Alert archive / Montana / Tornado Warnings in 1995

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Great Falls, MT

July 11, 1995Cascade County, Montana

NWS Great Falls, MT issued this tornado warning at Jul 11, 1995, 2:03 PM MDT for Cascade County, Montana. It was in force for 27 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 11, 1995, 2:03 PM MDT (20:03 UTC)
Expired
Jul 11, 1995, 2:30 PM MDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Great Falls, MT
Area
Whole counties

County Cascade County, MT

The nearest sounding before it

Great_falls, MT (KTFX), launched 12:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 59 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Great_falls, MT at 12:00Z on 1995-07-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 215 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Great_falls, MT at 12:00Z on 1995-07-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -1 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
215 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-257 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1563 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
28 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KGTF 112004
TORGTF
MTC013-112030-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
203 PM MDT TUE JUL 11 1995
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  230 PM MDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA
 
   ...SOUTHERN CASCADE COUNTY
 
AT 204 PM...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO ABOUT 25 MILES
SOUTH OF GREAT FALLS. THE TORNADO WAS MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
IT WILL BE AFFECTING THE LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST AND SLUICE
BOXES STATE PARK AREAS OF SOUTHERN CASCADE COUNTY.
 
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBE\NCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 11, 11:01 AM MDT, 3 hours 2 minutes before
MTZ001-111800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1101 AM MDT TUE JUL 11 1995

...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS NORTHWEST MONTANA...EAST OF THE
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE...

AT 11:00 AM...DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR IN GREAT FALLS INDICATE SEVERAL
THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK...TETON...PONDERA
AND EASTERN TOOLE COUNTIES...THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING RAPIDLY
TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS IN THE
CHOTEAU AREA. A WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTED HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SOME MAY
CONTAIN BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING.

WILLIAMSON DC

&
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 11:02 AM MDT, 3 hours 1 minute before
MTZ001-111800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1101 AM MDT TUE JUL 11 1995

...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS NORTHWEST MONTANA...EAST OF THE
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE...

AT 11:00 AM...DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR IN GREAT FALLS INDICATE SEVERAL
THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK...TETON...PONDERA
AND EASTERN TOOLE COUNTIES...THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING RAPIDLY
TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS IN THE
CHOTEAU AREA. A WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTED HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SOME MAY
CONTAIN BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING.

WILLIAMSON DC

&
Local storm report, Jul 11, 12:00 PM MDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS, MT
1200 PM MDT TUE JUL 11 1995

DELAYED REPORT FROM JUL 11 1995

0615PM     8 NE MOCCASIN(KOLIN)      MT   GOLF BALL AND LARGER HAIL
           JUDITH BASIN                   BROKE WINDOWS/TREES DOWN/
                                          70-80 PERCENT CROP LOSS.
Local storm report, Jul 11, 12:05 PM MDT, 1 hour 58 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS, MT
1200 PM MDT TUE JUL 11 1995

DELAYED REPORT FROM JUL 11 1995

0615PM     8 NE MOCCASIN(KOLIN)      MT   GOLF BALL AND LARGER HAIL
           JUDITH BASIN                   BROKE WINDOWS/TREES DOWN/
                                          70-80 PERCENT CROP LOSS.
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 12:06 PM MDT, 1 hour 57 minutes before
MTZ003-004-005-111915-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1206 PM MDT TUE JUL 11 1995

...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA...

AT 1205 PM...DOPPLER RADAR IN GREAT FALLS INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS
CONTINUING OVER CENTRAL TETON THROUGH EASTERN LIBERTY COUNTIES.  THE
STRONGEST STORM IN THIS AREA WAS JUST SOUTH OF CHESTER.  THESE STORMS
WILL AFFECT AREAS FROM WESTERN HILL COUNTY...THROUGH THE
SHELBY...CHESTER...AND CONRAD AREAS THROUGH 1 PM.

ANOTHER STORM  WAS NORTHWEST OF DEER LODGE.  THIS STORM WILL MOVE TO THE
AUGUSTA AREA BY 1 PM. ALL THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THIS
AFTERNOON.  SOME WILL CONTAIN BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND
FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

DB
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 12:07 PM MDT, 1 hour 56 minutes before
MTZ003-004-005-111915-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1206 PM MDT TUE JUL 11 1995

...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA...

AT 1205 PM...DOPPLER RADAR IN GREAT FALLS INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS
CONTINUING OVER CENTRAL TETON THROUGH EASTERN LIBERTY COUNTIES.  THE
STRONGEST STORM IN THIS AREA WAS JUST SOUTH OF CHESTER.  THESE STORMS
WILL AFFECT AREAS FROM WESTERN HILL COUNTY...THROUGH THE
SHELBY...CHESTER...AND CONRAD AREAS THROUGH 1 PM.

ANOTHER STORM  WAS NORTHWEST OF DEER LODGE.  THIS STORM WILL MOVE TO THE
AUGUSTA AREA BY 1 PM. ALL THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THIS
AFTERNOON.  SOME WILL CONTAIN BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND
FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

DB

The office that day

Everything else NWS Great Falls, MT issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 10, 6:35 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXBlaine, Fergus, Judith Basin55 min
Jul 11, 1:35 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXCascade55 min
Jul 11, 2:35 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXCascade, Judith Basin55 min
Jul 11, 3:04 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXMeagher56 min
Jul 11, 3:15 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXChouteau, Fergus60 min
Jul 11, 3:28 PM MDTTornado WarningTFXMeagher32 min
Jul 11, 3:38 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXCascade, Judith Basin82 min
Jul 11, 3:52 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXBroadwater, Meagher68 min
Jul 11, 3:56 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXPetroleum64 min
Jul 11, 4:36 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXBlaine54 min
Jul 11, 4:53 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXJudith Basin46 min
Jul 11, 4:53 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXFergus67 min
Jul 11, 5:28 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXFergus62 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Montana, 1995Every tornado warning in 1995Tornadoes in 1995

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.