T    24/T    67/T    64/T    33/T    33/T    33/T

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR ZONES
      28-29-42-63.
     TORNADO WATCH 435 IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM MDT TUESDAY FOR ZONES
      28>31-34-35-38>42-56>58-63>68.
WY...NONE.

&&

WEATHER.GOV/BILLINGS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 6, 2:07 PM MST, 3 hours 54 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
307 PM MDT MON JUN 6 2011

MTZ028>042-056>058-063>068-WYZ098-099-072115-
SOUTHERN WHEATLAND-MUSSELSHELL-TREASURE-NORTHERN ROSEBUD-CUSTER-
FALLON-NORTHERN STILLWATER-YELLOWSTONE-POWDER RIVER-CARTER-
SOUTHERN BIG HORN-EASTERN CARBON-NORTHERN PARK-
NORTHERN SWEET GRASS-GOLDEN VALLEY-RED LODGE FOOTHILLS-
NORTHERN BIG HORN-SOUTHERN ROSEBUD-JUDITH GAP-PARADISE VALLEY-
LIVINGSTON AREA-BEARTOOTH FOOTHILLS-ABSAROKA/BEARTOOTH MOUNTAINS-
CRAZY MOUNTAINS-NORTHEAST BIG HORN MOUNTAINS-SHERIDAN FOOTHILLS-
307 PM MDT MON JUN 6 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
MONTANA...SOUTH CENTRAL MONTANA...SOUTHEAST MONTANA AND NORTH
CENTRAL WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SOME THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTANA
WILL LIKELY BE SEVERE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. LARGE HAIL
IS THE BIGGEST THREAT FROM THESE STORMS...BUT TORNADOES AND
SEVERE WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THOSE WORKING OR RECREATING
OUTDOORS SHOULD STAY ALERT AND BE PREPARED FOR SEVERE WEATHER.
CHECK THE LATEST FORECASTS AND WARNINGS FREQUENTLY SINCE THE
WEATHER WILL CHANGE QUICKLY.

RISES ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN RIVERS AND STREAMS THROUGH
TONIGHT DUE TO THE RECENT WARM TEMPERATURES...ESPECIALLY IN AND
NEAR MOUNTAINS. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TONIGHT MAY ALSO CAUSE
ADDITIONAL RISES. THOSE LIVING NEAR WATER SHOULD STAY ALERT FOR
RISING WATER AND BE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEK WITH
THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL MAY EXACERBATE
FLOODING AND HIGH WATER LEVELS. THOSE LIVING NEAR WATER SHOULD
STAY ALERT FOR RISING WATER AND BE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH
FLOODING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 6, 5:33 PM MST, 28 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
633 PM MDT MON JUN 6 2011

MTZ041-066-067-070130-
ABSAROKA/BEARTOOTH MOUNTAINS MT-BEARTOOTH FOOTHILLS MT-NORTHERN SWEET
GRASS MT-
633 PM MDT MON JUN 6 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL SWEET GRASS COUNTY UNTIL
730 PM MDT...

AT 630 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 19 MILES SOUTH OF BIG TIMBER...MOVING NORTH AT 20
MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
MC LEOD AROUND 655 PM MDT.
SPRINGDALE AROUND 715 PM MDT.
BIG TIMBER AROUND 730 PM MDT.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.

LAT...LON 4591 11022 4594 11019 4595 10988 4549 10993
      4549 11019 4572 11023 4578 11022 4579 11024
      4590 11026
TIME...MOT...LOC 0033Z 179DEG 14KT 4558 11007

The radar

The Billings radar (KBLX), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

28 hail, 5 funnel cloud, 2 tornado, 2 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Sweet Grass

When: June 6, 6:01 PM MST
Where: Sweet Grass County, 5.71 mi SSE of Big Timber Arpt
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.720, -109.950

Hail, Sweet Grass

When: June 6, 6:02 PM MST
Where: Sweet Grass County, 22.44 mi E of Melville
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.040, -109.490

Hail, Sweet Grass

When: June 6, 6:07 PM MST
Where: Sweet Grass County, 4.09 mi ESE of Big Timber Arpt
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.780, -109.900

Hail, Sweet Grass

When: June 6, 6:10 PM MST
Where: Sweet Grass County, 0.48 mi E of Big Timber
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.830, -109.940

Hail, Sweet Grass

When: June 6, 6:15 PM MST
Where: Sweet Grass County, 2.78 mi WSW of Greycliff
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.750, -109.830

Hail, Sweet Grass

When: June 6, 6:15 PM MST
Where: Sweet Grass County, Big Timber
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.830, -109.950

Hail, Stillwater

When: June 6, 6:18 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 5.67 mi SW of Columbus
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.570, -109.330

Hail, Sweet Grass

When: June 6, 6:18 PM MST
Where: Sweet Grass County, 0.48 mi E of Big Timber
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.830, -109.940

Funnel Cloud, Sweet Grass

When: June 6, 6:20 PM MST
Where: Sweet Grass County, 4.79 mi NNW of Greycliff
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 45.830, -109.830

A funnel cloud was spotted between Greycliff and Big Timber.

Hail, Stillwater

When: June 6, 6:20 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, Nye
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.450, -109.820

Hail, Sweet Grass

When: June 6, 6:25 PM MST
Where: Sweet Grass County, 4.83 mi SE of Big Timber
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.780, -109.880

Hail, Stillwater

When: June 6, 6:25 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 5.67 mi SW of Columbus
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.570, -109.330

Hail, Stillwater

When: June 6, 6:25 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 2.98 mi WSW of Columbus
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.620, -109.310

Hail, Stillwater

When: June 6, 6:28 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 2.98 mi WSW of Columbus
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.620, -109.310

Hail, Stillwater

When: June 6, 6:30 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 1.19 mi NW of Columbus
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.640, -109.270

There was heavy damage to a car windshield.

Hail, Sweet Grass

When: June 6, 6:30 PM MST
Where: Sweet Grass County, 19.98 mi NE of Greycliff
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.970, -109.480

Hail, Stillwater

When: June 6, 6:40 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 3.96 mi NNW of Columbus
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.680, -109.290

Hail, Stillwater

When: June 6, 6:40 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 1.19 mi NW of Columbus
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.640, -109.270

Hail, Stillwater

When: June 6, 6:45 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 2.07 mi N of Columbus
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.660, -109.250

Hail, Stillwater

When: June 6, 6:48 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 2.98 mi WNW of Columbus
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.640, -109.310

Hail, Stillwater

When: June 6, 7:03 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 5.55 mi NE of Columbus
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.680, -109.160

Hail, Golden Valley

When: June 6, 7:04 PM MST
Where: Golden Valley County, 5.11 mi WSW of Ryegate Arpt
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.240, -109.340

A rancher reported the loss of 180 head of cattle as a result of running off a 200ft cliff to escape the hail.

Hail, Stillwater

When: June 6, 7:05 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 10.41 mi SSW of Wheat Basin
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.780, -109.150

Funnel Cloud, Stillwater

When: June 6, 7:13 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 7.49 mi SSW of Molt
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.770, -108.990

Hail, Stillwater

When: June 6, 7:15 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 0.48 mi E of Rapelje
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.970, -109.260

Tornado, Yellowstone

When: June 6, 7:42 PM MST to 7:45 PM MST
Where: Yellowstone County, 6.72 mi W of Rimrock
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.01 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 45.837, -108.819

At approximately 845pm, a tornado briefly touched down at a residence 5 miles east of Molt. A 15 foot grain bin was destroyed, picked up and thrown into an outbuilding 50 feet to the southwest. Additional minor damage occurred to the siding and room on a nearby house.

Flash Flood, Stillwater

When: June 6, 7:42 PM MST to 9:42 PM MST
Where: Stillwater County, 8.5 mi NW of Columbus to 7.63 mi NW of Columbus
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.720, -109.370

A thunderstorm producing 0.63 inches of rain in 20 minutes resulted in water over some roads just northwest of Columbus.

Flash Flood, Golden Valley

When: June 6, 8:12 PM MST to 10:12 PM MST
Where: Golden Valley County, 0.65 mi WSW of Ryegate to 0.6 mi SSE of Ryegate
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.297, -109.263

A thunderstorm producing between 5.00 and 5.5 inches of rain resulted in flash flooding and flooded homes in Ryegate.

Hail, Musselshell

When: June 6, 8:20 PM MST
Where: Musselshell County, 0.95 mi W of Elso
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.350, -108.690

Funnel Cloud, Musselshell

When: June 6, 8:25 PM MST
Where: Musselshell County, 8.39 mi NW of Elso
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 46.450, -108.770

Hail, Musselshell

When: June 6, 8:30 PM MST
Where: Musselshell County, 5.24 mi W of Roundup
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.450, -108.640

Tornado, Yellowstone

When: June 6, 8:30 PM MST to 8:35 PM MST
Where: Yellowstone County, 4.51 mi W of Shepherd
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.25 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 45.938, -108.442

At approximately 930pm, a tornado briefly touched down at a residence 5 miles west of Shepherd. The path of damage was about 50 yards wide and extended to the northeast for about 200 yards. A roof was torn off of a garage and a shed. Debris that was blown into a nearby house caused additional damage to windows and siding. Three power poles in the area sustained damage. In addition, a horse trailer was flipped on its side.

Funnel Cloud, Yellowstone

When: June 6, 8:37 PM MST
Where: Yellowstone County, 0.84 mi SE of Billings Hgts
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.810, -108.510

Thunderstorm Wind, Yellowstone

When: June 6, 8:54 PM MST
Where: Yellowstone County, 2.37 mi NW of Nibes
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.000, -108.070

A storage shed was blown apart and flew 60-70 feet into a center pivot.

Hail, Musselshell

When: June 6, 9:00 PM MST
Where: Musselshell County, 7.96 mi NNW of Gage
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.590, -108.430

Funnel Cloud, Yellowstone

When: June 6, 9:08 PM MST
Where: Yellowstone County, 2.07 mi N of Pompeys Pillar
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.030, -107.950

Trained spotters reported several funnel clouds 2 miles north of Pompeys Pillar.

Hail, Rosebud

When: June 6, 9:45 PM MST
Where: Rosebud County, 11.08 mi WSW of Sumatra
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.550, -107.760

Hail, Yellowstone

When: June 6, 9:46 PM MST
Where: Yellowstone County, 13.11 mi SW of Newton Grove
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.200, -108.000

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Montana, 2011 Warnings in Montana, June 2011

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: 320736, 320739, 320743, 320745, 320747, 320754, 320762, 320769, 320770, 320772, 320773, 320774, 320777, 320778, 320782, 320783, 320785, 320979, 320856, 320903, 320898, 320981, 320867, 320904, 320978, 335356, 336694, 336707, 320985, 320987, 320989, 335360, 320990, 321000, 320991, 320992, 320993, 320994.