Petroleum storm history

One man died after lightning struck him and a friend while the two were bow hunting. The two were hunting between Crooked Creek and Barrel Springs when a thunderstorm moved overhead. The two took cover under a tree. Lightning struck the pair knocking both unconscious. When the on…

Snowfall was nearly continuous from Thursday (December 11th) until 6 AM Saturday (December 13th). Snowfall measurements Saturday morning ranged from 10 to 12 inches in central Petroleum county.

At the War Horse Montana Climate Office mesonet site (WRHM8), multiple severe wind gusts were recorded, the strongest of which was 67 mph.

The War Horse NW HydroMet site (WRHM8) from the Montana Climate Office Mesonet recorded a 59 mph wind gust.

The War Horse NW HydroMet site (WRHM8) from the Montana Climate Office Mesonet recorded a 61 mph wind gust.

The Winnett MT-200 DOT site (MTWIN) recorded a 59 mph wind gust.

The Mosby NW HydroMet site (MOBM8) from the Montana Climate Office Mesonet recorded a 60 mph wind gust.

The Dovetail / Valentine E HydroMet site (VLTM8) from the Montana Climate Office Mesonet recorded a 64 mph wind gust.

Trained spotter reported trees swaying significantly and estimated wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph along with pea sized hail.

Public reported hen egg size hail.

Trained spotter reported golf ball size hail.

Trained spotter measured a 60 mph wind gust.

A wind gust of 63 mph was measured by the Winnett MT-200 DOT site.

Trained spotter reported a 60 mph wind gust.

A wind gust of 66 mph was measured at the Mosby South HydroMet site (Montana Climate Office network).

The War Horse NW site (Montana Climate Office) recorded a wind gust of 62 mph.

The wind gust occurred at the Winnett Southwest MCO mesonet.

Hail up to the size of golf balls fell with winds of 30-40 mph.

Golfball size hail was reported by Public.

Ping pong ball size hail broke windows and damaged vehicles.

A storm chaser measured multiple hailstones of 2.5 inches in diameter (tennis ball size) with a ruler. Report relayed through social media.

Large hail about 3.5 inches in diameter, lasted for about 15 mins.

Quarter-sized hail, heavy rain and 70 mph wind gusts caused considerable tree damage in Winnett.

Quarter-sized hail, heavy rain and 70 mph wind gusts caused considerable tree damage in Winnett.

Occurred at the Mosby NW site.

Winds gusted to 59 mph at the mesonet station 10 NNW Cat Creek.

This occurred at the War Horse NWR (8N Teigen).

This occurred at the Winnett SW Hydromet.

Storm total snow across the area was three to five inches.

Three inches of snow were measured at the War Horse Mesonet site, along with 2.9 inches measured at the Winnett SW mesonet site.

Trained spotters and cooperative observers reported 6 to 8 inches of snow across most of the area, with very little wind.

The public and mesonets reported gusts to 70 mph.

A peak wind gust of 71 mph was measured at the Dovetail mesonet site. Other notable gusts include 69 mph at Mosby NW mesonet site and at War Horse mesonet site.

The Mosby NW mesonet site (MOBM8) measured a 58 mph thunderstorm wind gust.

A peak wind gust of 68 mph was recorded at 2:46 PM on May 7th at the Winnett Handar site (GGWWT).

Across Petroleum County, measured snowfall amounts ranged from 2.0 to 6.5 inches. The greatest amount of 6.5 inches was reported by a trained spotter 14S Winnett.

At the Dry Blood Creek RAWS site (DBCM8), temperatures in the teens to 30s below zero and breezy winds created intermittent periods of wind chills of 40 degrees below zero or colder from the early morning of the 12th into the morning of the 15th. The peak wind chill of 54 degrees…

The public reported hail up to the size of quarters.

Law enforcement reported water flowing over the roadway on U.S. Highway 87 at mile marker 22.

To start March, ongoing drought conditions in the southwestern corner of Petroleum County was at (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions, the far northwestern corner was in (D2-Severe) conditions, and the remainder of the county was in (D1-Moderate) drought. On the third week of March all…

To start February, ongoing drought conditions in the northwestern corner of Petroleum County was in (D2-Severe) conditions while the southern three quarters of Petroleum County were in (D1-Moderate) drought. On the second week of February, the far northwestern corner of Petroleum…

To start January, ongoing drought conditions in the northwestern corner of Petroleum County was in (D2-Severe) conditions while the southern three quarters of Petroleum County were in (D1-Moderate) drought. These conditions would remain the same through the end of the month.

For multiple sites across Petroleum County, temperatures in the teens and 20s below zero and breezy winds created intermittent periods of wind chills of -40 or worse from early morning of the 21st into the morning of the 22nd. The peak wind chill of -47 was recorded at 3:50 PM an…

To start December, ongoing drought conditions in the northwestern corner of Petroleum County was in (D2-Severe) conditions while the southern three quarters of Petroleum County were in (D1-Moderate) drought. These conditions would remain the same through the end of the month.

To start November, ongoing drought conditions in the northwestern corner of Petroleum County was in (D2-Severe) conditions while the southern three quarters of Petroleum County were in (D1-Moderate) drought. These conditions would remain the same through the end of the month.

To start October, ongoing drought conditions in the northwestern corner of Petroleum County was in (D2-Severe) conditions while the southern three quarters of Petroleum County were in (D1-Moderate) drought. These conditions would remain the same through the end of the month.

During the second week of September, the northwestern corner of Petroleum County worsened to (D2-Severe) conditions. Meanwhile the northcentral area of Petroleum County was in (D1-Moderate) drought, the southwestern corner was (D0-Abnormally Dry) conditions and the southeastern c…

Public reported hail up to the size of quarters.

Petroleum County Sheriff reported water covered roads and fields around and in the town of Winnett.

A trained spotter estimated a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph. Heavy rainfall and pea size hail covering the ground was also observed.