Montana, 2022

Hail and Damaging Winds in Montana, July 9 to 10, 2022

July 9 to 10, 2022 · NWS BYZ · 8 events in 3 counties and zones

A few thunderstorms across the southeast portions of the state produced some damaging winds and quarter size hail.

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
8

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 BYZ wrote it up.

A few thunderstorms across the southeast portions of the state produced some damaging winds and quarter size hail.

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 Billings, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 9, 9:34 PM MST, 2 hours 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 9, 9:34 PM MST, 2 hours 1 minute before
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Billings MT
1034 PM MDT Sat Jul 9 2022

.UPDATE...

Severe thunderstorm watch for Golden Valley and Musselshell
Counties expired at 10 PM MDT. Severe weather threat has ended for
those counties as more stable air has moved in there.

Farther east, the atmosphere is still quite unstable and the
severe weather threat continues. Severe thunderstorm watch
for Rosebud, Custer and Fallon Counties remains in effect until 4
AM MDT tonight. RMS

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Tonight through Monday night...

High pressure ridging that has been dominate over the forecast
area the past several days will shift east this evening into
Sunday as an upper trough and cold front move across the area.
Surface dewpoints are in the 50s and 60s across the forecast area
with temperatures well into the 80s. However, 700mb temperatures
are quite warm resulting in the atmosphere being capped. We expect
this cap to erode later this afternoon into this evening as the
upper trough approaches and begins to shift the ridge axis east.
Short term models show thunderstorm development across southwest
Montana late this afternoon moving across mainly Wheatland County
late afternoon. Thunderstorms, some severe, will continue to
develop this evening and move east during the evening hours, with
the activity continuing across areas such as Custer and Fallon
Counties into the early morning hours. The highest probabilities
for severe thunderstorms will be along and north of a Livingston-
Billings- Miles City-Baker line. Any thunderstorm will be capable
of large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain.

For Sunday, the upper trough will move eastward over the Northern
Rockies with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the
afternoon. There is a marginal to slight risk of a severe
thunderstorm from about Big Timber eastward and southeastward.
However, the threat of severe weather is less on Sunday due to
less instability from cooler surface temperatures and slightly
lower dew points. Temperatures will be cooler Monday with readings
in the lower to middle 80s.

We expect a break in the severe weather by Monday as cooler and
drier air settle in over the forecast area. Skies will be sunny
with temperatures in the upper 70s to lower 80s which is slightly
below normal for this time of year. This will be short-lived,
however, as hot temperatures return by Wednesday. Hooley

Tuesday through Saturday...

A ridge of high pressure will move over the forecast area for the
remainder of the week. This will result in hot temperatures and
dry conditions. Afternoon highs may hit 100 degrees Wednesday with
90s for the remainder of the week into next weekend. The ridge
axis shifts east late Wednesday into Thursday which will bring the
return of a southwest flow aloft and a slight chance for a
thunderstorm Thursday into the weekend. Hooley

&&

.AVIATION...

Mostly sunny skies will prevail for the remainder of the day with
VFR conditions prevailing. Thunderstorm activity will develop
around the KLVM area by late afternoon. The activity will continue
to develop and move east during the evening hours. The best
chances for thunderstorms will be along but mainly north of a
KLVM- KBIL-KMLS-KBHK line. The activity may continue after 06z for
the KMLS and KBHK areas. Any thunderstorm will be capable of
large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain. Expect MVFR to IFR
conditions in and near any thunderstorm. Hooley

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Sun     Mon     Tue     Wed     Thu     Fri     Sat
-----------------------------------------------------------
BIL 060/084 057/082 058/091 064/100 067/096 066/095 065/095
    32/T    10/U    00/U    01/U    11/U    12/T    22/T
LVM 053/082 049/082 052/090 058/097 060/094 059/092 060/093
    42/T    10/U    00/U    01/U    22/T    12/T    12/T
HDN 060/086 057/083 055/093 063/102 064/098 064/098 064/098
    22/T    20/U    00/U    00/G    10/U    11/B    21/U
MLS 063/085 059/082 058/089 065/100 070/097 068/097 067/098
    32/T    20/U    00/U    00/U    10/U    11/B    21/U
4BQ 063/085 060/081 058/089 064/099 070/097 068/096 067/096
    22/T    30/U    00/U    00/U    10/U    11/B    21/U
BHK 063/082 057/079 056/086 061/094 067/095 066/093 066/094
    32/T    30/U    00/U    00/U    11/U    11/B    21/U
SHR 059/085 056/081 055/089 061/098 065/096 065/095 063/094
    02/T    21/U    01/U    01/U    11/U    22/T    22/T

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Severe Thunderstorm Watch 453 in effect until 4 AM MDT Sunday
      FOR ZONES 31>33-58.
WY...None.

&&

weather.gov/billings

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 9, 9:58 PM MST, 1 hour 37 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
1058 PM MDT SAT JUL 09 2022

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

0845 PM     TSTM WND GST     13 NW ROUNDUP           46.58N 108.74W
07/09/2022  M62.00 MPH       MUSSELSHELL        MT   MESONET

0947 PM     HAIL             6 WSW MELSTONE          46.55N 107.98W
07/09/2022  E1.00 INCH       MUSSELSHELL        MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0951 PM     HAIL             MELSTONE                46.60N 107.87W
07/09/2022  E1.25 INCH       MUSSELSHELL        MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

TRC
Local storm report, Jul 9, 10:14 PM MST, 1 hour 21 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
1114 PM MDT SAT JUL 09 2022

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

0937 PM     HAIL             5 SE MUSSELSHELL        46.47N 108.02W
07/09/2022  E2.00 INCH       MUSSELSHELL        MT   PUBLIC

&&

ARTHUR
Local storm report, Jul 9, 10:44 PM MST, 51 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
1144 PM MDT SAT JUL 09 2022

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

1112 PM     HAIL             20 NW MILES CITY        46.62N 106.11W
07/09/2022  E0.75 INCH       CUSTER             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            VERY HEAVY RAINFALL OF 0.79 INCHES

1130 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 WNW MILES CITY        46.43N 105.89W
07/09/2022  M58.00 MPH       CUSTER             MT   ASOS

&&

ARTHUR
Local storm report, Jul 9, 11:15 PM MST, 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
1215 AM MDT SUN JUL 10 2022

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

1051 PM     HAIL             20 NW MILES CITY        46.65N 106.14W
07/09/2022  E2.00 INCH       ROSEBUD            MT   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORTED

1057 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 W HATHAWAY            46.27N 106.31W
07/09/2022  M52.00 MPH       ROSEBUD            MT   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

1150 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 SSW SHERIDAN          44.77N 106.97W
07/09/2022  M61.00 MPH       SHERIDAN           WY   ASOS

&&

ARTHUR
Local storm report, Jul 9, 11:19 PM MST, 16 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
1219 AM MDT SUN JUL 10 2022

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

1126 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 WSW KINSEY            46.55N 105.72W
07/09/2022                   CUSTER             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            6 INCH DIAMETER TREE BRANCHES DOWN AT MILE MARKER 14 AND
            4 INCH DIAMETER BRANCHES DOWN AT MILE MARKER 13 ON KINSEY
            RD./MT 489

&&

RMS
Local storm report, Jul 9, 11:24 PM MST, 11 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
1224 AM MDT SUN JUL 10 2022

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

1150 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW SHERIDAN          44.77N 106.97W
07/09/2022  M61.00 MPH       SHERIDAN           WY   ASOS

&&

ARTHUR

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fallon

When
July 9, 11:35 PM MST
Where
Fallon County, 0.69 mi S of Plevna
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.410, -104.520

Thunderstorm Wind, Fallon

When
July 9, 11:42 PM MST
Where
Fallon County, 1.46 mi SSW of Baker Arpt
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
46.350, -104.260

Hail, Fallon

When
July 10, 12:15 AM MST
Where
Fallon County, Ollie
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
46.580, -104.080

Hail, Fallon

When
July 10, 12:30 AM MST
Where
Fallon County, 0.69 mi N of Ollie
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.590, -104.080

Thunderstorm Wind, Powder River

When
July 10, 6:27 PM MST
Where
Powder River County, 7.18 mi NNW of Otter
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.300, -106.160

Thunderstorm Wind, Powder River

When
July 10, 6:56 PM MST
Where
Powder River County, 10.47 mi N of Biddle
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.250, -105.320

Tree branches of 8 to 10 inches in diameter were broken.

Hail, Carter

When
July 10, 7:30 PM MST
Where
Carter County, 5.59 mi NE of Ridge
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.100, -104.930

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When
July 10, 7:46 PM MST
Where
Carter County, 2.81 mi ESE of Alzada
Measured
68 kt (78 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
45.000, -104.370

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings 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: 1037243, 1037244, 1037237, 1037238, 1037240, 1037242, 1037239, 1037241.