Drought in Montana

Events

798

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

$990,000

• Drought in Montana, May 1 to 31, 2004$990,000 · 3 eventsThe combination of ongoing drought, wind and freezing temperatures distroyed 6,600 acres of the sugarbeet crop which had to be replanted.
• Drought in Montana, August 1 to 31, 202129 eventsThe lack of any significant precipitation during the normally wet months of March, April and May, combined with above normal temperatures going into June resulted in the beginning of a significant drought across the Billings Forecast Area.
• Drought in Montana, February 1 to 28, 200516 eventsFebruary was a particularly dry month across all of northeast Montana, with most areas receiving less than 10 percent of normal precipitation. Overall, northeast Montana received only 3 percent of normal precipitation.
• Drought in Montana, August 6 to 31, 200616 eventsSevere drought conditions developed (D2 classification on the National Drought Monitor) across all of northeast Montana in early August.
• Drought in Montana, September 1 to 30, 200616 eventsSevere drought conditions (D2 classification on the National Drought Monitor) across all of northeast Montana that developed in early August continued through September. The first half of the month was a continuation of the hot and record dry summer.
• Drought in Montana, October 1 to 31, 201716 eventsAlthough northeast Montana had areas of both above and below normal precipitation for the month of October, much of the area saw slight improvements in their drought classification over the month of October.
• Drought in Montana, November 1 to 30, 202116 eventsThe month of November once again saw precipitation amounts drier than average. As a result extreme drought conditions persisted or worsened throughout the month.
• Drought in Montana, July 1 to 31, 202116 eventsThe weather pattern through this mid-summer period continued to favor a strong ridge of hot high pressure over the western United States, and directed most storm systems well away from northeast Montana locations.
• Drought in Montana, September 1 to 30, 202116 eventsSeptember rainfall amounts were among the driest on record. This allowed drought conditions in northeast Montana to persist.
• Drought in Montana, August 1 to 31, 202116 eventsEven though a few beneficial storms passed through the region in August, it was not enough to alleviate ongoing extreme drought conditions that expanded into more locations throughout the month.
• Drought in Montana, October 1 to 31, 202116 eventsA winter storm moved through the area on October 12th - 13th. The southeastern zones received a good amount of rain and snowfall to help drought conditions, however the rest of the area only got a little precipitation.
• Drought in Montana, December 1 to 31, 202116 eventsA cooler and wetter than average December led to some improvement to drought conditions. However extreme drought conditions persist across the region.
• Drought in Montana, January 1 to 31, 202216 eventsA cooler and wetter than average December led to some improvement to drought conditions at the beginning of January. However January turned out to be a warmer and drier than average month so extreme drought conditions continue to persist across the region.
• Drought in Montana, October 1 to 31, 202216 eventsAlthough October saw normal to above normal rain and snowfall for northeast Montana, above normal temperatures and lingering impacts from the past two years of drought allowed the drought to persist or worsen in spots.
• Drought in Montana, February 1 to 28, 202216 eventsFebruary overall was warmer and drier than average and this would allow the ongoing drought to persist with little to no improvement.
• Drought in Montana, May 1 to 31, 202216 eventsOngoing drought conditions continued into May. A large storm system moving through on May 12th and 13th gave some substantial wetting rains which would help improve drought conditions.
• Drought in Montana, April 1 to 30, 202216 eventsOngoing drought conditions continued into April. However two large storms impacted the eastern and southeastern parts of our area leading to improvement in the drought for those locations.
• Drought in Montana, March 1 to 31, 202216 eventsMarch continued to see drier than average conditions and this would allow the ongoing drought to persist.
• Drought in Montana, November 1 to 30, 202216 eventsDespite November being colder than average and having above normal precipitation for the month, the drought picture over northeast Montana remains relatively unchanged.
• Drought in Montana, September 1 to 30, 201715 eventsAlthough September was the first month in quite a while in which many locations received normal or above normal precipitation, this was not enough to offset the several months of record drought. Drought conditions persisted through the month.
• Drought in Montana, August 1 to 31, 201715 eventsThe drought affecting the region all summer long persisted through August, with all of northeast Montana in Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) conditions. Very little rainfall was observed during the month of August, with no relief to the drought through the entire month.
• Drought in Montana, December 1 to 31, 201715 eventsThis was an interesting month, with the western portions of northeast Montana receiving well above normal precipitation, and the eastern half receiving generally less than normal precipitation.
• Drought in Montana, November 1 to 30, 201715 eventsWith most of northeast Montana again experiencing below normal precipitation for the month of November, drought conditions did not change much, if at all, throughout the month. Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted across the region.
• Drought in Montana, July 1 to 31, 201715 eventsAs the summer season came into full swing, the dominant ridge of high pressure over the western states persisted and perpetuated severe to exceptional drought conditions across all of northeast Montana.
• Drought in Montana, May 1 to 31, 202115 eventsA few helpful snow and rain showers brought a little relief to some areas through the month, but were not enough to weaken the drought's hold across the region. Overall, precipitation amounts remained below normal.

Drought everywhereEvery kind of event in Montana

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.