Montana, 2024

Damaging Winds in Montana, July 13, 2024

July 13, 2024 · NWS BYZ · 20 events in 3 counties and zones

Between 630-830 PM MDT, severe thunderstorm winds moved across Custer County and over the town of Miles City. Wind speeds up to 77 mph were reported resulting in widespread significant tree damage including the uprooting of large trees which in some cases fell on vehicles and other property.

Where it happened

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
3
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
20

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.

Between 630-830 PM MDT, severe thunderstorm winds moved across Custer County and over the town of Miles City. Wind speeds up to 77 mph were reported resulting in widespread significant tree damage including the uprooting of large trees which in some cases fell on vehicles and other property. Downed power lines caused power outages across the Miles City area. At least one rooftop was reported blown off a house. Power outages and large tree damage was also reported in Fallon County in Baker where the airport recorded a wind gust of 79 mph. In addition, one location in northwest Custer County recorded 2.92 inches of rainfall in 30 minutes and hail up to nickel size covered the ground.

The radar

The Glasgow radar (KGGW), 208 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:07 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

20 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
July 13, 6:08 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 0.84 mi NW of Miles City
Measured
67 kt (77 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
46.410, -105.840

Tree and powerline damage, along with power outages, were reported throughout Miles City.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
July 13, 6:10 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 0.84 mi NW of Miles City
Measured
63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
46.410, -105.840

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
July 13, 6:15 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 3.74 mi SSE of Ft Keogh
Measured
53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.330, -105.840

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
July 13, 6:16 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 4.2 mi NE of Miles City
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.450, -105.780

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
July 13, 6:21 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 0.48 mi E of Miles City Arpt
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
46.430, -105.870

Tree limb damage and shingle damage was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
July 13, 6:22 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 1.18 mi SE of Miles City Arpt
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
46.420, -105.860

Power poles were snapped and 3 inch diameter tree limbs were broken.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
July 13, 6:28 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 1.18 mi NW of Miles City
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
46.410, -105.850

Trees were uprooted and a roof was blown off a house.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
July 13, 6:30 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 0.84 mi NW of Miles City
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Injuries
3 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
46.410, -105.840

Several injuries occurred due to trees falling on them and vehicles. At least one person was hospitalized.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
July 13, 6:30 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 9.53 mi E of Miles City
Measured
67 kt (77 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.400, -105.630

Thunderstorm Wind, Fallon

When
July 13, 7:15 PM MST
Where
Fallon County, 8.94 mi SSW of Willard
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.080, -104.440

Thunderstorm Wind, Fallon

When
July 13, 7:15 PM MST
Where
Fallon County, 4.5 mi ENE of Plevna
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.440, -104.430

Thunderstorm Wind, Fallon

When
July 13, 7:22 PM MST
Where
Fallon County, 1.38 mi S of Baker Arpt
Measured
69 kt (79 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
46.350, -104.250

Thunderstorm Wind, Fallon

When
July 13, 7:25 PM MST
Where
Fallon County, 0.84 mi SE of Baker
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
46.360, -104.270

Power poles and large trees were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
July 13, 7:40 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 3.65 mi SE of Knowlton
Measured
63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.310, -105.030

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When
July 13, 7:51 PM MST
Where
Carter County, 1.45 mi E of Ridgeway
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.480, -104.490

Winds were estimated at 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When
July 13, 7:55 PM MST
Where
Carter County, 7.97 mi NNE of Belltower
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.740, -104.330

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When
July 13, 7:58 PM MST
Where
Carter County, 1.45 mi E of Ridgeway
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.480, -104.490

Winds of 60 to 70 mph were estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When
July 13, 7:58 PM MST
Where
Carter County, 4.15 mi N of Belltower
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
45.690, -104.380

An estimated wind gust of 70 mph was reported 4 miles north of Belltower.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When
July 13, 8:00 PM MST
Where
Carter County, 1.45 mi E of Ridgeway
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.480, -104.490

Weather spotter had a broken out window in his home.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When
July 13, 8:00 PM MST
Where
Carter County, Ridgeway
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.480, -104.520

Numerous power poles were snapped.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, July 2024

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1192878, 1192898, 1192899, 1192901, 1192881, 1192882, 1192884, 1192885, 1192902, 1192903, 1192905, 1192907, 1192887, 1192908, 1192911, 1192912, 1192913, 1196661, 1192890, 1192896.