A rapidly-intensifying winter storm continues to bring heavy snow, high winds, and blizzard conditions over the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes through today. An Arctic front will lead in a period of gusty to high winds and sharply colder temperatures over the entire eastern U.S. Heavy lake effect snow is then expected from Lakes Erie and Ontario through New Year's Day. Read More >
Overview
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**Preliminary information and subject to change upon further review** Between 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM, a severe thunderstorm hit the Billings area, producing wind gusts up to 78 mph and causing extensive damage. The storm came from the northwest, and intensified quickly in the hour leading up to its arrival to Billings. After gusting to 76 mph at the Billings Airport, it went on from Billings and continued to produce gusts of 70 to 80 mph through Crow Agency and up to Lame Deer before quickly weakening as it went further east. The storm fortunately missed Hardin by just a few miles, passing by just to the south of town, though Hardin still had a gust to 47mph. |
 August 6, 2024 Radar Reflectivity Loop |
Photos:
Extensive wind damage was reported in the Billings area.
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| Uprooted Tree. Photo: Channa Schwab | Tree Damage. Photo: Aspen Willems Wasson | Tree Damage. Photo: Kate McLean | Wind Damage. Photo: Rob Seykora |
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| From Billings Heights Looking West. Photo: Bea Marquez | Tree Damage. Photo: Tracey Grice | Tree Damage. Photo: Starla Kent | Tree Damage. Photo: Jennifer Evans |
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| Wind Damage In Lockwood. Photo: Starla Kent | Wind Damage. Photo: Luke Mangum | Wind Damage Along Pryor Road. Photo: Missy Falls Down | Hail Along Old Hardin Road. Photo: Missy Falls Down |
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| Storm Near Lodge Grass, MT. Photo: Kelly Mountain Sheep | Utility Pole Damage In Billings Heights. Photo: Rayanne Choate | Tree Damage. Photo: Shawna Pyburn | Tree Damage In Billings Heights. Photo: Wendy Palato |
Reports & Timeline
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Billings MT
1043 AM MDT Wed Aug 7 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0436 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SSW Sheridan 44.76N 106.97W
08/06/2024 M55 MPH Sheridan WY ASOS
0450 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 6 SSW Acton 45.85N 108.72W
08/06/2024 M64 MPH Yellowstone MT Trained Spotter
0507 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NNW Billings 45.81N 108.54W
08/06/2024 M76 MPH Yellowstone MT ASOS
0508 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 W Billings 45.80N 108.64W
08/06/2024 Yellowstone MT Trained Spotter
Snapped power pole, hanging.
0515 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SSW Lockwood 45.78N 108.43W
08/06/2024 E70 MPH Yellowstone MT NWS Employee
0515 PM Hail 2 SW Lockwood 45.80N 108.44W
08/06/2024 M1.00 Inch Yellowstone MT Public
Via social media. Reported in Lockwood.
0521 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 6 S Lockwood 45.73N 108.40W
08/06/2024 M70 MPH Yellowstone MT Other Federal
0530 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 11 WSW Corinth 45.78N 108.16W
08/06/2024 M78 MPH Yellowstone MT Dept of Highways
0715 PM Hail 4 ENE Absarokee 45.55N 109.37W
08/06/2024 M1.00 Inch Stillwater MT Public
Report from Facebook.
0548 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 10 S Corinth 45.71N 107.94W
08/06/2024 Big Horn MT Public
Numerous grain bins destroyed along with
other structural damage. Relayed via
dispatch. Time estimated based on radar.
0614 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SSE Crow Agency 45.57N 107.44W
08/06/2024 M72 MPH Big Horn MT Other Federal
0700 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 6 SSW Stacey 45.64N 106.94W
08/06/2024 M66 MPH Big Horn MT Mesonet
&&
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Timeline ● 4:32 PM | Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Billings area until 5:15 PM as the storm entered Yellowstone County. ● 4:45 PM | Initial storm begins to intensify and reaches Molt. Reported gust of 52 mph just west of Molt. ● 5:07 PM | Storm reaches the northern edge of Billings. Weather station at the airport reports a gust of 76 mph. ○ This is the second highest gust on record for Billings (at the official climate site at the airport). The highest gust ever recorded was 85 mph on July 7, 2007. ● 5:14 PM | Severe Thunderstorm Warning reissued for Billings area until 6:15 PM. ● 5:05-5:25 PM | Winds gusting 65-76 mph reported around town. Pea size hail also occurred, but a report of quarter-size hail was reported in Lockwood. ● 5:30 PM | A Weather Station at Indian Arrow (15 miles east of Billings along I-90), reported a gust of 78 mph. This is the highest recorded gust from the storm. ● 5:48 PM | Severe Thunderstorm Warning reissued, now for Hardin, Crow Agency, and Lame Deer until 6:45 PM. ● 6:00 PM | Storm moves just south of Hardin, barely missing it. They still record a gust of 47 mph at the Big Horn County Airport. ● 6:14 PM | Storm reaches Crow Agency, and the Weather Station at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument records a gust of 72 mph. ● 6:45 PM | Severe Thunderstorm warning reissued, now for portions of eastern Big Horn County until 7:15 PM. ● 7:00 PM | 7 miles north of Busby records a gust of 66 mph ● 6:45-7:15 PM | The storm quickly weakens before reaching Lame Deer. |
Radar
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| August 6, 2024 Radar Velocity Loop |
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