A stationary front and a moist and unstable atmosphere provided the focus for strong thunderstorms to develop and move through far eastern Montana. A supercell thunderstorm caused significant hail damage in the Sidney, MT area.
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 GGW wrote it up.
A stationary front and a moist and unstable atmosphere provided the focus for strong thunderstorms to develop and move through far eastern Montana. A supercell thunderstorm caused significant hail damage in the Sidney, MT area. As the storm moved southeast, a tornado formed in a rural area and traveled into North Dakota. The tornado injured a 79 year old man.
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 Glasgow, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 30, 2:09 PM MST, 1 hour 18 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT 309 PM MDT TUE JUN 30 2015 .SHORT TERM...FOR NORTHEAST MONTANA...TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY... GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS HAVE DEVELOPED ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST ZONES AND THE LOWER MISSOURI BREAKS. EXPECT THESE WINDS TO SPREAD EASTWARD TOWARD THE BIG SHEEP MOUNTAINS AS THE AFTERNOON PROGRESSES...AND THE SYSTEM SLIDES EASTWARD. THIS WIND SHIFT WILL HELP ANY LINGERING SMOKE FROM WILDFIRES IN CANADA TO EXIT THE AREA FOR AT LEAST THIS AFTERNOON. THE BEST POTENTIAL FOR LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS CONTINUES TO LIE EAST OF A WOLF POINT TO CIRCLE LINE...WHERE FAVORABLE SHEAR AND INSTABILITY LIES. SO FAR THIS AFTERNOON CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN SHUNTED BY EARLY STORMS AND CLOUD COVER THAT KEPT TEMPS DOWN ACROSS THE EAST. EXPECT THIS TREND TO REVERSE HOWEVER AS AMPLE CLEARING AND DAYTIME HEATING IS NOW PRESENT. THINGS SHOULD QUIET DOWN BY LATE EVENING...ALTHOUGH ENOUGH FORCING IS PRESENT FOR AN ISOLATED NOCTURNAL STORM OR TWO OVER NORTHEAST MONTANA. ANOTHER SHORTWAVE FEATURE IN THE WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL PUSH THROUGH ON THURSDAY. LATEST MODEL RUNS NOW PLACE MORE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE WESTERN ZONES...I.E. PHILLIPS AND PETROLEUM COUNTIES. THUS TRENDED UP POPS THERE. TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO COOL WITH THE BREAKDOWN OF THE UPPER RIDGE...WITH TEMPS CLOSER TO NORMALS. GILCHRIST .LONG TERM...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY... AS THE WESTERN STATES RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO RETREAT SOUTHWARD...NE MONTANA WILL BE PREDOMINANTLY UNDER A MORE PROGRESSIVE UPPER-LEVEL FLOW WITH CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS INCREASING WITH EACH PASSAGE OF A SHORT-WAVE DISTURBANCE FROM THE CANADIAN ROCKIES AND WESTERN CANADIAN PRAIRIE. MODELS SHOW FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH THE WEEKEND...BUT SIGNIFICANT MODEL DISCREPANCIES ARRIVE BY MONDAY MORNING. GFS KEEPS US UNDER GENERAL TROUGHING FROM THE NORTH AND THE EC WANTS TO BUILD IN A MUCH WEAKER TROUGH AND ALMOST A RIDGE. BMICKELSON PREVIOUS LONG TERM DISCUSSION...HOT HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS CENTERED OVER THE GREAT BASIN... ANCHORING THE WESTERN RIDGE. THE RIDGE AXIS WILL MOVE ACROSS MONTANA FRIDAY FOR A RETURN TO WELL ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES... WITH HIGHS AGAIN REACHING INTO THE 90S. SATURDAY...A STRONG UPPER LOW...THAT WILL MOVE OUT OF THE GULF OF ALASKA AND DROP SOUTH INTO ALBERTA/SASKATCHEWAN...WILL BE SENDING A STRONG COLD FRONT INTO NORTHEAST MONTANA AROUND SATURDAY EVENING. THE DAY...TEMPERATURE-WISE...WILL BE A REPEAT OF FRIDAY AS DESERT AIR CREEPS NORTH INTO THE REGION. THIS COLD FRONT REACHING THE HOT AIR SHOULD INITIATE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS... BUT ALSO STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS AS A SURFACE LOW MOVES INTO SOUTHEAST MONTANA. WITH A DAY AND EVENING OF FIREWORKS...THIS COULD BECOME A FIRE WEATHER ISSUE WHERE FUELS HAVE DEVELOPED FROM THE RECENT HOT DRY PERIOD. WITH MODERATE INSTABILITY IN PLACE... SOME STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP. FOR NOW THE FRONTAL PASSAGE TIMING COULD RANGE FROM LATE AFTERNOON TO AFTER MIDNIGHT. SUNDAY AND MONDAY...TEMPERATURES BEHIND THE FRONT WILL DROP SIGNIFICANTLY...SENDING HIGHS DOWN INTO THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S. OFF TO THE WEST ANOTHER RIDGE WILL BE DEVELOPING...BUT THE COOLER TEMPERATURES SHOULD LAST INTO MONDAY BEFORE THE HIGH PRESSURE RETURNS TO THE REGION. SCT && .AVIATION... FLIGHT CATEGORY: VARYING MVFR TO VFR. SYNOPSIS: SMOKE FROM CANADIAN WILDFIRES HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE TERMINALS WITH MVFR VISIBILITY INTO WEDNESDAY. OTHERWISE...THIS EVENING ANY OF THE TERMINALS COULD SEE A THUNDERSTORM OR TWO WHICH COULD LOWER CIGS AND VIS BELOW VFR LEVELS. STORMS COULD ALSO PRODUCE GUSTY ERRATIC WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH. OUTSIDE OF SMOKE GENERALLY QUIET WEATHER IS EXPECTED LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH MIDDAY WEDNESDAY. GILCHRIST && .GLASGOW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR MTZ136-137. LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR FORT PECK LAKE FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PHILLIPS...CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VALLEY...GARFIELD...MCCONE...PETROLEUM. && WEATHER.GOV/GLASGOW
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT 1156 AM MDT TUE JUN 30 2015 MTZ018>020-024>027-062-011145- DANIELS-SHERIDAN-WESTERN ROOSEVELT-RICHLAND-DAWSON-PRAIRIE-WIBAUX- EASTERN ROOSEVELT- 1156 AM MDT TUE JUN 30 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY AND TONIGHT. SOME STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED ON SATURDAY JULY 4 WITH A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS ARE POSSIBLE BEHIND THE FRONT SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MTZ016-017-021>023-059>061-011145- CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PHILLIPS-CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VALLEY- PETROLEUM-GARFIELD-MCCONE-NORTHERN PHILLIPS-SOUTHWEST PHILLIPS- NORTHERN VALLEY- 1156 AM MDT TUE JUN 30 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR FORT PECK LAKE FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH 9 PM THIS EVENING FOR NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 30 MPH. A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH 9 PM THIS EVENING FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 136 AND 137. THIS INCLUDES THE CMR REFUGE AND ALL OF PETROLEUM AND GARFIELD COUNTIES. EXPECT LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED ON SATURDAY JULY 4 WITH A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS ARE POSSIBLE BEHIND THE FRONT SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
346 PM MDT TUE JUN 30 2015
MTZ024-062-302245-
RICHLAND-ROOSEVELT-
346 PM MDT TUE JUN 30 2015
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GLASGOW HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
SOUTHEASTERN ROOSEVELT COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MONTANA...
NORTHEASTERN RICHLAND COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MONTANA...
UNTIL 445 PM MDT.
AT 344 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTH OF CULBERTSON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT
20 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IN THE ADVISORY INCLUDE...
NOHLY...
LAT...LON 4772 10433 4806 10461 4813 10448 4799 10404
4793 10403
TIME...MOT...LOC 2146Z 322DEG 18KT 4806 10446
MICKELSON
WEATHER.GOV/GLASGOWSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
413 PM MDT TUE JUN 30 2015
MTZ025-027-302315-
DAWSON-WIBAUX-
413 PM MDT TUE JUN 30 2015
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GLASGOW HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
SOUTHEASTERN WIBAUX COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MONTANA...
SOUTHEASTERN DAWSON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MONTANA...
UNTIL 515 PM MDT.
AT 412 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES WEST OF WIBAUX...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15
MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IN THE ADVISORY INCLUDE...
WIBAUX...
LAT...LON 4667 10420 4702 10448 4712 10435 4704 10404
4681 10404
TIME...MOT...LOC 2213Z 314DEG 15KT 4703 10437
MICKELSON
WEATHER.GOV/GLASGOWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
414 PM MDT TUE JUN 30 2015
...TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
...DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0408 PM TSTM WND GST 15 SSE CULBERTSON 47.93N 104.45W
06/30/2015 E40 MPH RICHLAND MT TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
NWS GLASGOW MT
IRIS SYSTEMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
418 PM MDT TUE JUN 30 2015
MTZ018-061-302315-
DANIELS-VALLEY-
418 PM MDT TUE JUN 30 2015
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GLASGOW HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
NORTHEASTERN VALLEY COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MONTANA...
SOUTHWESTERN DANIELS COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MONTANA...
UNTIL 515 PM MDT.
AT 416 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR RICHLAND...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IN THE ADVISORY INCLUDE...
RURAL AREAS OF NORTHEASTERN VALLEY COUNTY...
RURAL AREAS OF WESTERN DANIELS COUNTY...
RURAL AREAS OF EASTERN VALLEY COUNTY...
RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHWESTERN DANIELS COUNTY...
RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHERN DANIELS COUNTY...
LAT...LON 4869 10557 4856 10594 4856 10598 4880 10617
4886 10610
TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 316DEG 17KT 4880 10609
MICKELSON
WEATHER.GOV/GLASGOWThe Glasgow radar (KGGW), 179 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:27 UTC.
10 hail, 1 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trained spotter reported mostly dime-sized hail mixed with some golf ball sized hail stones along with heavy rain and winds up to 35 mph.
Trained spotter reported mainly dime-sized hail mixed with some quarter-sized hailstones along with heavy rain.
Richland County Emergency Manager reported half dollar sized hail.
Public reported quarter-sized hail. Duration was at least 5 minutes.
Trained spotter reported hen egg sized hail. Duration at least 5 minutes.
Trained spotter reported golf ball sized hail.
Hail continued through the town of Sidney and went south-southeast of town. There was some damage to vehicles and gardens and crops in the area, but the extent was unknown.
The National Weather Service in Glasgow, along with Richland County Disaster and Emergency Services conducted a damage survey of a property. The mobile home and its associated storage building (also a mobile home) were thrown from its foundation. The primary home lost its metal frame and was thrown onto a storage shed to the southwest, about 60 feet to the southwest. The two mobile homes, which did not appear to have been strapped down, were overturned and one had the entire frame bent and twisted. While there were tree branches broken in the region, the most significant damage was on this property site, due to the rural nature of the area. Power poles on the property were not damaged, although the lines were snapped.
One 79 year old gentleman was in the home with his dog also on the property. The gentleman was in the mobile home and suffered injuries requiring transport to a local and then regional hospital. The dog was found trapped under rubble but was ok.
Based off of the damage that was observed, the winds were estimated at 100 mph. The tornado continued through rural area to the south-southeast where it went into North Dakota about 5 miles south-southeast of the property site with the damage. No reported damage has been noted in North Dakota and the tornado dissipated south-southwest of Trotters.
Public reported nickel-sized hail.
Public reported mostly penny-sized hail mixed with some quarter-sized hailstones, and measured a wind gust of 52 mph.
Trained spotter reported quarter-sized hail.
Trained spotter estimated a wind gust of 55-60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Montana, 2015Warnings in Montana, June 2015
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: 586653, 586658, 586660, 586661, 586663, 586664, 590292, 580044, 591094, 586665, 586666, 587928.