Avalanche and Hail in Montana, July 18, 2022

Name: Avalanche and Hail in Montana, July 18, 2022
Start: 2022-07-18T01:36
End: 2022-07-18T21:29
Location: Montana

July 18, 2022 · NWS TFX · 35 events in 15 counties and zones

Deep southwesterly flow aloft developed in advance of a vigorous upper-level low leading to the development of storm activity, some severe, across much of the CWA, but particularly along the Hi-Line. Although some hail was produced, this was primarily a strong, gusty wind event.

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: 35

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.

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 Jul 17, 4:45 PM MST, 8 hours 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 17, 4:45 PM MST, 8 hours 51 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

25 high wind, 6 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 1 avalanche. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Glacier

When: July 18, 1:36 AM MST
Where: Glacier County, 0.83 mi SSE of Browning
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.560, -113.010

Public reports via social media of 1.5 inch hail. Multiple reports of broken windows in the city of Browning.

Thunderstorm Wind, Glacier

When: July 18, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Glacier County, 4.2 mi WNW of Sundance
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.660, -112.650

Ambient weather station reports a 74 mph wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Glacier

When: July 18, 2:05 AM MST
Where: Glacier County, 0.46 mi W of (Ctb)cutbank Muni Ar
Measured: 68 kt (78 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.600, -112.380

ASOS station (Cut Bank Airport) measured 68 mph wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Glacier

When: July 18, 2:08 AM MST
Where: Glacier County, 0.91 mi W of Cutbank
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.630, -112.340

Ambient weather station measured 81 mph wind gust 1 mile SW of Cut Bank.

Thunderstorm Wind, Glacier

When: July 18, 2:12 AM MST
Where: Glacier County, 0.46 mi W of (Ctb)cutbank Muni Ar
Measured: 67 kt (77 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.600, -112.380

ASOS station (Cut Bank Airport) measured 77 mph wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Glacier

When: July 18, 2:19 AM MST
Where: Glacier County, 4.2 mi WNW of Sundance
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.660, -112.650

Ambient weather station 15 miles W of Cut Bank measured 74 mph wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Toole

When: July 18, 2:30 AM MST
Where: Toole County, 1.14 mi SW of Kevin
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.740, -111.970

Mesonet station DW0975 near Kevin measured 58 mph wind gust.

Hail, Glacier

When: July 18, 10:45 AM MST
Where: Glacier County, 4.71 mi NW of Cutbank Arpt
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.670, -112.450

Trained spotter reported large hail. Estimated time and hail size based on phone report.

High Wind, Southern Rocky Mountain Front

When: July 18, 12:46 PM MST
Where: Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station measured 65 mph wind gust near Bartsch Farms.

High Wind, Liberty

When: July 18, 12:57 PM MST
Where: Liberty forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station FW9939 (Chester) measured 71 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Hill

When: July 18, 1:00 PM MST
Where: Hill forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station MTIVN (Inverness) MT DOT measured 60 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Liberty

When: July 18, 1:00 PM MST
Where: Liberty forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station GW0416 (Joplin) measured a 60 mph wind gust.

Hail, Blaine

When: July 18, 1:00 PM MST
Where: Blaine County, 1.46 mi NNW of St Pauls
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.000, -108.680

Hail around nickel sized. Time estimated via radar.

High Wind, Liberty

When: July 18, 1:16 PM MST
Where: Liberty forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet stationGW1986 (Lothair 9 N) measured a 59 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Southern Lewis and Clark

When: July 18, 1:21 PM MST
Where: Southern Lewis and Clark forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station measured a 70 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Madison

When: July 18, 1:42 PM MST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station MTNOR (Norris Hill) MT DOT measured 58 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Chouteau

When: July 18, 1:45 PM MST
Where: Chouteau forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station K79S 1.4 miles NE of Fort Benton (GTFWFO) measured 59 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Liberty

When: July 18, 1:58 PM MST
Where: Liberty forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station FW9939 (Chester) measured a 61 mph wind gust.

High Wind, North Rocky Mountain Front

When: July 18, 2:10 PM MST
Where: North Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station measured a 62 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Cascade

When: July 18, 2:35 PM MST
Where: Cascade forecast zone
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS

ASOS station KGTF (Great Falls Airport) measured 62 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Gallatin

When: July 18, 2:44 PM MST
Where: Gallatin forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station measured 59 mph wind gust 3 miles ENE of Gallatin Gateway.

High Wind, Southern Lewis and Clark

When: July 18, 2:44 PM MST
Where: Southern Lewis and Clark forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotter reported a 66 mph wind gust 11 miles W of Helena.

High Wind, Cascade

When: July 18, 2:45 PM MST
Where: Cascade forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotter reports wind gust of 63 mph (ambient weather network).

High Wind, Cascade

When: July 18, 3:03 PM MST
Where: Cascade forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

NWS Office measured 64 mph wind gust via RSOIS.

High Wind, Cascade

When: July 18, 3:06 PM MST
Where: Cascade forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS

ASOS station KGTF (Great Falls Airport) measured 74 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Gallatin

When: July 18, 3:13 PM MST
Where: Gallatin forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station measured 68 mph wind gust near Sourdough Ridge.

High Wind, Gallatin

When: July 18, 3:26 PM MST
Where: Gallatin forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station measured 64 mph wind gust near Hyalite Foothills.

High Wind, Fergus

When: July 18, 3:30 PM MST
Where: Fergus forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station JPKM8 (Judith Peak Raws) measured 60 mph wind gust. Time estimated.

High Wind, Cascade

When: July 18, 3:55 PM MST
Where: Cascade forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: NWS Employee

NWS employee measured 61 mph wind gust via ultrasonic wind sensor.

High Wind, Broadwater

When: July 18, 4:54 PM MST
Where: Broadwater forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station EKHM8 (Elkhorn) measured 63 mph wind gust.

Avalanche, Broadwater

When: July 18, 5:00 PM MST
Where: Broadwater forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station GINM8 (Ginger) measured 60 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Judith Basin

When: July 18, 6:00 PM MST
Where: Judith Basin forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS

AWOS station K1BM (Bravo) measured a gust of 58 mph.

High Wind, North Rocky Mountain Front

When: July 18, 6:16 PM MST
Where: North Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather sensor measured a 59 mph gust.

High Wind, Southern Rocky Mountain Front

When: July 18, 8:45 PM MST
Where: Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station DELMT (Dellwo) measured 60 mph wind gust.

High Wind, Southern Lewis and Clark

When: July 18, 9:29 PM MST
Where: Southern Lewis and Clark forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station TR276 (L-C Portable #1) measured 68 mph wind gust.

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.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Avalanche: A mass of snow sliding down a mountainside that caused a death, an injury or damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, July 2022

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: 1033790, 1033794, 1033796, 1033797, 1033798, 1033800, 1033801, 1033792, 1033888, 1033845, 1033836, 1033848, 1051180, 1033851, 1033839, 1033887, 1033822, 1033856, 1033830, 1033811, 1033825, 1033841, 1033813, 1033815, 1033817, 1033827, 1033828, 1033824, 1033819, 1033804, 1033806, 1033838, 1033833, 1033889, 1033843.