Thunderstorms | Deer Lodge to Roundup, Montana | 22 May 2023

Published on May 22, 2023

After chasing a few storms in eastern Oregon the day before, we made the 8+ hour drive south around the Sawtooth Mountains to get to try and meet storms swinging out of the Bitterroot Range. After some roadside and truck stop napping, we took a couple quick breaks in Idaho at Craters of the Moon National Park and Numbers Hill in Arco.

We couldn’t stop long anywhere, since timing was going to be tight trying to get to the target area ahead of convection. Sure enough, by the time we were aimed north on I-15, convection was already lighting up in the distance. As we got neared Deer Lodge, one cell had picked up a lowering but didn’t otherwise look particularly determined. (1704Z & 1843Z below)

We roamed around town just a bit, looking for some views as disorganized convection surged across beautiful terrain. (1847-1851Z below)

The storms didn’t wind up more promising than that, so we headed east to get out on the rolling plains beyond the Little Belt and Crazy Mountains for hopefully some new rounds of convection. Gorgeous scenery demanded more stops along the way.

East of the mountains, we dropped down into familiar territory between Ryegate and Roundup. My son and I chased along that stretch back in 2018. Storms weren’t as hefty this time around and I was really struggling to capture lightning. The terrain, overall scenery and accomplishment of running after convection in the mountains and hills of Montana made up for the mild down sides.

With that fun intro chapter wrapped up, it was time to dive south into the proper plains for the rest of the chase and hope that subtle disturbances would make up for the lack of strong upper level support.