Montana, 2013

Hail and Damaging Winds in Montana, July 24, 2013

July 24, 2013 · NWS BYZ · 5 events in 3 counties and zones

An isolated thunderstorm producing damaging winds and heavy rain moved across Southeast Montana.

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
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 BYZ wrote it up.

An isolated thunderstorm producing damaging winds and heavy rain moved across Southeast Montana.

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 Jul 24, 8:09 PM MST, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 24, 8:09 PM MST, 1 hour 39 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 24, 8:13 PM MST, 1 hour 35 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 24, 7:24 PM MST, 2 hours 24 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 24, 7:31 PM MST, 2 hours 17 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 24, 8:22 PM MST, 1 hour 26 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 24, 8:22 PM MST, 1 hour 26 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 24, 8:59 PM MST, 49 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 24, 9:39 PM MST, 9 minutes before
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The radar

The Billings radar (KBLX), 227 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:48 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
July 24, 9:48 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 9.67 mi N of Volborg
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
45.990, -105.680

Several outbuildings that were being used for livestock were destroyed along Highway 59.

Hail, Powder River

When
July 24, 10:30 PM MST
Where
Powder River County, 10.68 mi SW of Powderville
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.660, -105.280

A few hailstones up to quarter size with winds around 60 mph damaged a house.

Thunderstorm Wind, Powder River

When
July 24, 10:30 PM MST
Where
Powder River County, 10.68 mi SW of Powderville
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.660, -105.280

Part of a barn roof was peeled off along with extensive tree damage occurred do to strong winds. Hail up to the size of quarters was also reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Powder River

When
July 24, 10:40 PM MST
Where
Powder River County, 14.71 mi N of Belle Creek Arpt
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.340, -105.050

The wind was accompanied by pea size hail and very heavy rain.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When
July 24, 11:34 PM MST
Where
Carter County, 6.32 mi E of Piniele
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.300, -104.820

The winds were accompanied by pea size hail.

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 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, July 2013

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: 455556, 455559, 455566, 455567, 455568.