Winter Returns Across the Northern Tier; Record Warmth for the Southwest

A large high pressure system will usher in cold air for this first day of March across the northern Plains, Great Lakes, Northeast and mid-Atlantic. Some wintry precipitation may evolve across the mid-Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic through Monday. Meanwhile, record warmth will spread across the Southwest, southern Plains through early this week. Read More >

Overview

**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
Reports & Timeline
Radar

Photos:

Extensive wind damage was reported in the Billings area.


Uprooted Tree. Photo: Channa Schwab	Tree Damage. Photo: Aspen Willems Wasson	Tree Damage. Photo: Kate McLean	Wind Damage. Photo: Rob Seykora

From Billings Heights Looking West. Photo: Bea Marquez	Tree Damage. Photo: Tracey Grice	Tree Damage. Photo: Starla Kent	Tree Damage. Photo: Jennifer Evans

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

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          

             


&&

$$

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

August 6, 2024 Radar Velocity Loop

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Winter Returns Across the Northern Tier; Record Warmth for the Southwest

August 6, 2024 Severe Storms