Montana, 2014

Heavy Rain in Montana, August 21 to 26, 2014

August 21 to 26, 2014 · NWS TFX · 27 events in 10 counties and zones

Widespread and at times moderate to heavy rainfall affected North-Central Montana as a broad, potent low pressure system with plenty of moisture and energy moved east over the Northern Rockies. Periods of rain and isolated thunderstorms also affected the region.

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
27

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.

Widespread and at times moderate to heavy rainfall affected North-Central Montana as a broad, potent low pressure system with plenty of moisture and energy moved east over the Northern Rockies. Periods of rain and isolated thunderstorms also affected the region. Total rainfall amounts generally ranged from 1 to 2 inches over North-Central Montana with only 0.25 to 0.75 inches across Southwest 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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 21, 8:41 AM MST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 21, 8:41 AM MST, 1 hour 15 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
941 AM MDT Thu Aug 21 2014

.UPDATE...
A weather disturbance aloft will be moving through the forecast
area today and expect showers and a few thunderstorms ahead of it.
Have left the high chances of precipitation in the forecast but
have changed wording from rain showers likely to occasional rain
showers as do not expect precipitation to last any more than a
couple of hours at any one location. Have removed the mention of
thunderstorms over the northwest forecast zones as do not see
enough instability for thunderstorms. Behind the weather
disturbance should see a little sunshine over western portions of
southwest Montana this afternoon so have changed the sky forecast
to reflect that. Generally left most high temperatures for today
alone as some guidance was indicating warmer than currently
forecast highs while other guidance was indicating cooler than
currently forecast highs. Did raise highs for today at Great Falls
and Havre slightly as had fairly high confidence in warmer
temperatures. First glance at the this mornings NAM model run
shows wet forecast for Friday through Saturday is on track. Blank

&&

.AVIATION...
UPDATED 1140Z.
Broad upper level trough will remain over the Pacific Northwest and
Northern Rocky Mountains through Friday morning. An associated
Canadian cold front will continue to push south through the region
with northerly surface winds prevailing through the period. Mid
level moisture and low level upslope flow across North Central
Montana will fuel scattered to numerous showers through the period.
MVFR/IFR conditions will prevail over North Central Montana with
VFR/MVFR conditions expected in Southwest Montana. Mountain
obscurations will be widespread across the region. mpj

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
/ISSUED 540 AM MDT Thu Aug 21 2014/
Today through Saturday...An upper level low pressure system is
slowly moving through the region...while a Canadian cold front has
pushed southward through the CWA. The end result is scattered
showers and isolated thunderstorms will continue to move through
the region today. The precipitation has not been as widespread as
previously thought over North Central MT so far. However...because
humidities are so high...passing areas of precipitation are
possible in most areas today. Thus pops remain high for
today...even though overall QPF amounts will generally not be
significant today...and a widespread all day rain is not expected
either. The scattered precip continues tonight...again with high
pops mainly for the event. On Friday...as the upper level trof
comes close to Central MT...and a surface low develops over the
Central Rockies...better upslope conditions are expected to
develop over Central/North Central MT. Thus Friday night through
Saturday...a band of widespread precipitation is expected to move
through the region. The heaviest precip is expected over the
Rocky Mountain Front and the Central Mountain ranges...with 1.50
to 2.50 inches possible in the mountains...at lower elevations
1.00 to 1.50 inches will be possible. Precip amounts will
generally be less than 1.00 inches in Southwest MT. In terms of
snow...the latest forecast models indicate snow levels should
generally be above 7500 feet in the Glacier Park region. For
now...I will leave the snow level down to the currently forecasted
snow level near 6500 feet in case latter model runs bring down
some colder air. In either case...snow accumulations of 1 to 2
inches will be possible at mountain peaks over Glacier Park Friday
into Saturday. In terms of temperatures...well below normal
temperatures are expected through Saturday. There is the
potential that temperatures could be a few degrees cooler than
forecasted highs should clouds/precip continue for several hours
during the afternoon hours. Brusda

Saturday Night through Thursday...A slow moving upper level trough
will remain over the region through the weekend until at least
Tuesday. Models are in decent agreement on details through Monday
morning keeping a good likelihood of precipitation over the region
Saturday evening then a chance of showers into Monday. Solutions
once again diverge as a jet streak moves over the ridge in the Gulf
of Alaska and moves south along the British Columbia coast. The
ECMWF depicts a stronger and faster jet thereby digging further
south along the west coast and elongating the trough southwestward
while the GFS reinforces the trough over the Northern Rockies. GFS
solution drives the trough eastward and places Montana into a
generally dry northwest to westerly flow aloft. Meanwhile, the ECMWF
develops a closed low over the west coast then drifts this feature
eastward through the Great Basin and Wyoming with wrap around
moisture being advected into Southwest Montana. At this time the GFS
is more in keeping with previous forecasts so have continued to
trend the forecast towards a warmer and dryer solution. mpj

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF  66  51  64  52 /  70  60  90 100
CTB  61  49  58  49 /  70  60  90  90
HLN  68  53  65  52 /  60  60  90 100
BZN  69  51  67  49 /  50  60  80  80
WEY  60  45  61  40 /  40  40  50  40
DLN  69  48  65  45 /  40  50  80  70
HVR  69  55  66  55 /  70  50  80  80
LWT  62  50  60  51 /  70  60  80  90

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

27 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Chouteau

When
August 21, 9:56 AM MST to August 26, 9:56 AM MST
Where
Chouteau County, 6.93 mi S of Shonkin
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
47.530, -110.580

Heavy rain, measuring over 8.34 inches storm total, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Fergus

When
August 21, 11:00 AM MST to August 23, 11:00 AM MST
Where
Fergus County, 5.86 mi SE of Moore
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
46.910, -109.610

Heavy rain, measuring 3.60 inches storm total, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Jefferson

When
August 21, 6:00 PM MST to August 24, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Jefferson County, 1.46 mi NNW of Piedmont
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.870, -112.140

Heavy rain, measuring 3.00 inches storm total, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Glacier

When
August 21, 10:59 PM MST to August 23, 10:59 PM MST
Where
Glacier County, 0.83 mi SSE of Browning
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
48.560, -113.010

Heavy rain, measuring 1.99 inches storm total, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Blaine

When
August 22, 5:00 AM MST to August 25, 5:00 AM MST
Where
Blaine County, 4.23 mi SW of Harlem
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
48.490, -108.850

Heavy rain, measuring 8.50 inches storm total, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Judith Basin

When
August 22, 6:00 AM MST to August 24, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Judith Basin County, 2.33 mi NW of Benchland
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.100, -110.060

Heavy rain, measuring 6.74 inches storm total, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Blaine

When
August 22, 6:00 AM MST to August 25, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Blaine County, 1.95 mi SW of Ft Belknap Agency
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
48.460, -108.780

Heavy rain, measuring 8.06 inches storm total, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Chouteau

When
August 22, 6:17 AM MST to August 23, 6:17 AM MST
Where
Chouteau County, 0.46 mi W of Loma
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
47.930, -110.510

Heavy rain, measuring 1.26 inches in 24 hours, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Fergus

When
August 22, 7:23 AM MST to August 23, 7:23 AM MST
Where
Fergus County, 0.94 mi W of Denton
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
47.320, -109.940

Heavy rain, measuring 1.40 inches in 24 hours, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Judith Basin

When
August 22, 9:13 AM MST to August 23, 9:13 AM MST
Where
Judith Basin County, 2.33 mi NW of Benchland
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.100, -110.060

Heavy rain, measuring 2.23 inches in 24 hours, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Fergus

When
August 22, 11:11 AM MST to August 24, 11:11 AM MST
Where
Fergus County, 4.01 mi WNW of Becket
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.020, -108.980

Heavy rain, measuring 8.22 inches storm total, was reported. Lowland flooding was seen.

Heavy Rain, Judith Basin

When
August 22, 2:29 PM MST to August 24, 2:29 PM MST
Where
Judith Basin County, Hobson
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
47.000, -109.870

Heavy rain, measuring 5.89 inches storm total, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Teton

When
August 22, 3:01 PM MST to August 24, 3:01 PM MST
Where
Teton County, Choteau
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.820, -112.180

Heavy rain, measuring 2.41 inches storm total, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Fergus

When
August 22, 4:54 PM MST to August 24, 4:54 PM MST
Where
Fergus County, 1.67 mi NE of Roy Jct
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.290, -109.310

Heavy rain, measuring 7.50 inches storm total, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Judith Basin

When
August 22, 5:10 PM MST to August 23, 5:10 PM MST
Where
Judith Basin County, Hobson
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.000, -109.870

Heavy rain, measuring 3.70 inches in 24 hours, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Fergus

When
August 22, 6:11 PM MST to August 23, 10:11 AM MST
Where
Fergus County, 1.17 mi NW of Grassrange
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
47.030, -108.800

Heavy rain, measuring 4.60 inches in 18 hours, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Jefferson

When
August 22, 6:31 PM MST to August 23, 6:31 AM MST
Where
Jefferson County, 5.14 mi NE of Clancy
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.520, -111.900

Heavy rain, measuring over 1.05 inches in 12 hours, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Fergus

When
August 22, 6:43 PM MST to August 23, 6:43 PM MST
Where
Fergus County, 4.01 mi WNW of Becket
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.020, -108.980

Heavy rain, measuring 5.00 inches, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Cascade

When
August 22, 7:57 PM MST to August 23, 7:57 AM MST
Where
Cascade County, 1.97 mi SW of Rainbow
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
47.510, -111.210

Heavy rain, measuring 1.00 inches in 12 hours, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Meagher

When
August 22, 8:39 PM MST to August 25, 8:39 PM MST
Where
Meagher County, 12.76 mi ENE of Lingshire
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.880, -111.160

Heavy rain, measuring 2.32 inches storm total, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Cascade

When
August 22, 10:00 PM MST to August 23, 10:00 AM MST
Where
Cascade County, 4.17 mi S of Ulm
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
47.370, -111.510

Heavy rain, measuring 0.80 inches in 12 hours, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Cascade

When
August 22, 11:00 PM MST to August 23, 5:00 PM MST
Where
Cascade County, 4.55 mi SSE of Ulm
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.370, -111.480

Heavy rain, measuring 2.69 inches in 18 hours, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Cascade

When
August 22, 11:01 PM MST to August 23, 11:01 AM MST
Where
Cascade County, 4.55 mi SSE of Ulm
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.370, -111.480

Heavy rain, measuring 1.88 inches in 12 hours, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Cascade

When
August 23, 12:00 AM MST to 6:16 AM MST
Where
Cascade County, 0.83 mi SW of (Gtf)great Falls Arpt
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
47.470, -111.380

Heavy rain, measuring over 1.13 inches in 6 hours, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Fergus

When
August 23, 12:00 AM MST to 11:00 AM MST
Where
Fergus County, 3.13 mi NE of Ware
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
47.200, -109.620

Heavy rain, measuring 2.00 inches in 11 hours, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Pondera

When
August 23, 5:07 AM MST to 6:07 AM MST
Where
Pondera County, 0.83 mi NNW of Heart Butte
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
48.290, -112.840

Heavy rain, measuring over 1.00 inches in 1 hour, was reported.

Heavy Rain, Fergus

When
August 23, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Fergus County, 2.83 mi E of Heath
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
47.000, -109.210

Heavy rain, measuring over 2.00 inches in 24 hours, was reported.

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, August 2014

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: 536581, 536547, 536574, 536567, 536576, 536569, 536578, 536537, 536539, 536541, 536570, 536571, 536572, 536573, 536562, 536544, 536538, 536564, 536540, 536579, 536543, 536561, 536552, 536535, 536549, 536534, 536531.