Instability and warm temperatures, associated with a shortwave trough moving through Central Montana from southwest to northeast, brought scattered showers and thunderstorms to portions of North Central Montana. Parameters were generally marginal for severe storms but a couple cells did have strong wind gusts, brief heavy rain, and isolated large hail.
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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.
Instability and warm temperatures, associated with a shortwave trough moving through Central Montana from southwest to northeast, brought scattered showers and thunderstorms to portions of North Central Montana. Parameters were generally marginal for severe storms but a couple cells did have strong wind gusts, brief heavy rain, and isolated large hail.
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 Jul 4, 1:40 PM MST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 240 PM MDT Thu Jul 4 2013 .DISCUSSION... Today through Saturday...Instability and warm temperatures this afternoon will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms to eastern portions of Central Montana. Locations with the greatest potential for storms will be along along and east of a line from Dillon to Havre. Storms will diminish through the night before ramping up again on Friday. Friday will bring a better chance of more widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms as a shortwave trough moves through Central Montana from the southwest. Parameters look marginal for severe storms but any that do develop will likely be over Southwest Montana. Yet another round of convective activity looks possible later Saturday but coverage looks fairly scattered and mostly weak in nature. Temperatures will continue to cool another 5 to 10 degrees across much of Montana through the weekend. Saturday night through Thursday...A broad upper level trough over Western Canada will maintain westerly flow aloft over the Northern Rockies and MT through early next week before upper level ridging rebuilds over the interior Western US mid to late next week. Several shortwaves embedded within the flow aloft around the base of the trough will move across the region during the period, bringing daily chances for at least isolated showers and thunderstorms as the airmass destabilizes each afternoon. Surface pressure gradients through early next week will support light easterly winds, which should help keep low level moisture and relatively high dewpoints in place over the plains of north- central MT where coverage of daily convection is anticipated to be somewhat greater than over SW MT where low level moisture will be more limited. Temperatures will remain near seasonal averages through early next week before increasing late in the week as the ridge of high pressure rebuilds. Hoenisch && .AVIATION... Updated 1750Z VFR conditions prevailing through the period. An approaching mid-level trough axis and surface frontal boundary will lead to isolated thunderstorm development this afternoon over central Montana...mostly affecting eastern terminals of KHVR and KLWT. Given a moderately unstable air mass, a few storms could be strong to severe. It appears that KHVR has the best chance for thunderstorm activity in its vicinity between 21z/Thu to 01z/Fri. Weaker thunderstorms are expected over southwest Montana where convection will be mostly focused over the mountains. Uttech && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 55 81 53 80 / 10 30 30 30 CTB 54 75 49 75 / 10 30 40 30 HLN 58 84 54 82 / 20 40 40 20 BZN 54 84 50 83 / 30 40 50 20 WEY 45 76 42 76 / 30 50 40 30 DLN 54 82 50 82 / 30 50 30 10 HVR 58 82 55 80 / 30 20 30 20 LWT 55 80 51 76 / 40 30 50 30 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && weather.gov/greatfalls
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 405 AM MDT THU JUL 4 2013 MTZ008-011>013-015-047-050>055-051200- BEAVERHEAD-HILL-CASCADE-CHOUTEAU-MADISON-BLAINE-JUDITH BASIN- FERGUS-JEFFERSON-BROADWATER-MEAGHER-GALLATIN- 405 AM MDT THU JUL 4 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MONTANA...NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP BY THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM DILLON TO HAVRE...SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL...AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE. THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY PERSIST INTO THE EVENING...THEN DIMINISH OVERNIGHT. IF YOU ARE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR THE HOLIDAY...PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THE WEATHER SITUATION IN YOUR AREA...AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. SOME STORMS ON FRIDAY MAY BECOME STRONG AGAIN WITH GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...ANY REPORTS OF STRONG WIND GUSTS...HAIL...OR HEAVY RAINFALL TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN GREAT FALLS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED. MTZ009-010-014-044>046-048-049-051200- NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN GLACIER- CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-TOOLE-LIBERTY- EASTERN PONDERA-SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN TETON- 405 AM MDT THU JUL 4 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1129 AM MDT THU JUL 4 2013
MTZ047-051-041845-
BLAINE MT-FERGUS MT-
1129 AM MDT THU JUL 4 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN FERGUS AND SOUTHERN
BLAINE COUNTIES UNTIL 1245 PM MDT...
AT 1125 AM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES NORTH OF WINIFRED...OR 41 MILES NORTH
OF LEWISTOWN...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RURAL NORTHERN FERGUS COUNTY...
RURAL SOUTHERN BLAINE COUNTY...
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
LAT...LON 4737 10858 4762 10951 4795 10921 4789 10887
4774 10888 4768 10877 4766 10877 4765 10872
4763 10867 4761 10853
TIME...MOT...LOC 1729Z 285DEG 14KT 4766 10935
MPJSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1228 PM MDT THU JUL 4 2013
MTZ051-041945-
FERGUS MT-
1228 PM MDT THU JUL 4 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL FERGUS COUNTY UNTIL 145
PM MDT...
AT 1226 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
TWO STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...RANGING FROM 23 TO 35 MILES NORTH OF
LEWISTOWN...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FERGUS...
ROY...
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
LAT...LON 4726 10869 4725 10871 4722 10873 4728 10941
4768 10934 4771 10881 4768 10877 4766 10877
4765 10872 4763 10867 4762 10855
TIME...MOT...LOC 1827Z 270DEG 17KT 4737 10924
MPJPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
130 PM MDT THU JUL 04 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1225 PM HAIL 4 SW CHRISTINA 47.34N 109.39W
07/04/2013 E0.25 INCH FERGUS MT TRAINED SPOTTER
HEAVY RAIN WITH PEA SIZE HAIL.
&&
PNSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
140 PM MDT THU JUL 4 2013
MTZ051-042045-
FERGUS MT-
140 PM MDT THU JUL 4 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL FERGUS COUNTY UNTIL 245
PM MDT...
AT 135 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
ROY TO 7 MILES EAST OF LEWISTOWN...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FORESTGROVE...
GRASS RANGE...
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
LAT...LON 4674 10864 4674 10916 4707 10941 4737 10879
4727 10866 4725 10871 4719 10870 4717 10873
4711 10873 4710 10862 4709 10860 4675 10861
TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 317DEG 21KT 4725 10881 4704 10925
MPJPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
318 PM MDT THU JUL 04 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0255 PM HAIL 17 SSE GRASS RANGE 46.80N 108.67W
07/04/2013 E1.50 INCH FERGUS MT TRAINED SPOTTER
PING PONG SIZE HAIL FALLING ON HIGHWAY 191 NEAR MILE
MARKER 29.
&&
BRUSDASPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 331 PM MDT THU JUL 4 2013 MTZ011-047-042215- BLAINE MT-HILL MT- 331 PM MDT THU JUL 4 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN HILL AND NORTHWESTERN BLAINE COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM MDT... AT 330 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 19 MILES NORTH OF HAVRE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF DIMES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...CHINOOK AND THE MUD LAKE AREA. LAT...LON 4891 10912 4853 10917 4872 10990 4894 10980 TIME...MOT...LOC 2131Z 277DEG 15KT 4882 10970 BRUSDA
The Billings radar (KBLX), 104 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:55 UTC.
3 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 2 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail measuring 1.50 inches (ping pong ball sized) was reported along highway 191 near mile marker 29 approximately 17 mi SSE of Grass Range, MT.
Hail measuring 1.00 inches (quarter sized) and heavy rainfall flooding the streets were reported in Havre, MT.
Heavy rain of 1.25 inches measured in 20 minutes caused localized flooding.
Hail measuring 1.00 inches (quarter sized) was reported 12 mi WSW of Cut Bank, MT.
High winds measuring 58KT (67MPH) were reported in Sun Prairie, MT 5 mi NNW of the Great Falls Airport.
High winds of 54KT (62MPH) were reported at the Cut Bank Airport ASOS.
High winds measuring 54KT (62MPH) were reported at the Cut Bank Airport ASOS.
Heavy rain measuring .80 inches in 20 minutes was reported in Ft Benton. Electrical power was reported as being knocked out along with pea sized hail.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, July 2013
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: 467572, 470239, 470241, 470242, 470243, 470240, 470244, 470245.