Review of 2010 Significant Weather Events
|
Review of 2010 Significant Weather Events
|
..2010 WEATHER REVIEW...
IN A YEAR THAT BEGAN WITH A STRONG EL NINO AND ENDED WITH A MODERATE
LA NINA...SOUTHEAST MONTANA AND NORTH CENTRAL WYOMING EXPERIENCED
EXTREME WEATHER THROUGHOUT 2010. WINTER WEATHER WAS GENERALLY
SNOWY...AND THE SUMMER WAS WET WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER.
TEMPERATURES AVERAGED NEAR NORMAL. COMPLETE SUMMARIES OF
TEMPERATURES AND PRECIPITATION IN 2010 AT BILLINGS...MILES CITY AND
SHERIDAN HAVE ALREADY BEEN PUBLISHED.
THE FOLLOWING IS A CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT OR
NOTEWORTHY WEATHER EVENTS THAT OCCURRED ACROSS THE AREA IN 2010.
JANUARY 4-5: SNOW FELL ACROSS THE REGION. BILLINGS RECEIVED 6-8
INCHES OF SNOW...WITH 3-7 INCHES COMMON ACROSS THE PLAINS.
JANUARY 22-23: SNOW FELL ACROSS MOST OF THE REGION. UP TO 6-10
INCHES OF SNOW FELL FROM COLUMBUS AND BILLINGS TO RYEGATE AND
ROUNDUP.
JANUARY 31 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1: BAND OF SNOW PRODUCED 5-9 INCHES OF
SNOW IN THE BILLINGS AREA. 12 INCHES OF SNOW FELL JUST SOUTH OF
ROUNDUP.
FEBRUARY 27: THIS WAS THE LAST DAY WITH A SNOW DEPTH OF AT LEAST A
TRACE AT BILLINGS. THE STRETCH OF 89 CONSECUTIVE DAYS (BEGINNING
DECEMBER 1ST) WAS THE 4TH LONGEST ON RECORD.
MARCH: WITH ONLY 0.3 INCHES OF SNOWFALL...THIS MARCH WAS THE LEAST
SNOWIEST ON RECORD AT BILLINGS. TOTAL PRECIPITATION OF 0.43 INCHES
WAS 11TH DRIEST. AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 44.0 DEGREES WAS 4TH WARMEST.
APRIL 13: THUNDERSTORM WITH SNOW WAS OBSERVED AT THE BILLINGS
AIRPORT BETWEEN 2 AND 3 AM.
APRIL 27 THROUGH MAY 4: AN EXTREMELY WINDY PERIOD FOR THE ENTIRE
REGION. BILLINGS OBSERVED A WIND GUST IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH FOR 8
CONSECUTIVE DAYS.
MAY 3: STRONG COLD FRONT BROUGHT VERY WINDY CONDITIONS TO THE
REGION. BILLINGS OBSERVED A WIND GUST OF 66 MPH DURING THE EVENING.
MAY 4: DEEP LOW PRESSURE OVER NORTHEAST MONTANA COMBINED WITH STRONG
HIGH PRESSURE TO OUR WEST BROUGHT AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF VERY STRONG
WEST WINDS. BILLINGS FREQUENTLY GUSTED OVER 50 MPH THROUGHOUT THE
DAY. OTHER PEAK GUSTS INCLUDE MILES CITY 62 MPH...BAKER 70 MPH AND
ISMAY 81 MPH.
MAY 6: HEAVY WET SNOW ACCUMULATED TO 3-4 FEET IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE
RED LODGE. THE BIG HORN MOUNTAINS RECEIVED 12-21 INCHES. THE HIGHER
RIDGES FROM NEAR SHERIDAN ACROSS SOUTHEAST MONTANA RECEIVED 6-12
INCHES.
MAY 11-12: ANOTHER PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOW FOR THE EAST SLOPES OF THE
BEARTOOTH AND BIG HORN MOUNTAINS...WHERE 2-3 FEET FELL. THE
MOUNTAINS ABOVE RED LODGE RECEIVED NEAR 7 FEET OF TOTAL SNOWFALL IN
TWO STORMS A WEEK APART.
MAY 23-25: STRONG STORM SYSTEM IN THE CENTRAL ROCKIES BROUGHT A
PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL TO THE REGION. MOST OF THE AREA
RECEIVED 1-3 INCHES OF RAIN...WITH SOME LOCATIONS JUST UNDER 4
INCHES. GREATEST AMOUNTS FELL IN ROSEBUD... CUSTER...POWDER RIVER
AND SHERIDAN COUNTIES. FLOODING OCCURRED ALONG PUMPKIN CREEK IN
CUSTER COUNTY.
MAY 26: SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND
SOME FLOODING NEAR ASHLAND. A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS OBSERVED.
MAY 28 THROUGH JUNE 14: WEATHER WAS QUIET AND COOL. NO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS WERE ISSUED.
JUNE 15: SEVERE WEATHER RETURNS WITH A VENGEANCE. FUNNEL CLOUD
OBSERVED NEAR KIRBY.
JUNE 16: WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER...INCLUDING GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL
NEAR ABSAROKEE...COLUMBUS AND BILLINGS. A TORNADO WAS SPOTTED JUST
SOUTHEAST OF BRIDGER. FIVE INCHES OF RAIN FELL NEAR OLLIE IN FALLON
COUNTY...PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING ALONG BEAVER CREEK.
JUNE 17: AN UNUSUAL LATE SPRING NON-CONVECTIVE WIND EVENT BROUGHT
SEVERAL SUSTAINED WINDS OF 40 MPH AND SOME GUSTS NEAR 60 MPH ACROSS
OUR NORTH AND EAST PARTS.
JUNE 20: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A EF2 TORNADO OVER
BILLINGS...CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE METRA AND SOME NEARBY
BUSINESSES IN THE BILLINGS HEIGHTS. THE STORM ALSO PRODUCED UP TO
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND FLASH FLOODING IN PARTS OF THE CITY. THE
BILLINGS AIRPORT RECEIVED 2.24 INCHES OF RAIN IN ABOUT AN HOUR AND A
HALF. SEVERE WEATHER ALSO IMPACTED OTHER LOCATIONS...WITH BASEBALL
HAIL NEAR DECKER AND RANCHESTER...AND FLASH FLOODING IN CARTER
COUNTY.
JUNE 21: TORNADOES AND FUNNEL CLOUDS SITED FROM SOUTHERN ROSEBUD
INTO POWDER RIVER COUNTY. TORNADO DAMAGE AND FLASH FLOODING WITH
ROAD CLOSURES OCCURRED NEAR BROADUS. STRONG WINDS REPORTED IN CARTER
COUNTY. BASEBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED NEAR BIRNEY.
JUNE 22: STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED AT LEAST ONE FUNNEL CLOUD OVER
SHERIDAN...AND FLASH FLOODING AS OVER AN INCH AND A HALF OF RAIN
FELL IN ONE HOUR.
JUNE 30: SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL FROM NEAR
CLYDE PARK TO NORTH OF BIG TIMBER TO SOUTH OF RYEGATE. A SEVERE
STORM NEAR ALZADA PRODUCED ESTIMATED 70-80 MPH WINDS WHICH DESTROYED
A 60X64 FOOT SHED. ANOTHER SEVERE STORM PRODUCED 60 MPH WIND GUSTS
IN THE MILES CITY AREA...DOWNING TREES AND POWER LINES.
JULY 1: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPED ALONG THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE
CRAZY MOUNTAINS AND TRACKED EASTWARD...REMAINING SEVERE UNTIL
EXITING CUSTER COUNTY TO THE NORTH OF MILES CITY. THIS STORM TRACKED
NORTH OF BILLINGS. THERE WERE SEVERAL GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL
REPORTS...AND A BASEBALL HAIL REPORT WITH 70 MPH WINDS IN HYSHAM
WHICH CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IN THE CITY.
JULY 2: A TORNADO FORMED OVER THE NORTHERN PART OF THE CRAZY
MOUNTAINS...CAUSING SIGNIFICANT FOREST DAMAGE. THIS STORM ALSO
PRODUCED HALF DOLLAR TO BASEBALL SIZE HAIL NEAR TWODOT AND HARLOWTON.
JULY 12: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A 62 MPH WIND GUST AT THE
MILES CITY AIRPORT.
JULY 18: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A 71 MPH WIND GUST AT THE
MILES CITY AIRPORT. DAMAGE NEAR THE CITY INCLUDED SPEED LIMIT SIGNS
BENT AND RIPPED OFF POLES...BILLBOARDS BENT...POWER POLES SNAPPED IN
HALF ALONG THE INTERSTATE...ROOF DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES.
JULY 19: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND
ESTIMATED 70 MPH WIND GUSTS NEAR RIDGEWAY. BROKEN WINDOWS AND CROP
DAMAGE WERE NOTED IN THE AREA.
JULY 21: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED 60 MPH WINDS AND NEARLY AN
INCH OF RAIN IN BILLINGS DURING THE EVENING.
JULY 31: SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED VERY STRONG WINDS IN PARK AND
SWEET GRASS COUNTIES. THE LIVINGSTON AIRPORT REPORTED A 74 MPH WIND
GUST. ESTIMATED 75 MPH WINDS NEAR PINE CREEK AND SOUTH OF BIG TIMBER
DOWNED LARGE TREES AND SOME POWER LINES. WINDS NEAR 60 MPH ALSO
IMPACTED THE BILLINGS AND RED LODGE AREAS.
AUGUST: BILLINGS 2.78 INCHES OF RAIN WAS THE 2ND WETTEST AUGUST ON
RECORD. THE JUNE THROUGH AUGUST TOTAL OF 9.58 INCHES WAS THE 2ND
WETTEST METEOROLOGICAL SUMMER.
AUGUST 6: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED ESTIMATED 60 MPH WINDS NEAR
RAPELJE AND MOLT...AND ACROSS AREAS TO THE NORTH OF BILLINGS.
AUGUST 29: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED QUARTER TO GOLF BALL SIZE
HAIL IN THE CITY OF BILLINGS....DOWNTOWN AND IN THE HEIGHTS. CAR
DAMAGE OCCURRED DUE TO THE HAIL.
AUGUST 29-30: 1.67 INCHES OF RAIN FELL AT BILLINGS OVER THE 2-DAY
PERIOD.
SEPTEMBER 5: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED QUARTER SIZE HAIL NEAR
BIG TIMBER AROUND 430 AM.
SEPTEMBER 9: LATE SEASON SEVERE WEATHER STRUCK PARTS OF THE AREA. A
THIN EF0 TORNADO WAS SPOTTED SOUTH OF HARLOWTON...ALONG WITH GOLF
BALL SIZE HAIL. HALF DOLLAR HAIL WAS SPOTTED NEAR BIRNEY...AND PENNY
TO QUARTER HAIL NEAR BAKER.
SEPTEMBER 25 THROUGH NOVEMBER 7: AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF ABOVE NORMAL
TEMPERATURES. DAILY RECORD HIGHS WERE BROKE OR TIED AT BILLINGS ON
9/26...9/28 AND 11/12. BILLINGS HIGH OF 92 ON SEPTEMBER 28TH WAS A
RECORD LATEST OCCURRENCE OF AT LEAST 92 DEGREES.
NOVEMBER 8-9: HEAVY SNOW FELL OVER THE BEARTOOTH ABSAROKA AND CRAZY
MOUNTAINS...WITH 6-10 INCHES ABOVE 6000 FEET. RED LODGE RECEIVED 3-6
INCHES OF SNOW.
NOVEMBER 9: A BAND OF HEAVY SNOW BROUGHT 6-12 INCHES OF SNOW TO
FALLON AND CARTER COUNTIES.
NOVEMBER 16: STRONG WINDS IMPACTED WHEATLAND AND YELLOWSTONE
COUNTIES. WIND GUST OF 61 MPH OBSERVED AT JUDITH GAP...59 MPH AT THE
BILLINGS AIRPORT.
NOVEMBER 18: STRONG DOWNSLOPE WINDS CAUSED DOWNED TREES AND POWER
LINES IN A RED LODGE SUBDIVISION. A 71 MPH GUST WAS MEASURED ON
HIGHWAY 308 JUST EAST OF RED LODGE.
NOVEMBER 18-28: A SNOWY AND COLD PERIOD AFFECTED THE ENTIRE REGION.
BILLINGS RECEIVED 23.3 INCHES OF SNOW DURING THESE 11 DAYS...CAPPED
OFF WITH 8.4 INCHES ON THE 28TH. SNOWFALL IN THE BILLINGS AREA ON
THE 28TH RANGED FROM 6 TO 13 INCHES. BILLINGS FELL BELOW ZERO ON THE
20TH THROUGH 24TH. THE 14 BELOW ZERO ON THE 24TH WAS A RECORD FOR
THE DAY. SHERIDAN FELL TO 17 BELOW ON THE 24TH...ALSO A DAILY
RECORD. TEMPERATURES FELL BELOW ZERO BEFORE THANKSGIVING AT BILLINGS
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1996.
NOVEMBER 25: BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AFFECTED THE LIVINGSTON AREA ON
THANKSGIVING DAY. INTERSTATE 90 WAS CLOSED AND TRAFFIC DIVERTED
THROUGH TOWN. PEAK GUST AT LIVINGSTON WAS 72 MPH. STRONG WINDS AND
SIGNIFICANT BLOWING SNOW ALSO AFFECTED THE PARADISE VALLEY AND
LOCATIONS FROM BIG TIMBER TO HARLOWTON.
DECEMBER 2-3: HEAVY SNOW PRODUCED A FOOT AND A HALF OF SNOW IN THE
MOUNTAINS NEAR COOKE CITY.
DECEMBER 4: WIDESPREAD FOG AND LOW CLOUDS AFFECTED THE REGION.
DECEMBER 29-31: SLOW MOVING STORM SYSTEM BROUGHT AN EXTENDED PERIOD
OF SNOW TO THE REGION. HEAVY SNOW FELL EARLY IN THE EVENT...BUT THE
SNOW BECAME FINER AS THE AIRMASS TURNED COLDER. MUCH OF THE AREA HAD
5 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW. BILLINGS RECEIVED 6-8 INCHES.
|
www.weather.gov 
