Circle, MT Hail Storm – June 2025

What Happened

A severe hail storm moved through Circle, Montana, on June 25, 2025, producing 1-inch hail and multiple spotter-confirmed reports through the afternoon. The storm was active from 2:31 PM MDT through 4:44 PM MDT, with repeated NWS alerts over eastern Montana.

The first alert came at 2:31 PM MDT with radar and spotter verification for 1-inch hail. A field report at 2:45 PM MDT described hail up to the size of quarters along with wind gusts up to 30 mph. A second alert followed at 3:44 PM MDT, using dual-polarization radar to support the same hail size. Another radar and spotter-verified alert came at 3:55 PM MDT, then a final spotter-reported alert at 4:44 PM MDT.

The storm held together across the afternoon. Reports from the Circle area also noted heavy rain at 4:35 PM MDT, with two spotter entries documenting 0.75-inch hail at the same time. The sequence points to a storm that produced repeated hail cores rather than a single brief burst.

Damage Assessment

Field reports show localized surface impact in and around Circle, but not a broad wind event. The most direct report came from 2:45 PM MDT, when a spotter described hail up to quarters and wind gusts to 30 mph. Later reports at 4:35 PM MDT documented smaller hail under heavy rain, which suggests the storm still had active precipitation after the main hail pulse.

The available reports do not describe structural damage, roof loss, or tree failure. They do show enough hail to raise roof, siding, window, and vehicle exposure across the storm path, especially where the stronger core crossed populated spots during the mid- to late-afternoon period.

Circle sits in an open prairie setting with long sight lines and limited shelter between structures. Hail arriving under heavy rain can leave impact marks that are easy to miss at ground level until the surface dries. The storm’s repeated alerts and spotter follow-up indicate more than a brief fringe pass.

For contractors, the first pass should focus on roof planes, soft metals, vents, gutters, and vehicle lots in the Circle area. The 2:45 PM report points to quarter-size hail, while the later spotter entries confirm continued hail and rain into the late afternoon. That combination often leaves a mixed field of impact patterns across the same neighborhood.

What Contractors Should Know

This storm produced several rounds of hail across the Circle area on June 25. Crews should treat the afternoon and late-afternoon window as the primary inspection period, with attention to properties that were exposed during the first alert around 2:31 PM MDT and the later pulse near 3:55 PM MDT.

The report set is useful for triage. A quarter-size hail report with 30 mph gusts supports a fast check of shingles, ridge caps, attic vents, skylights, and exposed trim. The later 0.75-inch reports under heavy rain suggest some areas may show less obvious surface marks but still have roof or accessory damage, especially on older roofing and soft metal components.