Hail and Damaging Winds in Montana, June 9, 2021

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Montana, June 9, 2021
Start: 2021-06-09T18:15
End: 2021-06-09T21:38
Location: Montana

June 9, 2021 · NWS GGW · 9 events in 1 county or zone

Persistent flow aloft from the southwest kept an unstable atmosphere in place over the region and allowed multiple severe thunderstorms with large hail to develop over central Montana during the evening and move toward the northeast through the night.

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: 9

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 GGW wrote it up.

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 Glasgow, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 9, 2:45 PM MST, 3 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 9, 2:45 PM MST, 3 hours 30 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Glasgow MT
345 PM MDT Wed Jun 9 2021

.DISCUSSION...
Today is the lull between storms, with severe potential once again
Thursday with all modes of severe possible. In addition, locally
heavy rainfall is once again possible Thursday afternoon and
evening. In addition, there's a chance for some severe storms
tonight in the far northern and western portions of the CWA.

Tonight...
Showers and thunderstorms should enter the CWA late this evening
and overnight tonight, with some gusty winds and small hail
possible with any storms that do develop. In addition, the
environmental winds will begin to pick up area-wide, which will be
enough to reach Lake Wind Advisory criteria over Fort Peck Lake.
Some lingering showers and thunder is possible in the northeast
(Daniels and Sheridan Counties) from whatever's left over from
the overnight convection.

Thursday through Friday....
CAMs guidance in fairly good agreement in developing storms
tomorrow afternoon over the eastern half of the CWA in the
ballpark of 3 PM MDT. In addition, storms will be developing over
Central Montana as well, so there will be a dry slot in between
the two areas of convection. The eastern line will move into North
Dakota during the evening while the convection in Central Montana
spreads across the area. WPC has outlooked roughly the eastern
half of the CWA for a marginal risk of excessive rainfall, with a
slight risk roughly east of a Scobey to Wibaux line: this seems
reasonable given the doubleshot of storms this part of the area
should get, and a Flash Flood Watch may be needed in later
forecast packages. SPC has the eastern half of the CWA under an
enhanced risk, with a hatched area for winds and hail (with the
hatched hail area for almost all of the area):
this also is reasonable given the convective parameters that are
setting up. After the storms move out, the gusty environmental
winds will continue into Friday and temperatures will be much
cooler than it was today or what it will be on Thursday.

Saturday and beyond...
Upper level ridging will begin to build in, leading to rising
temperatures through the weekend into early next week. The peak of
the heat currently appears to be Monday and Tuesday. Dry weather
will return as well.

97

&&

.AVIATION...
FLIGHT CONDITIONS: MVFR ceilings possible early this afternoon at
KGGW & KOLF, with VFR at KGDV & KSDY. Periods of MVFR ceilings
are possible again Thursday morning at KGGW, KOLF, & KSDY.

LLWS: Possible overnight tonight just before sunrise at KOLF,
KSDY, and KGDV about 2kft AGL between 30-40 kts from the
southeast.

WINDS: Becoming NE-E 5-15 kts this afternoon. E 15-20 kts
overnight tonight. SE-E 15-25 kts by Thursday afternoon.

SYNOPSIS: Low clouds have been lingering over the area this
morning, impacting KGGW and KOLF. Showers and thunderstorms will
begin to move into the region and and impact the TAF sites in the
afternoon and evening. Another round of severe weather, including
thunderstorm winds and hail, are possible Thursday afternoon and
evening.

97

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Before the storms fire up Thursday afternoon and evening, low
humidity values and gusty winds are expected in the southern fire
zones. For Zone 122, the main threat appear to be south of I-94
while areas north of I-94 should have higher relative humidity
values and have less of a fire threat. If any fires do get
started Thursday afternoon, rain from the storms Thursday night
should bring quick rains to these areas.

There could be brief periods of elevated to critical fire weather
conditions on Friday in pockets generally south of the Missouri
River, but questions surrounding how the precipitation between now
and then impacts soil and fuel moistures leave doubt as to whether
or not fire weather conditions will be reached.

97

&&

.GLASGOW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Fire Weather Watch from Thursday morning through Thursday
evening for MTZ122-137.

Lake Wind Advisory from 3 AM Thursday to 7 PM MDT Friday For
Fort Peck Lake for Central and Southeast Phillips...Central and
Southern Valley...Garfield...McCone...Petroleum.

&&

weather.gov/glasgow

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 9, 12:49 PM MST, 5 hours 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
149 PM MDT WED JUN 9 2021

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

1015 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 WSW SIDNEY            47.70N 104.20W
06/08/2021  M61 MPH          RICHLAND           MT   AWOS

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND GST REPORT FROM 2
            WSW SIDNEY. AWOS STATION KSDY SIDNEY
            AIRPORT.

&&

PMG

Local storm report, Jun 9, 1:41 PM MST, 4 hours 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
241 PM MDT WED JUN 9 2021

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

0800 PM     HAIL             9 SE VAN NORMAN         47.26N 106.25W
06/08/2021  M1.75 INCH       GARFIELD           MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 PM     HAIL             17 E COHAGEN            47.05N 106.26W
06/08/2021  M1.00 INCH       GARFIELD           MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NICKLE TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

&&

Local storm report, Jun 9, 1:45 PM MST, 4 hours 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
245 PM MDT WED JUN 9 2021

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

0715 PM     HAIL             HELL CREEK REC AREA     47.62N 106.89W
06/08/2021  M1.75 INCH       GARFIELD           MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

Local storm report, Jun 9, 1:49 PM MST, 4 hours 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
249 PM MDT WED JUN 9 2021

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

0600 PM     HAIL             10 SW CULBERTSON        48.04N 104.67W
06/08/2021  M2.00 INCH       RICHLAND           MT   PUBLIC

&&

Local storm report, Jun 9, 2:26 PM MST, 3 hours 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
326 PM MDT WED JUN 9 2021

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

0825 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 ENE OSWEGO            48.07N 105.83W
06/08/2021                   ROOSEVELT          MT   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            WATER GOING 1 FT OVER US HIGHWAY #2 FOR
            APPROXIMATELY A MILE.

&&

GAH

Local storm report, Jun 9, 2:30 PM MST, 3 hours 45 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
330 PM MDT WED JUN 9 2021

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

0835 PM     FLASH FLOOD      14 SE VOLT              48.27N 105.48W
06/08/2021                   ROOSEVELT          MT   PUBLIC

            TWO SPOTS ON MT HIGHWAY-13N AT MILE MARKERS
            11.5 AND 12.5 HAD WATER GOING OVER THE ROAD,
            IN AREAS WITH DEEP COULEES. A RANCHER IN THE
            AREA STATED HE HAD NEVER SEEN WATER OVER THE
            ROAD IN THESE LOCATIONS IN HIS 85 YEARS.

&&

GAH

The radar

The Glasgow radar (KGGW), 163 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:16 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Phillips

When: June 9, 6:15 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, 3.11 mi SW of Hays Dot
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.890, -108.770

Trained spotter estimated quarter size hail and brief heavy rain.

Thunderstorm Wind, Phillips

When: June 9, 6:15 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, 7 mi W of Landusky
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.900, -108.771

Trained spotter reported a 62 mph thunderstorm wind gust and brief heavy rain.

Hail, Phillips

When: June 9, 6:30 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, 3.72 mi NNE of Malta South Dot
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 48.020, -108.290

Public reported, via photos on Twitter, hen egg size hail. Time estimated.

Hail, Phillips

When: June 9, 6:40 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, Zortman
Measured: 3 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.920, -108.530

Public reported hail up to the size of tea cups, along with broken car windshields and heavy rain. Time estimated.

Hail, Phillips

When: June 9, 6:40 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, 0.46 mi E of Zortman
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.920, -108.520

Cooperative observer shared photos of golf ball size hail and roof shingle damage.

Hail, Phillips

When: June 9, 7:00 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, 3.09 mi SSW of Malta South Dot
Measured: 3 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 47.930, -108.350

Public reported, with a photo via Twitter, tea cup size hail. Time estimated.

Hail, Phillips

When: June 9, 7:02 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, 3.72 mi SSW of Malta South Dot
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 47.920, -108.350

Storm chaser reported tennis ball size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Phillips

When: June 9, 9:00 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, 4.37 mi SSW of Landusky
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.840, -108.650

Trained spotter estimated a 65 mph thunderstorm wind gust.

Hail, Phillips

When: June 9, 9:38 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, 17.04 mi SE of Malta South Dot
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 47.810, -108.040

Public shared photo, via Facebook, of half dollar size hail near the intersection of Dry Fort Road and Midale Road.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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 2021 Every state in 2021 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, June 2021

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: 967627, 967629, 967631, 968922, 968929, 968941, 968943, 968953, 968949.