Alert archive / Montana / Tornado Warnings in 2015

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Great Falls, MT

July 4, 2015Blaine County, Chouteau County, Hill County, Montana

NWS Great Falls, MT issued this tornado warning at Jul 4, 2015, 11:32 PM MDT for Blaine County, Chouteau County, Hill County, Montana. It was in force for 28 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
Jul 4, 2015, 11:32 PM MDT (05:32 UTC)
Expired
Jul 5, 2015, 12:00 AM MDT
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS Great Falls, MT
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
2.0 in

Counties Blaine County, MT, Chouteau County, MT, Hill County, MT

The radar

The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 145 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:33 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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 4, 9:54 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Great_falls, MT (KTFX), launched 00:00Z, 5.5 hours before the alert went out and 97 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 00:00Z on 2015-07-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 534 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Great_falls, MT at 00:00Z on 2015-07-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -8 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
534 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-119 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2493 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-8 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
110 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

964 
WFUS55 KTFX 050532
TORTFX
MTC005-015-041-050600-
/O.NEW.KTFX.TO.W.0004.150705T0532Z-150705T0600Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1132 PM MDT SAT JUL 4 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN HILL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA...
  SOUTHWESTERN BLAINE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA...
  NORTHEASTERN CHOUTEAU COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA...

* UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT
    
* AT 1132 PM MDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO WAS LOCATED 8 MILES SOUTH OF PARKER SCHOOL...OR 18 MILES
  EAST OF BIG SANDY...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

  HAZARD...TORNADO AND HAIL UP TO TWO INCHES IN DIAMETER. 

  SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION. 

  IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
           SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. 
           DAMAGE TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE 
           DAMAGE IS LIKELY. 

* THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF
  SOUTHEASTERN HILL...SOUTHWESTERN BLAINE AND NORTHEASTERN CHOUTEAU
  COUNTIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. DO NOT
WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
THEY WILL SEND YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
GREAT FALLS.

&&

LAT...LON 4807 10995 4822 10985 4819 10928 4787 10940
TIME...MOT...LOC 0532Z 287DEG 46KT 4812 10972 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...2.00IN

$$

MLV
2 follow-up statements
984 
WWUS55 KTFX 050543
SVSTFX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1143 PM MDT SAT JUL 4 2015

MTC005-015-041-050600-
/O.CON.KTFX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-150705T0600Z/
HILL MT-BLAINE MT-CHOUTEAU MT-
1143 PM MDT SAT JUL 4 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN HILL...SOUTHWESTERN BLAINE AND NORTHEASTERN CHOUTEAU
COUNTIES...
    
AT 1142 PM MDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PARKER SCHOOL...OR 28 MILES EAST OF
BIG SANDY...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND TWO INCH HAIL. 

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION. 

IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
         SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE 
         TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE DAMAGE IS 
         LIKELY. 

THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF
SOUTHEASTERN HILL...SOUTHWESTERN BLAINE AND NORTHEASTERN CHOUTEAU
COUNTIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. DO NOT
WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

IF A TORNADO OR OTHER SEVERE WEATHER IS SPOTTED...REPORT IT TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR YOUR LOCAL NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
WHO WILL SEND YOUR REPORT. THIS ACT MAY SAVE LIVES OF OTHERS IN THE
PATH OF DANGEROUS WEATHER.

&&

LAT...LON 4807 10995 4822 10985 4819 10928 4787 10940
TIME...MOT...LOC 0542Z 287DEG 46KT 4808 10952 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...2.00IN

$$

MLV
486 
WWUS55 KTFX 050557
SVSTFX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1157 PM MDT SAT JUL 4 2015

MTC005-015-041-050606-
/O.EXP.KTFX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-150705T0600Z/
HILL MT-BLAINE MT-CHOUTEAU MT-
1157 PM MDT SAT JUL 4 2015

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN HILL...SOUTHWESTERN BLAINE
AND NORTHEASTERN CHOUTEAU COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 1200 AM MDT...
    
THE TORNADO WARNING THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY IN EFFECT HAS BEEN REISSUED 
AND IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 PM MDT. PLEASE REFER TO THAT BULLETIN 
FOR THE LATEST SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM MDT FOR
NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA.

LAT...LON 4807 10995 4822 10985 4819 10928 4787 10940
TIME...MOT...LOC 0556Z 287DEG 46KT 4808 10952 

$$

MLV

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 4, 8:49 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXLiberty41 min
Jul 4, 9:11 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXToole49 min
Jul 4, 9:16 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXBlaine, Hill44 min
Jul 4, 9:24 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXPondera51 min
Jul 4, 9:50 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXBlaine, Hill40 min
Jul 4, 9:54 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXHill, Liberty, Toole36 min
Jul 4, 9:54 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXBlaine, Hill36 min
Jul 4, 10:12 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXLiberty33 min
Jul 4, 10:23 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXBlaine52 min
Jul 4, 10:25 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXBlaine35 min
Jul 4, 10:33 PM MDTTornado Warning Tornado observedTFXChouteau, Hill, Liberty42 min
Jul 4, 10:45 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXChouteau45 min
Jul 4, 10:49 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXCascade, Chouteau41 min
Jul 4, 10:53 PM MDTTornado Warning Tornado observedTFXChouteau, Hill, Liberty, Toole37 min
Jul 4, 11:01 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXBlaine, Chouteau, Hill44 min
Jul 4, 11:04 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXLiberty26 min
Jul 4, 11:28 PM MDTTornado WarningTFXChouteau19 min
Jul 4, 11:40 PM MDTTornado Warning Tornado observedTFXBlaine, Chouteau, Hill35 min
Jul 4, 11:45 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXChouteau30 min
Jul 4, 11:56 PM MDTTornado Warning Tornado observedTFXBlaine, Chouteau, Hill34 min
Jul 5, 12:15 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXBlaine, Chouteau, Fergus30 min
Jul 5, 12:22 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXBlaine23 min
Jul 5, 12:45 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXBlaine, Chouteau, Fergus30 min
Jul 5, 1:17 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFX13 min
Jul 5, 1:45 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXPetroleum30 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Montana, 2015Every tornado warning in 2015Tornadoes 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.