191 first-hand accounts of flood events in Montana, ranked by impact. Each is a NOAA-written narrative of the moment.
Lingering snowpack in the higher elevations of the Little Belt Mountains began to melt in early May. This melting was accelerated by moderate rainfall. Belt Creek ultimately flooded, impacting areas within the Lewis & Clark National Forest to near the community of Belt.
Read the full account →Flooding was reported by Roosevelt County DES along Highway 2 near Bainville at 5:15 pm, threatening numerous businesses and homes. The flooding was due to a combination of rapid snowmelt and heavy rainfall when 1.61 inches of rain fell in Culbertson.
Read the full account →An area of thunderstorms developed over southern Valley County during the late evening of August 20. The storms remained stationary between Glasgow, Fort Peck and the Pines Recreation Area on Fort Peck Lake until 4 am on the 21st.
Read the full account →An area of thunderstorms developed over southern Valley County during the late evening of August 20. The storms remained stationary between Glasgow, Fort Peck and the Pines Recreation Area on Fort Peck Lake until 4 am on the 21st.
Read the full account →Unseasonably warm temperatures occurred in the first two weeks of April, with highs near 80 degrees occurring at times. These warm temps, along with occasional rain, resulted in melting of a deep snowpack on top of frozen ground which led to significant runoff into area…
Read the full account →Unseasonably warm temperatures occurred in the first two weeks of April, with highs near 80 degrees occurring at times. These warm temps, along with occasional rain, resulted in melting of a deep snowpack on top of frozen ground which led to significant runoff into area…
Read the full account →Unseasonably warm temperatures occurred in the first two weeks of April, with highs near 80 degrees occurring at times. These warm temps, along with occasional rain, resulted in melting of a deep snowpack on top of frozen ground which led to significant runoff into area…
Read the full account →A severe thunderstorm moved northeast across Central Cascade County during the evening hours of the 19th. One to two inches of rain fell in 30 minutes as the storm moved through. Flash flooding did occur in the towns of Sand Coulee and Tracy.
Read the full account →Rapid snowmelt caused streams within Carter County to run high. In addition to Box Elder Creek, minor flooding was also reported along the Little Missouri River and other streams.
Read the full account →An isolated supercell thunderstorm formed over Garfield County, and remained nearly stationary for an hour. The storm produced 3 to 6 inches of rainfall which led to the coulees and ditches to fill up with water.
Read the full account →The combination of 5 inches of rain combined with snow-water equivalent melt of 2 to 5 inches resulted in a total water event of around 4 to 9 inches. This resulted in unprecedented flooding across the Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains and adjacent plains.
Read the full account →An upper level trough passed across the Northern Rockies September 11, which allowed for numerous thunderstorms to develop in the afternoon. Thermodynamic and kinematic ingredients were sufficient for a few strong thunderstorms, mostly across Southwest Montana.
Read the full account →June began with river flooding along Clear Creek near Chinook, which reached Major Flood Stage for the second time this spring. In fact, Clear Creek recorded its third highest crest on record, as of writing.
Read the full account →An unstable southwesterly flow developed ahead of an approaching Pacific trough and brought strong to severe thunderstorms over a three day period. Surface based CAPE routinely exceeded 1000 j/kg as steep mid-level lapse rates above 8C/km were common.
Read the full account →A very moist, easterly surface flow returned during the 3rd week of June. Dewpoints were again well above 50 degrees, with many areas around 60 degrees. In addition, atmospheric precipitable waters were well over 1.00.
Read the full account →A very moist, easterly surface flow returned during the 3rd week of June. Dewpoints were again well above 50 degrees, with many areas around 60 degrees. In addition, atmospheric precipitable waters were well over 1.00.
Read the full account →A very moist, easterly surface flow returned during the 3rd week of June. Dewpoints were again well above 50 degrees, with many areas around 60 degrees. In addition, atmospheric precipitable waters were well over 1.00.
Read the full account →A very moist, easterly surface flow returned during the 3rd week of June. Dewpoints were again well above 50 degrees, with many areas around 60 degrees. In addition, atmospheric precipitable waters were well over 1.00.
Read the full account →Anomalously high precipitable water values worked their way into Southwestern Montana, along with weak upper level flow. This combination resulted in slow moving heavy thunderstorms, which produced some impressive rainfall totals in places.
Read the full account →A very moist, easterly surface flow continued into the start of the second week of June. This resulted in dewpoints well above 50 degrees, as well as atmospheric precipitable waters over 1.00. Winds aloft continued to be light resulting in slow-moving, heavy thunderstorms.
Read the full account →A very moist, easterly surface flow continued into the start of the second week of June. This resulted in dewpoints well above 50 degrees, as well as atmospheric precipitable waters over 1.00. Winds aloft continued to be light resulting in slow-moving, heavy thunderstorms.
Read the full account →A very moist, easterly surface flow continued into the start of the second week of June. This resulted in dewpoints well above 50 degrees, as well as atmospheric precipitable waters over 1.00. Winds aloft continued to be light resulting in slow-moving, heavy thunderstorms.
Read the full account →A very moist, easterly surface flow continued into the start of the second week of June. This resulted in dewpoints well above 50 degrees, as well as atmospheric precipitable waters over 1.00. Winds aloft continued to be light resulting in slow-moving, heavy thunderstorms.
Read the full account →A very moist, easterly surface flow continued into the start of the second week of June. This resulted in dewpoints well above 50 degrees, as well as atmospheric precipitable waters over 1.00. Winds aloft continued to be light resulting in slow-moving, heavy thunderstorms.
Read the full account →