Damaging Wind in Montana, August 6, 2016

Name: Damaging Wind in Montana, August 6, 2016
Start: 2016-08-06T15:20
End: 2016-08-06T16:00
Location: Montana

August 6, 2016 · NWS MSO · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A cluster of thunderstorms tracked from Lemhi County, Idaho north to the Missoula Valley bringing periods of strong gusty winds. The air mass was hot and dry which contributed to the winds.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

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Wind
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Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 MSO wrote it up.

A cluster of thunderstorms tracked from Lemhi County, Idaho north to the Missoula Valley bringing periods of strong gusty winds. The air mass was hot and dry which contributed to the winds.

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 Missoula, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 6, 1:51 PM MST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 6, 1:51 PM MST, 1 hour 29 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
251 PM MDT Sat Aug 6 2016

...Strong storms today and Sunday for western Montana and north-
central Idaho...

.DISCUSSION...Scattered showers and thunderstorms, some strong,
have begun to develop and are moving northeast into western
Montana. 45-55 mph wind gusts have been reported with some of
these storms. We expect thunderstorms to continue to develop and
intensify as they move further into western Montana, including the
Bitterroot/Missoula Valleys, and eventually northwestern Montana
later this evening. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will
linger overnight across northwestern Montana, though they are not
expected to have the same intensities as they are now. Not a lot
of rain will be associated with these storms, with frequent
lightning and gusty winds being the main concerns.

Once this wave of energy pushes east overnight tonight and
tomorrow morning, yet another, stronger shortwave will enter the
region tomorrow afternoon. One difference with this disturbance,
is it will have much more moisture with it. So, brief heavy rain,
along with the frequent lightning and strong gusty winds can be
expected.

Tomorrow evening, as thunderstorms move northeast through
western Montana, they are expected to gain additional moisture
and could pose a problem with areas around Glacier National Park,
such as the Going-to-the-Sun Road, where flash flooding can become
a problem very quickly. Heavy rain rates are anticipated, on the
order of 0.30" or more in 30 minutes or less. As such, we have
issued a flash flood watch for the Going-to-the-Sun Road west of
Logan Pass for Sunday, from 4pm to 8pm MDT Sunday evening. The
main concerns will be rock and debris flowing over the road, if a
thunderstorm moves over that area.

Monday through mid week, an upper level low pressure system will
slowly move across the Northern Rockies. This will bring slightly
below normal temperatures and rain showers, especially to
northwestern Montana. A ridge of high pressure will build over the
region by the end of the week, bringing warmer and drier
conditions back to the Northern Rockies.

&&

.AVIATION...Showers and thunderstorms have begun to develop this
afternoon in north-central Idaho and are moving northeast into
western Montana. These storms have had wind gusts of 40kts, and
are moving northeast toward KMSO. Wind gusts of 40-45kts will be
possible for KMSO between the hours of 06/22Z-07/00Z this
afternoon. KBTM, will also be impacted from now until 07/0600Z
this evening. Similar impacts as to KMSO can be expected for KBTM.
Rain and thunderstorms will weaken as they move further NE closer
to KGPI. Brief gusty winds up to 25-30kts will be possible from
07/01Z-04Z

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening Deerlodge/West
     Beaverhead...East Beaverhead.

     Flash Flood Watch from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening
     West Glacier Region.

ID...&&

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 6, 2:22 PM MST, 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
322 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0322 PM     TSTM WND GST     HAMILTON                46.25N 114.16W
08/06/2016  M45 MPH          RAVALLI            MT   NWS EMPLOYEE

            .

&&

NWS MISSOULA MT
IRIS SYSTEM

Special weather statement, Aug 6, 2:25 PM MST, 55 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
325 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

MTZ006-007-062200-
BITTERROOT/SAPPHIRE MOUNTAINS MT-BUTTE/BLACKFOOT REGION MT-
325 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN DEER LODGE AND
SOUTHEASTERN GRANITE COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM MDT...

AT 325 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 16
MILES SOUTHWEST OF PHILIPSBURG...OR 24 MILES WEST OF
ANACONDA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GEORGETOWN AND PORTERS CORNER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4594 11340 4601 11363 4633 11350 4622 11314
TIME...MOT...LOC 2125Z 203DEG 14KT 4612 11345

Special weather statement, Aug 6, 2:31 PM MST, 49 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
331 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

MTZ007-062215-
BUTTE/BLACKFOOT REGION MT-
331 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN DEER LODGE...EAST
CENTRAL GRANITE AND SOUTH CENTRAL POWELL COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM MDT...

AT 331 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8
MILES WEST OF DEER LODGE...MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
DEER LODGE...GARRISON...GOLDCREEK...BROCK CREEK AND AVON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4622 11286 4627 11310 4671 11297 4663 11260
TIME...MOT...LOC 2131Z 197DEG 24KT 4642 11291

Special weather statement, Aug 6, 2:40 PM MST, 40 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
340 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

IDZ009-010-062215-
EASTERN LEMHI COUNTY ID-WESTERN LEMHI COUNTY ID-
340 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL LEMHI COUNTY UNTIL
415 PM MDT...

AT 339 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY FROM
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SALMON...MOVING NORTH AT 45 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SALMON...NORTH FORK...CARMEN AND BAKER.

LAT...LON 4509 11400 4551 11412 4552 11377 4548 11376
      4545 11378 4543 11376 4541 11377 4539 11373
      4537 11374 4536 11373 4533 11374 4529 11370
      4509 11368
TIME...MOT...LOC 2139Z 176DEG 39KT 4526 11389

Special weather statement, Aug 6, 2:45 PM MST, 35 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
345 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

MTZ002-062230-
WEST GLACIER REGION MT-
345 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL FLATHEAD COUNTY
UNTIL 430 PM MDT...

AT 345 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 22
MILES SOUTHWEST OF HEART BUTTE...OR 42 MILES WEST OF CHOTEAU...MOVING
NORTH AT 25 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

THIS STORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF EAST CENTRAL
FLATHEAD COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4794 11292 4796 11298 4793 11303 4792 11307
      4798 11325 4817 11317 4813 11313 4814 11309
      4815 11307 4812 11305 4813 11300 4812 11298
      4807 11298 4806 11294 4803 11295 4802 11290
      4798 11288
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 200DEG 22KT 4800 11304

Special weather statement, Aug 6, 2:52 PM MST, 28 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
352 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

IDZ006-MTZ004>006-043-062245-
SOUTHERN CLEARWATER MOUNTAINS ID-POTOMAC/SEELEY LAKE REGION MT-
MISSOULA/BITTERROOT VALLEYS MT-BITTERROOT/SAPPHIRE MOUNTAINS MT-
LOWER CLARK FORK REGION MT-
352 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN IDAHO...NORTHWESTERN
RAVALLI...NORTHWESTERN GRANITE AND SOUTHEASTERN MISSOULA COUNTIES
UNTIL 445 PM MDT/345 PM PDT/...

AT 349 PM MDT/249 PM PDT/...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES WEST OF VICTOR TO
19 MILES WEST OF PHILIPSBURG. MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 35 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP 40 TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. WINDS
IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. THE
GUST FRONT SHOULD BE IN THE MISSOULA AREA BY 5 PM THIS EVENING.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MISSOULA...LOLO...STEVENSVILLE...FLORENCE...VICTOR...EAST MISSOULA...
BONNER-WEST RIVERSIDE...WYE...CLINTON...QUIGLEY...TURAH...BELL
CROSSING AND NIMROD.

LAT...LON 4699 11440 4685 11337 4635 11368 4645 11442
TIME...MOT...LOC 2149Z 191DEG 31KT 4647 11447 4636 11369

The radar

The Missoula radar (KMSX), 31 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:18 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Missoula

When: August 6, 3:20 PM MST to 4:00 PM MST
Where: Missoula County, Lolo to 1.8 mi W of Missoula
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 46.780, -114.120

The Missoula dispatch reported a lot of tree limbs down around town with numerous power lines down. A couple of lightning strikes started fires with one strike to a house in Missoula and a field in Florence. A private weather sensor located southeast of Lolo recorded a wind gust to 60 mph ahead of the main thunderstorm cells.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, August 2016

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: 645822.