Alert archive / Montana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2015

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 79, NWS Billings, MT

July 27, 2015Custer County, Fallon County, Montana

NWS Billings, MT issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 27, 2015, 8:22 PM MDT for Custer County, Fallon County, Montana. It was in force for 53 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Jul 27, 2015, 8:22 PM MDT (02:22 UTC)
Expired: Jul 27, 2015, 9:15 PM MDT
In force: 53 min
Issued by: NWS Billings, MT
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 70.0 mph

Counties Custer County, MT, Fallon County, MT

The radar

The Glasgow radar (KGGW), 246 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:24 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jul 27, 2:58 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Glasgow Intl Airport, MT (KGGW), launched 00:00Z, 2.4 hours before the alert went out and 246 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: 1103 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -27 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1263 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 201 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 435 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 2.1
Supercell composite: 13.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Billings, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 27, 5:54 PM MDT, 2 hours 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 27, 5:54 PM MDT, 2 hours 28 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 27, 2:25 PM MDT, 5 hours 57 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
225 PM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

MTZ028>042-056>058-063>068-WYZ098-099-282030-
SOUTHERN WHEATLAND-MUSSELSHELL-TREASURE-NORTHERN ROSEBUD-CUSTER-
FALLON-NORTHERN STILLWATER-YELLOWSTONE-POWDER RIVER-CARTER-
SOUTHERN BIG HORN-EASTERN CARBON-NORTHERN PARK-
NORTHERN SWEET GRASS-GOLDEN VALLEY-RED LODGE FOOTHILLS-
NORTHERN BIG HORN-SOUTHERN ROSEBUD-JUDITH GAP-PARADISE VALLEY-
LIVINGSTON AREA-BEARTOOTH FOOTHILLS-ABSAROKA/BEARTOOTH MOUNTAINS-
CRAZY MOUNTAINS-NORTHEAST BIGHORN MOUNTAINS-SHERIDAN FOOTHILLS-
225 PM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
MONTANA...SOUTH CENTRAL MONTANA...SOUTHEAST MONTANA AND NORTH
CENTRAL WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS EVENING.
DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAIN
ARE POSSIBLE...MAINLY OVER SOUTHEAST MONTANA. A STRONG COLD FRONT
WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA BEHIND THE STORMS AND WEST TO NORTHWEST
WINDS WILL INCREASE IN ITS WAKE WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH THROUGH
TONIGHT. STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN ON TUESDAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED OVER NORTHERN ROSEBUD...CUSTER...
FALLON...AND CARTER COUNTIES TUESDAY AND TUESDAY EVENING WITH
WIND GUSTS OF 55 TO 65 MPH. WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH ARE
EXPECTED ACROSS THE REST OF THE AREA ON TUESDAY AND TUESDAY
EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

CJS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 27, 4:25 PM MDT, 3 hours 57 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
425 PM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

WYZ098-272300-
NORTHEAST BIG HORN MOUNTAINS WY-
425 PM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

AT 424 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
MEDICINE WHEEL...OR 17 MILES NORTH OF GREYBULL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
50 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GRANITE PASS AND BURGESS JUNCTION.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4464 10750 4463 10752 4466 10752 4469 10759
      4468 10767 4471 10769 4472 10775 4477 10775
      4479 10783 4482 10782 4487 10787 4490 10785
      4493 10788 4500 10777 4500 10753 4480 10732
      4470 10715 4463 10710 4462 10748
TIME...MOT...LOC 2224Z 239DEG 49KT 4473 10796

CHAMBERS

Special weather statement, Jul 27, 4:31 PM MDT, 3 hours 51 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
431 PM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

MTZ031-032-036-058-272330-
SOUTHERN ROSEBUD MT-NORTHERN ROSEBUD MT-POWDER RIVER MT-CUSTER MT-
431 PM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

AT 430 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 18
MILES NORTHEAST OF ASHLAND...OR 27 MILES EAST OF COLSTRIP...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MILES CITY...VOLBORG...ASHLAND...SONNETTE...MOON CREEK RANCH...
HATHAWAY...STAWBERRY HILL RECREATION ARE...GARLAND...TWELVE MILE
DAM...BRANDENBERG...OLIVE AND MIZPAH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4532 10570 4563 10646 4662 10618 4630 10495
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 209DEG 53KT 4581 10606

GILSTAD

Local storm report, Jul 27, 4:56 PM MDT, 3 hours 26 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Local storm report, Jul 27, 4:57 PM MDT, 3 hours 25 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Special weather statement, Jul 27, 5:35 PM MDT, 2 hours 47 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Local storm report, Jul 27, 5:55 PM MDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 27, 6:14 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BYZ	Rosebud	31 min
Jul 27, 6:36 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BYZ	Rosebud	54 min
Jul 27, 6:44 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BYZ	Custer, Powder River	46 min
Jul 27, 7:03 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BYZ	Fallon	57 min
Jul 27, 7:28 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BYZ	Custer	62 min
Jul 27, 7:48 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BYZ	Custer, Rosebud	57 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Montana, 2015 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2015

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.