During the late afternoon and evening hours on June 28th, severe weather broke out across much of the Billings Forecast Area. The most severe weather occurred across southeast Montana, mainly Carter County where golf ball size and larger hail, straight line winds 70-80 mph and four tornadoes were reported.
Around 7:17 PM, the first tornado was spotted crossing SR 323 in Carter County about 12 miles north of Albion in the Finger Butte Area. This tornado was spotted by a rancher about a mile to the south. His property sustained straight line wind damage on the south side of the storm, including trees uprooted, a barn roof blown off, a shed destroyed, and a horse trailer flipped over. This wind damage was consistent with 70-80 mph winds. This tornado left no trace along SR 323 and moved through open terrain before lifting. This tornado has been assigned a rating of EF-0 since no damage markers could be observed. Storm chasers following this storm as it pushed east through rural areas of Carter County noticed two additional brief tornado touchdowns. These tornadoes were in extremely rural and open areas with no road access to do damage surveys.
At approximately 8:06 PM, another tornado touched down just east of Camp Crook Road 4 miles south of Capitol, MT. In its initial phases, this tornado skipped along the ground, as confirmed by chaser video, producing sporadic snapped trees and downed limbs consistent with winds 80-90 mph (EF-0 to EF-1).
Damage survey and eye witness accounts confirm the tornado initially moved north-north-east along the Little Missouri River. As it approached the river it intensified to 120 mph (EF-2) producing an increasingly wider swath of snapped trees several hundred yards wide. The tornado started to turn more to the east at this time, moving on a northeasterly track as it crossed the Little Missouri and moved across the Montana/South Dakota border.
The tornadoes stayed mostly over rural areas producing limited damage. The damage that has been surveyed has ranged from EF-0 to EF-3. The most significant damage appears to have occurred with a tornado that touched down south of Capitol, Montana and moved into South Dakota. Damaged observed just across the border in South Dakota is consistent with an EF-3 tornado rating, with winds estimated at 136 mph. Damage observed includes one home destroyed, heavy hay bales moved, along with the debarking of some trees.

Tornado in CARTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 19:06:00 to 28-JUN-18 19:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: CAPITOL
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

The tornado was on the ground for 7 miles (approximately 24 minutes) from south of Capitol, Montana northeast into South Dakota. In Montana, the tornado path was 3 miles long with a width of 200 yards. Damage ranged from EF-1 at the initial touchdown, increasing to EF-2 just before the South Dakota border. Large tree limbs were downed and trees snapped. The damage became more widespread as the path approached the Little Missouri River.
The maximum wind speed during the life of the tornado was 136 mph (EF-3). The tornado ranged from 200 yards wide in Montana to a half mile wide in South Dakota.

Hail in POWDER RIVER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 15:30:00 to 28-JUN-18 15:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: SAYLE
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in POWDER RIVER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 16:03:00 to 28-JUN-18 16:03:00 (MST-7)
Location: EPSIE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CARTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 17:05:00 to 28-JUN-18 17:05:00 (MST-7)
Location: BOYES
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in SWEET GRASS, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 17:13:00 to 28-JUN-18 17:13:00 (MST-7)
Location: BIG TIMBER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in FALLON, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 17:45:00 to 28-JUN-18 17:45:00 (MST-7)
Location: BAKER ARPT
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Hail in SWEET GRASS, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 17:59:00 to 28-JUN-18 17:59:00 (MST-7)
Location: GREYCLIFF
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CUSTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 18:15:00 to 28-JUN-18 18:15:00 (MST-7)
Location: MILES CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in CUSTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 18:20:00 to 28-JUN-18 18:20:00 (MST-7)
Location: MILES CITY
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CUSTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 18:21:00 to 28-JUN-18 18:21:00 (MST-7)
Location: MILES CITY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in ROSEBUD, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 18:25:00 to 28-JUN-18 18:25:00 (MST-7)
Location: BIRNEY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in CUSTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 18:20:00 to 28-JUN-18 18:20:00 (MST-7)
Location: MILES CITY
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CUSTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 18:30:00 to 28-JUN-18 18:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: MILES CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in CARTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 18:40:00 to 28-JUN-18 18:40:00 (MST-7)
Location: ALBION
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A microburst occurred as a result of a severe thunderstorm. Two 30 inch diameter trees were uprooted. A barn roof and shed were lost and a horse trailer tipped over.

Hail in CUSTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 18:40:00 to 28-JUN-18 18:40:00 (MST-7)
Location: MILES CITY
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Thunderstorm Wind in POWDER RIVER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 19:00:00 to 28-JUN-18 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: SONNETTE
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in POWDER RIVER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 19:00:00 to 28-JUN-18 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: SONNETTE
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in CUSTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 19:10:00 to 28-JUN-18 19:10:00 (MST-7)
Location: VOLBORG
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in POWDER RIVER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 19:33:00 to 28-JUN-18 19:33:00 (MST-7)
Location: EPSIE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Hail in POWDER RIVER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 19:35:00 to 28-JUN-18 19:35:00 (MST-7)
Location: EPSIE
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CARTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 17:20:00 to 28-JUN-18 17:20:00 (MST-7)
Location: HAMMOND
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in BIG HORN, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 19:56:00 to 28-JUN-18 19:56:00 (MST-7)
Location: HARDIN
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in POWDER RIVER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 20:00:00 to 28-JUN-18 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: BROADUS
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in FALLON, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 20:00:00 to 28-JUN-18 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: WILLARD
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Thunderstorm Wind in CARTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 21:00:00 to 28-JUN-18 21:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: MILL IRON
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CARTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 21:10:00 to 28-JUN-18 21:10:00 (MST-7)
Location: RIDGEWAY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Extensive truck hood damage was reported.

Hail in CARTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 21:17:00 to 28-JUN-18 21:17:00 (MST-7)
Location: BELLTOWER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Flash Flood in CUSTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 18:20:00 to 28-JUN-18 21:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: FT KEOGH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Law enforcement reported at least five intersections in Miles City were underwater.

Tornado in CARTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 18:17:00 to 28-JUN-18 18:35:00 (MST-7)
Location: RIDGEWAY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The tornado was on the ground for 10 miles. No damage was visible from the tornado. However, EF-0 microburst damage was observed to the south of the tornado due to the rear flank downdraft; 2 trees uprooted, barn roof blown off, shed destroyed, and a horse trailer flipped over.

Tornado in CARTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 19:01:00 to 28-JUN-18 19:01:00 (MST-7)
Location: CAPITOL
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

The tornado briefly touched down and reports indicated there was anti-cyclonic rotation.  There were no reports of damage.

Tornado in CARTER, MONTANA
From 28-JUN-18 18:44:00 to 28-JUN-18 18:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: CAPITOL
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

The tornado was on the ground across rural areas for four miles. There were no reports of damage with this tornado.