Bighorn, MT Hail Storm – June 2025

What Happened

A severe hail storm moved through Bighorn, MT, on June 12, 2025, with verified 1-inch hail and spotter reports that included roof damage and a uprooted tree. The storm produced three NWS alerts from mid-afternoon into early evening, with the strongest confidence at 3:57 PM MDT, 4:38 PM MDT, and 5:37 PM MDT.

The first alert came at 3:57 PM MDT with dual-polarization radar confidence for 1-inch hail. By 4:38 PM MDT, the warning area had a radar and spotter-verified hail signal, still pegged at 1 inch. A third alert followed at 5:37 PM MDT with the same hail size and similar confidence.

Field reports added surface detail during the storm window. At 4:33 PM MDT, a spotter reported 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch hail and noted the location and time were approximate. Later, at 5:50 PM MDT, another report described a roof blown off a house and a tree uprooted, with the time estimated from radar.

The sequence shows a storm that held hail-producing strength through much of the afternoon and into the evening. The reports also show that impacts were not limited to hailstones on the ground.

Damage Assessment

The ground reports point to a narrow but sharp damage picture in and around Bighorn. One observer reported smaller hail at 4:33 PM MDT, then a later report tied to radar timing described structural damage and a downed tree at 5:50 PM MDT. The roof loss suggests wind and impact damage moved through the area after the earlier hail report.

The field reports do not describe widespread community-wide destruction. They do show localized effects on a house and nearby trees, with timing that places the most serious report late in the event. The mix of smaller hail in one report and a roof blown off in another suggests changing storm intensity across the warning area.

For contractors, that means a standard walkaround is not enough. Roof coverings, edges, vents, and tree impact points should be checked together. Where a roof was blown off, look beyond the obvious opening and inspect the adjacent framing, decking, and interior water intrusion. Where trees were uprooted, check fence lines, siding, gutters, and impact marks on secondary structures.

In a storm like this, hail complaints can come in below the size confirmed by radar. The 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch report does not eliminate larger stones elsewhere in the path. The later 1-inch alerts and the damage report support a broader inspection zone through the afternoon track.

What Contractors Should Know

Bighorn sits in a corridor where storm coverage can shift quickly across a short distance. Crews should plan for repeat stops inside the same event area, especially when reports come in at different times from mid-afternoon through early evening. The 4:33 PM MDT and 5:50 PM MDT reports are more than an hour apart. That gap is enough to separate minor exterior damage from a more serious roof claim.