Ekalaka, MT Hail Storm – August 2026

A severe hail storm tracked through Ekalaka, MT on August 11, 2026, producing 4.86-inch stones and a long radar-detected hail swath from late afternoon into the early morning. The event generated 66 NWS alert polygons between 3:49 PM MDT Aug 11 and 4:14 AM MDT Aug 12.

What Happened

Radar first flagged strong dual-polarization hail cores in the late afternoon, beginning at 3:49 PM MDT. Repeated radar-detected hail signatures paced through the evening, with alternating periods of intensification and weakening between mid-afternoon and the overnight hours. Several alerts during the early evening showed very large radar-derived hail cores, and spotter reports arrived during the strongest pulse.

A trained spotter at 7:48 PM MDT reported multiple very large stones and measured a 3.5-inch specimen, adding that ditches remained packed with hail for up to 30 minutes after the cell passed. A second trained spotter at 7:59 PM MDT measured a 3.25-inch stone recovered about 20 minutes post-storm. Broadcast and social media imagery between about 9:20 PM and 9:45 PM MDT documented near-baseball-size hail south of Menoken and south of Apple Valley. Earlier in the event, a social media photo at 5:25 PM MDT showed golf ball–sized hail roughly 10 miles north of Rhame.

NWS alerts tied to this event included many dual-polarization radar detections, a number of radar-plus-spotter verified reports, and several NWS warning-only notifications covering the evolving storm track. The pattern of repeated radar cores and echoed spotter observations indicates a long-lived storm complex that maintained large-hail potential over multiple target zones.

Damage Assessment

Field reports and photos document concentrated surface impacts in multiple towns and rural areas. Trained spotters measured 3.5-inch and 3.25-inch hailstones in ditch accumulations near the time of the storm. Public photos and social media posts show sustained golf ball to baseball-size hail in and around Lincoln, south of Menoken, and south of Apple Valley. A broadcast media photograph indicates a hail event that lasted roughly 17 minutes in one populated area.

Observers specifically noted heavy accumulation in roadside ditches and prolonged presence of hail up to 30 minutes after passage, which increased the likelihood of pooled ice in low spots. The pattern of repeated radar-detected cores and clustered spotter measurements points to multiple localized swaths of severe surface impact rather than a single narrow streak. Local storm reports submitted during the event did not include detailed, generalized structural loss language; the submissions focused on measured stone sizes, photographic evidence, and duration of accumulation at specific locations.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize inspections in the neighborhoods and corridors where spotter measurements and photos clustered: Lincoln, south of Menoken, south of Apple Valley, and the area roughly 10 miles north of Rhame. Expect concentrated damage on horizontal surfaces where photo evidence showed accumulation in ditches and public right-of-way. Check gutters, downspouts, roof-mounted equipment, HVAC condenser fins, skylights, and soft materials on vehicles near the documented photo locations.

Ekalaka, MT Hail Storm – August 2026

NWS WARNING AREAS · 66

What Happened

Damage Assessment

What Contractors Should Know

Storm Details

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