Severe Sunday hailstorms hit north-central Montana

Carla Steckel emailed this photo to the Havre Daily News this morning of a hailstone from a recent storm, which damaged property including severely denting a metal mailbox.

A severe storm warning was issued for north-central Montana late Sunday night, following other severe storms from the Rocky Mountain Front east. The National Weather Service is looking for more data on where precipitation and hail might have fallen.

Nick Langlieb, meteorologist with National Weather Service in Great Falls, said a notice was issued for the northern part of Hill County at 11:52 p. m. Sunday, with two storms forming and the notices staying in effect through 1:45 a. m.

"There were a couple of hours of rough weather out there, " he said, adding that the radar indicated some large hailstones were possible.

"For a time, it looked like hail up to the size of golf balls were possible, " he said.

Carla Steckel emailed to the Havre Daily News this morning some photographs of hailstones that size and of damage they caused. The Havre Daily was not able to get in touch with Steckel by deadline this morning to find out exactly when and where that storm occurred.

Langlieb said that, due to the timing of the storm, Weather Service had not received details of any severe storms as of the Havre Daily News deadline this morning. He said if people have information about severe weather that occurred, they could report it to Weather Service at (406) 453-2081.

Other severe storms did go through north-central and central Montana over the weekend, he said.

One storm Saturday produced severe weather, including about an inch of rain, in the Brady and Choteau areas. Another dropped heavy rain near Babb in northern Glacier County.

Another storm produced quarter-sized hail near Tiber Dam in southwestern Liberty County.

Langlieb said that the chance of more severe storms in the region exists, although the storms are likely to be isolated. Those that do develop look to be pretty strong, he said.

"You're not out of the woods for a strong or severe thunderstorm today, but the chance is pretty low, " he said.