Montana, 2023Hail and Damaging Wind in Montana, July 28 to 30, 2023
July 28 to 30, 2023 · NWS TFX · 13 events in 5 counties and zones
After a period of quiet weather, several days of strong to severe thunderstorms occurred during the latter part of July. Chinook was struck the hardest with up to baseball size hail resulting in significant vehicle and structural damage.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
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- Heat and drought
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Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $1.0 million
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 13
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.
After a period of quiet weather, several days of strong to severe thunderstorms occurred during the latter part of July. Chinook was struck the hardest with up to baseball size hail resulting in significant vehicle and structural damage. Harlem and Fort Belknap also received severe hail. Additional severe storms impacted the east side of Great Falls, Belt, and Lewistown with large hail being reported in all three locations.
Hail, Gallatin
- When
- July 28, 3:16 PM MST to 3:24 PM MST
- Where
- Gallatin County, 2.34 mi SSW of Sedan
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 45.918, -110.866
Several reports of hail ranging from dime size to golf ball. Hail accumulated on MT Highway 86, resulting in some impacts to drivers.
Hail, Gallatin
- When
- July 28, 3:33 PM MST to 3:41 PM MST
- Where
- Gallatin County, 6.67 mi NNE of Sedan
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 46.040, -110.800
Spotter northwest of Wilsall reported golf ball size hail and estimated wind gusts of 70 mph.
Hail, Cascade
- When
- July 29, 5:54 PM MST to 6:05 PM MST
- Where
- Cascade County, 1.46 mi NNW of Wayne
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 47.440, -110.960
Reports on social media of vehicles in Wayne being dented from large hail.
Hail, Fergus
- When
- July 29, 8:13 PM MST to 8:16 PM MST
- Where
- Fergus County, 0.47 mi W of Lewistown
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 47.070, -109.430
Pictures submitted of hail in Lewistown slightly larger than one inch.
Hail, Fergus
- When
- July 29, 8:15 PM MST to 8:18 PM MST
- Where
- Fergus County, 2.73 mi ESE of (Lwt)lewiston Muni A
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.030, -109.420
Spotter reported one inch hail.
Thunderstorm Wind, Hill
- When
- July 30, 6:20 PM MST
- Where
- Hill County, 2.49 mi NNE of Fresno
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 48.600, -109.950
Recorded by automated system on southeast end of Fresno Reservoir.
Hail, Cascade
- When
- July 30, 6:47 PM MST to 6:50 PM MST
- Where
- Cascade County, 0.96 mi WNW of (Gfa)malmstrom Afb
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 47.507, -111.188
Malmstrom AFB personnel reported half dollar size hail occurring on base.
Hail, Cascade
- When
- July 30, 7:08 PM MST to 7:11 PM MST
- Where
- Cascade County, 0.69 mi N of Belt
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.390, -110.930
Spotter reported quarter size hail in Belt.
Hail, Blaine
- When
- July 30, 7:17 PM MST to 7:27 PM MST
- Where
- Blaine County, 2.76 mi NW of Chinook
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 48.610, -109.270
Blaine County Deputy EM reported golf ball size hail at their property.
Hail, Blaine
- When
- July 30, 7:27 PM MST to 7:31 PM MST
- Where
- Blaine County, 1.38 mi N of Chinook
- Measured
- 2 in hail
- Property damage
- $1.0 million
- Reported by
- Insurance Company
- Coordinates
- 48.600, -109.230
Several photos submitted on social media of large hail in Chinook. Insurance company reported at least 11 vehicle hail damage claims and 5 homeowners claims. Number of claims likely increased since preliminary reports.
Hail, Blaine
- When
- July 30, 7:29 PM MST to 7:37 PM MST
- Where
- Blaine County, 1.54 mi ESE of Chinook
- Measured
- 2.5 in hail
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 48.570, -109.200
Photos submitted of hail being measured with a ruler as well as being compared to coins.
Hail, Blaine
- When
- July 30, 8:08 PM MST to 8:14 PM MST
- Where
- Blaine County, 0.83 mi NNW of Harlem
- Measured
- 1.5 in hail
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 48.540, -108.790
Images submitted of large hail in Harlem.
Hail, Blaine
- When
- July 30, 8:09 PM MST to 8:16 PM MST
- Where
- Blaine County, 1.15 mi SW of Ft Belknap Agency
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 48.470, -108.770
Co-op observer reported hail of quarter size was covering the ground.
- 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.
- Flash Flooding in Indiana, July 28, 20232 deaths · $552,000 · 5 events
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Ohio, July 28 to 29, 20231 death · $230,000 · EF1 · 13 events
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Nebraska, July 28, 2023$29 million · 4 in hail · 13 events
- Damaging Winds in Maryland, July 28, 2023$6.9 million · 70 kt wind · 40 events
- Rip Current in Michigan, July 28, 20231 death · 1 event
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, July 28, 2023$1.3 million · 4 in hail · 43 events
- Hail in Kansas, July 28, 2023$8.3 million · 2 in hail · 3 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, July 28, 20231 injured · $786,000 · 1.25 in hail · 32 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Wisconsin, July 28, 2023$169,000 · EF1 · 40 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Illinois, July 28, 2023EF1 · 77 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, July 28, 2023$133,000 · EF1 · 21 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 28, 2023$705,000 · 1.75 in hail · 3 events
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1111905, 1111908, 1111911, 1111912, 1111913, 1112552, 1112517, 1112518, 1112534, 1112527, 1112530, 1112540, 1112545.