Drought in Montana, June 1 to 30, 2022

Name: Drought in Montana, June 1 to 30, 2022
Start: 2022-06-01T00:00
End: 2022-06-30T23:59
Location: Montana

June 1 to 30, 2022 · NWS GGW · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

Although recent rains continue to cause some improvement, drought still remains across portions of northeast Montana.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: 12

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.

Although recent rains continue to cause some improvement, drought still remains across portions of northeast Montana.

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 May 31, 6:36 PM MST, 5 hours 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 6:36 PM MST, 5 hours 24 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Glasgow MT
736 PM MDT Tue May 31 2022

.DISCUSSION...

Sent an update this evening to cancel the Lake Wind Advisory as
area wind speeds have generally diminished to near or less than
15 mph and the forecast shows those winds quickly calming later
this evening. Conditions should no longer pose a threat to
watercraft. Also updated temperatures and cloud cover with the
latest and best model agreement. Some low lying or coulee drainage
areas may see temperatures drop into the mid 30s tonight. May be a
bit of a frost.    ---BMickelson

Previous discussion: Going discussion below stands.

Rainfall for this weekend looks again better south of the CWA
than for northeast Montana. North-central Montana so far has been
hit the hardest this month with the lack of rainfall. TFJ

Previous Discussion...
Stacked low will be near Winnipeg this morning. NE Montana will
continue to have gusty north to NW winds with the circulation from
this low today along with varying levels of clouds. Drier air
will move into the region today allowing for gradual clearing from
NW to SE. The low will move NE today and surface high will move
into Montana this afternoon and evening diminishing the winds.
Will continue the Lake Wind Advisory today for Fort Peck Lake.

High pressure will bring light winds to the area tonight. Skies
will be clear for part of tonight which will allow for good
radiational cooling. However, models are pointing towards some mid
and high clouds moving through the area late tonight and Wednesday
morning which will limit the cooling. While some low lying areas
that tend to get colder than any model can forecast could see some
frost tonight, most areas will have lows in the upper 30s to lower
40s which is normally too warm for frost.

High pressure will be over the area Wednesday and Thursday with an
an upper ridge building into the Northern Rockies which will bring
warming temperatures and dry weather.

Look like the dry weather will last through Friday for most of NE
Montana as surface high moves to the east.

Models are pointing chances for showers and thunderstorms over
the weekend and early next week with an unstable atmosphere.

&&

.AVIATION...

VFR.

Mainly clear or partly cloudy skies will continue as North or NW
winds diminish this evening. Northwest winds resume Wednesday but
will be lesser speeds. TFJ/BMickelson

&&

.GLASGOW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

weather.gov/glasgow

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Richland

When: June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Richland forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 47.788, -104.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During the first week of June, drought conditions in western Richland County improved to (D1-Moderate) drought to match the rest of all but the eastern border of the county, which was in (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions. During the second week of June, the western border of Richland County remained in (D1-Moderate) drought, while the middle two thirds of the county improved to (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions and the eastern border improved to no drought classification at all. By the end of the month, the far western border improved to (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions while the rest of the county improved to no drought classification at all.

Drought, Dawson

When: June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Dawson forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 47.266, -104.899 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During the first week of June, drought conditions in the far northwestern corner of Dawson County improved to (D1-Moderate) drought to match the rest of Dawson County. During the second week of June, the far northwestern corner of Dawson County remained in (D1-Moderate) drought while the rest of the county improved to (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions. By the end of the month, the far northwestern corner of Dawson County improved to (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions while the rest of the county improved to no drought classification at all.

Drought, Prairie

When: June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Prairie forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 46.861, -105.378 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During the first week of June, drought conditions in the far northwestern corner of Prairie County improved to (D1-Moderate) drought to match the rest of Prairie County. During the second week of June, all of Prairie County improved to (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions. On the last week of June, the far northwestern corner of Prairie County remained in (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions while the rest of Prairie County improved to no drought classification at all.

Drought, Western Roosevelt

When: June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Western Roosevelt forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 48.295, -105.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During the first week of June, drought conditions in the southwestern third of Western Roosevelt County improved to (D1-Moderate) drought while the rest of Western Roosevelt County remained in (D1-Moderate) drought. By the end of June, the northwestern third of Western Roosevelt County remained in (D1-Moderate) drought, while the southeastern two thirds of the county improved to (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions.

Drought, McCone

When: June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: McCone forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 47.645, -105.795 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During the first week of June, drought conditions in all of McCone County improved to (D1-Moderate) drought. During the second week of June, the southern quarter of McCone County improved to (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions while the rest of McCone County remained in (D1-Moderate) drought. At the end of June, the far southeastern corner of McCone County improved to no drought classification at all. The eastern two thirds minus the southeast corner as well as the far southwestern corner improved to (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions while the northwestern third of McCone County remained in (D1-Moderate) drought.

Drought, Northern Valley

When: June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Northern Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

To start June, ongoing drought conditions in the southwestern corner and western border of Northern Valley County were in (D2-Severe) conditions, while the rest of Northern Valley County was in (D1-Moderate) drought. By the third week of June, all of Northern Valley County had improved to (D1-Moderate) drought. These conditions would remain the same through the end of the month.

Drought, Central and Southern Valley

When: June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Central and Southern Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During the first week of June, drought conditions in all but the far northwestern corner of Central and Southern Valley County improved to (D1-Moderate) drought, while the far northwestern corner remained in (D2-Severe) conditions. By the third week of June all of Central and Southern Valley County had improved to (D1-Moderate) drought. By the end of the month, the far southeastern corner had improved to (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions while the rest of Central and Southern Valley County remained in (D1-Moderate) drought.

Drought, Garfield

When: June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Garfield forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 47.278, -106.993 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During the first week of June, drought conditions in all of Garfield County improved to (D1-Moderate) drought. On the second week of June the southeastern corner of Garfield County improved to (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions while the remainder of the county remained in (D1-Moderate) drought. These conditions would remain the same through the end of the month.

Drought, Northern Phillips

When: June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Northern Phillips forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 48.259, -107.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

To start the month of June, ongoing drought conditions in all of Northern Phillips County was at (D2-Severe) conditions. By the third week of June all of Northern Phillips County had improved to (D1-Moderate) drought. These conditions would remain the same through the rest of the month.

Drought, Central and Se Phillips

When: June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Central and Se Phillips forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 48.259, -107.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During the first week of June, drought conditions in the southeastern corner of Central and Southeast Phillips County had improved to (D1-Moderate) drought, the western third of the county remained in (D3-Extreme) drought, while the middle third of the county in between the two was in (D2-Severe) conditions. On the third week of June the eastern two thirds of Central and Southeast Phillips County improved to (D1-Moderate) drought while the western third of the county improved to (D2-Severe) conditions. These conditions would remain the same through the end of the month.

Drought, Petroleum

When: June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Petroleum forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 47.118, -108.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

During the first week of June, drought conditions in all of Petroleum improved to (D1-Moderate) drought. On the third week of June, the southwestern third of Petroleum County improved to (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions, while the remainder of the county remained in (D1-Moderate) drought. These conditions would remain the same through the end of the month.

Drought, Little Rocky Mountains

When: June 1, 12:00 AM MST to June 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Little Rocky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 48.259, -107.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

To start June, ongoing drought conditions in the northwestern third of the Little Rocky Mountains was at (D3-Extreme) drought conditions, while the southeastern two thirds of the Little Rockies were in (D2-Severe) drought. On the third week of June the northwestern third of the Little Rocky Mountains would improve to (D2-Severe) conditions while the southeastern two thirds of the Little Rockies improved to (D1-Moderate) drought. These conditions would remain the same through the end of the month.

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

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, June 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: 1028619, 1028620, 1028621, 1029358, 1029361, 1029459, 1029462, 1029463, 1029473, 1029474, 1029479, 1029485.