Alert archive / Montana / Special Weather Statements in 2015

Special Weather Statement, NWS Missoula, MT

August 14, 2015Powell County, Montana

NWS Missoula, MT issued this special weather statement at Aug 14, 2015, 4:44 PM MDT for Powell County, Montana. It was in force for 46 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
Aug 14, 2015, 4:44 PM MDT (22:44 UTC)
Expired
Aug 14, 2015, 5:30 PM MDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Missoula, MT

County Powell County, MT

The radar

The Missoula radar (KMSX), 63 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:47 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 nearest sounding before it

Great_falls, MT (KTFX), launched 12:00Z, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 214 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 2015-08-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 11 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 2015-08-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 12 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
11 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-316 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3444 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
12 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
23 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.

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What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Missoula, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at Aug 14, 3:30 PM MDT, 1 hour 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 14, 3:30 PM MDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
330 PM MDT FRI AUG 14 2015

.DISCUSSION...Strong to severe thunderstorms have formed across
north central Idaho and southwest Montana this evening. These
storms will produce gusty winds, widespread lightning, and hail
for many locations, including areas around Missoula, Butte,
Salmon, Anaconda, and Deer Lodge. With strong forcing aloft, and
widespread instability, this is looking like one of the most
widespread outbreaks of severe weather we have seen so far this
summer. Those with outdoor plans should keep a vigilant watch on
the skies and weather around them. Any lightning can be deadly.

After sunset, the strongest storms will quiet down and move east.
A cold front will move through northwest Montana and eventually
across the rest of western Montana, which could cause a few more
thunderstorms. Gusty winds and occasional lightning would be the
main threat with these storms.

Saturday will be notably cooler, especially in Montana. Another
shortwave moving through the upper level trough will cause breezy
winds across northwest Montana. Some showers could form near the
Canadian border, but lightning should be minimal.

Next week, generally cooler conditions will continue as we remain
under the influence of a trough aloft. Northwest flow will bring
occasional chances for showers along the Canadian border, with
Monday looking most favorable. Other locations should be mostly
dry, with seasonally afternoon breezes.

&&

.AVIATION....Strong thunderstorms with gusty erratic winds,
lightning, and hail will be in the area for KMSO, KSMN, and KBTM
this afternoon and evening. These are not expected to move
completely out of the area until after sunset. South winds will be
strong this afternoon and evening, with winds shifting westerly as
the front moves through this evening and overnight. A few hours of
strong winds can be expected overnight as the front moves through.
Winds will weaken somewhat in the morning, but Saturday will be
another breezy day for northwest Montana, especially KGPI.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...     FLASH FLOOD WATCH until 9 PM MDT this evening Butte/Blackfoot
     Region.

     RED FLAG WARNING until Midnight MDT tonight Bitterroot...East
     Lolo...Flathead/Glacier Park...Kootenai...Salish and
     Kootenai Reservation...West Lolo.

ID...FLASH FLOOD WATCH until 9 PM MDT this evening Eastern Lemhi
     County...Western Lemhi County.

     RED FLAG WARNING until 11 PM PDT this evening Clearwater/Nez
     perce.

     RED FLAG WARNING until 11 PM PDT this evening Palouse/Hells
     Canyon.

&&

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 14, 2:59 PM MDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
259 PM MDT FRI AUG 14 2015

IDZ009-010-142145-
EASTERN LEMHI COUNTY ID-WESTERN LEMHI COUNTY ID-
259 PM MDT FRI AUG 14 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL LEMHI COUNTY UNTIL
345 PM MDT...

AT 258 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9
MILES SOUTHWEST OF SALMON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SALMON...CARMEN AND WILLIAMS LAKE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

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.

&&

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM MDT FOR
EAST CENTRAL IDAHO.

LAT...LON 4509 11421 4544 11386 4536 11373 4533 11374
      4528 11368 4526 11369 4523 11365 4522 11364
      4497 11402
TIME...MOT...LOC 2058Z 220DEG 31KT 4509 11405
Special weather statement, Aug 14, 3:33 PM MDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
333 PM MDT FRI AUG 14 2015

MTZ004>006-043-142215-
MISSOULA/BITTERROOT VALLEYS MT-POTOMAC/SEELEY LAKE REGION MT-
LOWER CLARK FORK REGION MT-BITTERROOT/SAPPHIRE MOUNTAINS MT-
333 PM MDT FRI AUG 14 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MISSOULA AND NORTH
CENTRAL RAVALLI COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM MDT...

AT 332 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
FLORENCE...OR 15 MILES SOUTH OF MISSOULA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40
MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MISSOULA...LOLO...FLORENCE...EAST MISSOULA...BONNER-WEST RIVERSIDE...
CLINTON...POTOMAC...TURAH...GREENOUGH AND TWIN CREEKS.

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.

&&

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM MDT FOR
WEST CENTRAL MONTANA.

LAT...LON 4656 11419 4669 11426 4710 11366 4686 11334
TIME...MOT...LOC 2132Z 235DEG 36KT 4667 11410
Local storm report, Aug 14, 4:09 PM MDT, 35 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 14, 4:16 PM MDT, 28 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 14, 4:35 PM MDT, 9 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 14, 4:44 PM MDT, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 14, 1:06 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementMSOSanders24 min
Aug 14, 1:51 PM MDTFlash Flood WatchMSODeer Lodge, Granite, Powell, Silver Bow6 hr
Aug 14, 3:33 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementMSOMissoula42 min
Aug 14, 3:38 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMSOMissoula, Ravalli37 min
Aug 14, 3:47 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMSOMineral, Missoula, Sanders28 min
Aug 14, 4:15 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMSOLake, Missoula2 hr
Aug 14, 5:00 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementMSOFlathead30 min
Aug 14, 5:46 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementMSORavalli44 min
Aug 14, 5:54 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementMSOFlathead36 min
Aug 14, 2:17 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementMSOClearwater28 min
Aug 14, 2:59 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementMSOLemhi46 min
Aug 14, 3:00 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMSOLemhi2 hr

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Montana, 2015Every special weather statement 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.