Southwest flow aloft ahead of an incoming front brought moisture and instability to Central Montana. Airmass instability caused scattered thunderstorms to develop in the early morning hours. Lift increased later in the day and low level winds from the east to southeast brought higher dew points to much of the area. CAPE values exceeded 2200 J/kg across Central Montana by early afternoon and bulk shear numbers were also high. Additionally, wet-bulb zero heights near 9500 feet helped support large hail during the afternoon. High precipitable water values, over an inch, across a large portion of North-Central Montana supported the chances for heavy rain as well. A surface front moved across the area in the late afternoon helping keep convective activity ongoing across portions of the CWA. SPC had most of the CWA under a slight risk, the exception being Southwest Montana.

Hail in FERGUS, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 14:40:00 to 08-JUL-13 14:40:00 (MST-7)
Location: MOORE
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail measuring 1.50 inches (ping pong ball sized) was reported 10 mi S of Moore, MT.

Hail in BROADWATER, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 15:00:00 to 08-JUL-13 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: TOSTON
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail measuring 1.25 inches (half dollar sized) was reported in Toston, MT.

Hail in FERGUS, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 15:30:00 to 08-JUL-13 15:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: MOORE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail measuring 1.75 inches (golf ball sized) was reported 5 mi SE of Moore, MT.

Thunderstorm Wind in TETON, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 17:47:00 to 08-JUL-13 17:47:00 (MST-7)
Location: CHOTEAU
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High winds of 56KT (64MPH) were reported 10 mi SSW of Choteau, MT.

Hail in PONDERA, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 18:00:00 to 08-JUL-13 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: BRADY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail measuring 1.00 inches (quarter sized) was reported 6 mi W of Brady, MT.

Hail in CHOUTEAU, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 19:15:00 to 08-JUL-13 19:15:00 (MST-7)
Location: FT BENTON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail measuring 1.75 inches (golf ball sized) was reported 10 mi W of Fort Benton, MT. Winds were estimated 50 MPH.

Hail in CHOUTEAU, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 19:49:00 to 08-JUL-13 19:49:00 (MST-7)
Location: GERALDINE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail measuring 1.75 inches (golf ball sized) was reported in Geraldine, MT.

Hail in CHOUTEAU, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 19:25:00 to 08-JUL-13 19:25:00 (MST-7)
Location: FT BENTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail measuring 1.00 inches (quarter sized) was reported in Fort Benton, MT.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 18:45:00 to 08-JUL-13 18:45:00 (MST-7)
Location: GREAT FALLS
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High winds of 50KT (58MPH) were reported 5 mi SW of Great Falls, MT.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 18:50:00 to 08-JUL-13 18:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: GREAT FALLS
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High winds estimated at 52KT (60MPH) were reported in Great Falls, MT.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 18:56:00 to 08-JUL-13 18:56:00 (MST-7)
Location: (GFA)MALMSTROM AFB
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

High winds of 51KT (59MPH) were reported by the Malmstrom Air Force Base ASOS.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 19:30:00 to 08-JUL-13 19:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: MONARCH
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High winds estimated at 52KT (60MPH) were reported 4 mi N of Monarch, MT.

Hail in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 03:30:00 to 08-JUL-13 03:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: ULM
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail measuring 1.00 inches (quarter sized) was reported 8 mi SE of Ulm, MT.

Heavy Rain in HILL, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 07:45:00 to 08-JUL-13 08:15:00 (MST-7)
Location: HINGHAM
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy rain measuring .67 inches in 30 minutes was reported 12 mi N of Hingham, MT.

Hail in MEAGHER, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 14:00:00 to 08-JUL-13 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: WHITE SULPHUR SPGS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail measuring 1.00 inches (quarter sized) was reported 8 mi W of White Sulphur Springs, MT.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 19:37:00 to 08-JUL-13 19:37:00 (MST-7)
Location: CASCADE
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High winds of 51KT (59MPH) were reported 21 mi SE of Cascade, MT.

Hail in FERGUS, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 14:30:00 to 08-JUL-13 14:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: MOORE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail measuring 1.75 inches (golf ball sized) was reported 5 mi SE of Moore, MT.

Hail in JUDITH BASIN, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 14:05:00 to 08-JUL-13 14:05:00 (MST-7)
Location: UTICA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail measuring 1.75 inches (golf ball sized) was reported 5 mi SW of Utica, MT.

Hail in JUDITH BASIN, MONTANA
From 08-JUL-13 14:24:00 to 08-JUL-13 14:24:00 (MST-7)
Location: HOBSON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail measuring 1.00 inches (quarter sized) was reported 5 mi SE of Hobson, MT.