Alert archive / Montana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2005

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 9, NWS Great Falls, MT

June 5, 2005Cascade County, Montana

NWS Great Falls, MT issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 5, 2005, 6:44 PM MDT for Cascade County, Montana. It was in force for 61 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Jun 5, 2005, 6:44 PM MDT (00:44 UTC)
Expired: Jun 5, 2005, 7:45 PM MDT
In force: 61 min
Issued by: NWS Great Falls, MT
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Cascade County, MT

The radar

The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 35 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:45 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Great_falls, MT (KTFX), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 93 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 713 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -20 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1785 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -10 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 168 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS55 KTFX 060044
SVRTFX
MTC013-060145-
/O.NEW.KTFX.SV.W.0009.050606T0044Z-050606T0145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
644 PM MDT SUN JUN 5 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN CASCADE COUNTY IN CENTRAL MONTANA

* UNTIL 745 PM MDT

* AT 639 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF ST PETER...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE FORT SHAW...GORDON...SIMMS...ST
  PETER...SUN RIVER AND VAUGHN.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 15 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 289 AND 301.

HAIL TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS AND WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH
THIS STORM.

STAY INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN
HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

LAT...LON 4751 11201 4751 11192 4760 11191 4761 11180
      4760 11168 4769 11167 4769 11154 4761 11142
      4724 11198 4728 11204 4748 11204

$$

SCHAUMANN

2 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS55 KTFX 060117
SVSTFX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
714 PM MDT SUN JUN 5 2005

MTC013-060145-
/O.CON.KTFX.SV.W.0009.000000T0000Z-050606T0145Z/
CASCADE MT-
714 PM MDT SUN JUN 5 2005

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 745 PM MDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN CASCADE COUNTY...

AT 712 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE
HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR FORT 
SHAW...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. ANOTHER POTENTIALLY SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SIMMS.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE FORT SHAW...GORDON...SIMMS...ST
PETER...SUN RIVER AND VAUGHN.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 15 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 290 AND 301.

STAY INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. 
LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN
HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

LAT...LON 4751 11201 4751 11192 4760 11191 4761 11180
      4760 11168 4769 11167 4769 11154 4761 11142
      4724 11198 4728 11204 4748 11204

$$

SCHAUMANN

000 
WWUS55 KTFX 060145
SVSTFX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
745 PM MDT SUN JUN 5 2005

MTC013-060155-
/O.EXP.KTFX.SV.W.0009.000000T0000Z-050606T0145Z/
CASCADE MT-
745 PM MDT SUN JUN 5 2005

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN CASCADE COUNTY
EXPIRES AT 745 PM MDT...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED THAT THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING IS EXITING THE WARNED AREA...THUS THE
WARNING IS BEING ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

RADAR INDICATES THAT GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL ARE STILL POSSIBLE
FROM THIS STORM.

LAT...LON 4751 11201 4751 11192 4760 11191 4761 11180
      4760 11168 4769 11167 4769 11154 4761 11142
      4724 11198 4728 11204 4748 11204

$$

SCHAUMANN

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jun 5, 2:45 PM MDT, 3 hours 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 5, 2:45 PM MDT, 3 hours 59 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
245 PM MDT SUN JUN 5 2005

.DISCUSSION...
TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY...MAIN FOCUS FOR THE PERIOD WILL BE THE
STRONG STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THE 12Z
MODELS INITIALIZED PRETTY WELL THIS MORNING WITH RESPECT TO LONG AND
SHORT WAVES. THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NAM AND GFS IS THE NAM
PROGS A FARTHER SOUTH TRACK OF SHORT WAVE ENERGY THROUGH THE GREAT
BASIN. THIS IS GENERALLY SUPPORTED BY THE LONG WAVE PATTERN...AS
WELL AS GLOBAL GUIDANCE. WILL THEREFORE USE THE 12Z NAM FOR THIS
FORECAST PACKAGE.

TONIGHT...A SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL EJECT THROUGH WESTERN MONTANA OFF
A CLOSED LOW ALONG THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST. AT THE SURFACE...A
PACIFIC FRONT WILL ACCOMPANY THIS FEATURE...GETTING THROUGH MOST OF
THE ZONES BY MIDNIGHT. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE
MODERATELY UNSTABLE WITH SUFFICIENT SHEAR FOR A FEW SEVERE STORMS.
THE BIGGEST SEVERE THREAT WILL BE ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT
DURING THE EVENING HOURS. A BROKEN LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED
TO ACCOMPANY THE FRONT POSING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND THREAT.

MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...SEVERAL PIECES OF SHORT WAVE ENERGY WILL
RIDE THROUGH THE REGION AS THE PARENT UPPER LEVEL LOW SLOWLY MOVES
EAST THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THE BEST LIFT WILL BE OVER THE
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS CLOSER TO BETTER DYNAMICS. WILL PLACE HIGH
CHANCE TO LIKELY POPS OVER THIS AREA. LOWER CHANCE POPS WILL BE KEPT
OVER THE PLAINS WHERE LIFT WILL BE A BIT MORE MARGINAL. TEMPERATURES
WERE LOWERED A FEW DEGREES DUE TO THE EXPECTED CLOUD COVER AN
PRECIPITATION. SCHAUMANN

TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES MADE TO THE
MEDIUM RANGE FORECAST. THE GENERAL PATTERN OF AN UPPER TROF OVER THE
AREA WILL HOLD WITH GENERALLY WET AND UNSETTLED CONDITIONS THROUGH
THE PERIOD. SOME AREAS MAY SEE HEAVY RAINFALL DEPENDING ON THE TRACK
OF THE UPPER LOW. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN BELOW SEASONAL
AVERAGES WEDNESDAY BEFORE SLOWLY WARMING TO SEASONAL VALUES BY
WEEKS END.

&&

.AVIATION...
UPDATED AT 1740Z
THE AIRMASS WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE DURING THE AFTERNOON
HOURS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP OVER SOUTHWEST MONTANA EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON AND OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT AS A SURFACE COLD FRONT
PUSHES EAST. THUNDERSTORMS WILL THEN MOVE EAST/NORTHEAST OUT OVER
THE PLAINS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO EARLY EVENING. SOME STORMS
MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
WILL END IN THE WEST AFT 02Z AND IN THE EAST AROUND 08Z. VFR
CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL WITH MVFR CONDITIONS IN THE VICINITY OF
THUNDERSTORMS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF  45  60  41  62 /  70  20  20  20
CTB  43  61  39  61 /  70  20  20  20
HLN  48  61  43  61 /  60  30  30  30
BZN  44  58  36  56 /  60  40  40  40
WEY  37  52  30  50 /  50  40  40  40
DLN  39  55  34  53 /  50  40  40  50
HVR  50  65  43  68 /  50  30  30  30
LWT  48  59  38  60 /  50  30  20  20

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...SCHAUMANN
LONG TERM....EMANUEL
AVIATION...EMANUEL

WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 5, 6:00 AM MDT, 12 hours 44 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
600 AM MDT SUN JUN 5 2005

MTZ008>012-014-015-044>055-061130-
BEAVERHEAD-NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN GLACIER-HILL-
CASCADE-CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-MADISON-TOOLE-
LIBERTY-EASTERN PONDERA-BLAINE-SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-
EASTERN TETON-JUDITH BASIN-FERGUS-JEFFERSON-BROADWATER-MEAGHER-
GALLATIN-
600 AM MDT SUN JUN 5 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST
MONTANA...NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA AND CENTRAL MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH DARK. PLEASE REFER TO GTFSPSTFX FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN IS EXPECTED OVER MUCH OF SOUTHWEST AND
NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. ANOTHER ROUND
OF HEAVY RAIN FALL IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE REGION. RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM TUESDAY NIGHT INTO
THURSDAY MORNING. WITH SOILS ACROSS THIS REGION NEARLY
SATURATED...ANY ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL CREATE RAPID RUNOFF AND THE
POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING. SOME SMALLER CREEKS AND STREAMS COULD RISE
NEAR OR JUST ABOVE BANKFUL AGAIN.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MTZ013-061130-
CHOUTEAU-
600 AM MDT SUN JUN 5 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THE SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL NOON FOR ALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS FLOWING OUT OF THE HIGHWOOD MOUNTAINS IN CHOUTEAU
COUNTY.

THERE IS ALSO A THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH DARK. PLEASE REFER TO GTFSPSTFX FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN IS EXPECTED OVER MUCH OF SOUTHWEST AND
NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. ANOTHER ROUND
OF HEAVY RAIN FALL IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE REGION. RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM TUESDAY NIGHT INTO
THURSDAY MORNING. WITH SOILS ACROSS THIS REGION NEARLY
SATURATED...ANY ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL CREATE RAPID RUNOFF AND THE
POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING. SOME SMALLER CREEKS AND STREAMS COULD RISE
NEAR OR JUST ABOVE BANKFUL AGAIN.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 5, 3:50 PM MDT, 2 hours 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
350 PM MDT SUN JUN 05 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0210 PM     HAIL             HAYS                    47.99N 108.65W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        BLAINE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0220 PM     HAIL             HAYS                    47.99N 108.65W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        BLAINE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0328 PM     HAIL             5 SW AUGUSTA            47.44N 112.47W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   PUBLIC

&&

MEIER

Local storm report, Jun 5, 4:11 PM MDT, 2 hours 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
411 PM MDT SUN JUN 05 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0210 PM     HAIL             HAYS                    47.99N 108.65W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        BLAINE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0220 PM     HAIL             HAYS                    47.99N 108.65W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        BLAINE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0328 PM     HAIL             5 SW AUGUSTA            47.44N 112.47W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   PUBLIC

0340 PM     HAIL             AUGUSTA                 47.49N 112.39W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0340 PM     HAIL             1 SW AUGUSTA            47.48N 112.41W
06/05/2005  1.00 INCH        LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

MEIER

Local storm report, Jun 5, 4:59 PM MDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
459 PM MDT SUN JUN 05 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0210 PM     HAIL             HAYS                    47.99N 108.65W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        BLAINE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0220 PM     HAIL             HAYS                    47.99N 108.65W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        BLAINE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0328 PM     HAIL             5 SW AUGUSTA            47.44N 112.47W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   PUBLIC

0340 PM     HAIL             AUGUSTA                 47.49N 112.39W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0340 PM     HAIL             1 SW AUGUSTA            47.48N 112.41W
06/05/2005  1.00 INCH        LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0430 PM     HAIL             3 E AUGUSTA             47.49N 112.33W
06/05/2005  1.75 INCH        LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   PUBLIC

&&

MEIER

Local storm report, Jun 5, 6:09 PM MDT, 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
609 PM MDT SUN JUN 05 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0210 PM     HAIL             HAYS                    47.99N 108.65W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        BLAINE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0220 PM     HAIL             HAYS                    47.99N 108.65W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        BLAINE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0328 PM     HAIL             5 SW AUGUSTA            47.44N 112.47W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   PUBLIC

0340 PM     HAIL             AUGUSTA                 47.49N 112.39W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0340 PM     HAIL             1 SW AUGUSTA            47.48N 112.41W
06/05/2005  1.00 INCH        LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0430 PM     HAIL             3 E AUGUSTA             47.49N 112.33W
06/05/2005  1.75 INCH        LEWIS AND CLARK    MT   PUBLIC

0523 PM     HAIL             12 W FAIRFIELD          47.62N 112.24W
06/05/2005  1.00 INCH        TETON              MT   PUBLIC

            GROUND IS WHITE FROM HAIL

0535 PM     HAIL             10 W FAIRFIELD          47.62N 112.19W
06/05/2005  0.75 INCH        TETON              MT   PUBLIC

&&

MEIER

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 5, 6:30 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Teton	60 min
Jun 5, 6:39 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Glacier	66 min
Jun 5, 7:31 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Teton	61 min
Jun 5, 8:03 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Cascade	42 min
Jun 5, 8:13 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Chouteau	63 min
Jun 5, 8:29 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Pondera	61 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Montana, 2005 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2005

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.