May and June Demonstrate Contrasting Montana Weather

The past two months have demonstrated Montana's conflicting weather patterns, rotating between moist conditions and dry. May and June are typically the two months in Broadus with the highest amount of precipitation, and this year May stayed true to the cause, following a dry winter and early spring. Meanwhile, temperature fluctuated wildly, producing nearly freezing conditions the third week of June, followed by triple digit temperatures soon after.

The month of May was wetter than normal in Broadus, due in large part to a round of rain which fell May 7-8th. Broadus received 1.86" of rain during that period, and ended the month with 4.33", or 1.58" above the average of 2.75" of precip.

Overall, June was drier and a bit warmer than usual, per the National Weather Service's June 2024 Regional Weather Summary. Broadus and surrounding weather stations were below average in moisture in June, while Miles City and Sheridan were around half and inch to an inch below normal. Those cities experience their 23rd driest and 15th driest Junes, with records going back to 1937 and 1907, respectively.

In regards to temperature, May's average of 55.4 degrees was 1.0 degrees below normal, while June's average of 69.2 was 2.5 degrees above average.

Demonstrating further contrast, the difference between the low and high temperatures for the month of June amounted to 66 degrees, and occurred within five days. On June 19th, the temperature dipped to 35, prompting some gardeners to cover their plants in fear of freeze. Areas nearer to the river, and thus lower in elevation, experienced temperatures near freezing. The high for the month of 101 was experienced not a week later, on June 23rd.

Looking around the area, the Biddle 8 miles SW station had 4.38" of moisture in May, compared to its 3.02" average. Their average temp of 5.19 was 2.7 degrees below average, with a high of 82 on May 29th and low of 22 on May 4th.

That station had 1.28" of precip in June, compared to an average of 2.33". The low was 33 on June 19th, and high was 100 on June 23rd. The 67 degree average was 2.4 above normal.

The Moorhead 9 miles NE station had 4.49" of moisture in May, compared to an average of 2.59". Their 52.6 degree average was 1.6 degrees below normal; the high was 82 on May 29, and low was 23, on May 1.

In June that station had 1.73" of moisture, compared to 2.17" normally. The high was 98, on June 30, and low was 33, on June 19th. The 65.6 degree average was 1.6 above normal.

The Sonnette 7 miles SW station caught some serious May moisture, with 4.35", compared to an average of 2.95". Their high was 80 on the 29th, and the low was 19, on May 3rd. The average of 50.6 was 1.7 degrees below average for the month.

That station's dipped below freezing on June 19th, hitting 31 degrees, and topped out at 95 on June 23rd. The June average of 63.1 was 1.4 degrees above average. Their contrast in moisture between May and June was extreme – a scant 0.34" was received in June, compared to an average of 2.69".

At the Fort Howes Ranger Station, 3.80" of precip fell in May. They had a high of 82 on May 17th, and a low of 19 on May 4th. That station had wind gusts to 54 mph on May 2rd, and an average daily high wind speed of 28.9 mph.

In June, the station received 1.07" of moisture. The mercury hit freezing, right at 32 degrees, on June 19th, and rose to 101 on June 2rd. The highest wind gust was 54 mph on June 27th, and the average daily max wind speed was 28.5 mph.

The Volborg station, which only records precipitation, had an enormous 6.33" of moisture in May, led by a 2.00" reading on May 7th, as well as a 1.95" reading on May 24th.

In June, that station had 1.68" of moisture.

The Volborg station average 14.17" of moisture per year, meaning 45% of their yearly average fell in May. The mean of 2.57" for May means that the station received 246% of normal, or 3.76" above average.

The Powderville 8 miles NNE station had a similar story, with 7.12" of moisture recorded in May. Their average is 2.84". That station had a 2.66" reading on May 7th to lead the charge.

That station's average yearly precipitation total is 14.74", meaning 48% of the average yearly total fell in one month.

Their high temp was 83 on May 13th, and the low was 23, on May 1st. The average of 55.4 was 0.9 degrees below average.

That station in June received 1.51" of moisture, compared to a 2.68" average. Their low was 34 on June 19th, and high was 98, on June 23rd. The 67.3 degree average was 1.3 degrees above normal.

With half of 2024 now in the books, Broadus trails behind normal in overall moisture, with 7.59" through June 30th. The average through that date is 8.62". The record high year for moisture through the end of June is 2018, with 14.45", while the lowest year of precip was 1988, with 3.56".

The moisture trend graph shows that the only time so far this year that moisture has been near average was in May – other months have trailed behind, and the grass shows it, as haying conditions have been sub-optimal for dryland grass hay.