Hail — Pondera, Montana

2013-07-08 · near Brady, Pondera, Montana

Event narrative

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

Wider weather episode

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.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (48.0300, -111.9599)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 470373. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.