Alert archive / Montana / Winter Storm Warnings in 2016

Winter Storm Warning 3, NWS Missoula, MT

February 2, 2016Mineral County, Missoula County, Sanders County, Montana

NWS Missoula, MT issued this winter storm warning at Feb 2, 2016, 11:13 AM MST for Mineral County, Missoula County, Sanders County, Montana. It was in force for 4 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 2, 2016, 11:13 AM MST (18:13 UTC)
Expired
Feb 2, 2016, 2:43 PM MST
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Missoula, MT

Counties Mineral County, MT, Missoula County, MT, Sanders County, MT

The radar

The Missoula radar (KMSX), 59 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:15 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

Spokane, WA (KOTX), launched 12:00Z, 6.2 hours before the alert went out and 137 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, Spokane, WA at 12:00Z on 2016-02-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Spokane, WA at 12:00Z on 2016-02-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 52 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
747 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
52 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
142 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

546 
WWUS45 KMSO 021813
WSWMSO

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
1113 AM MST TUE FEB 2 2016

MTZ004-030500-
/O.UPG.KMSO.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-160203T0500Z/
/O.NEW.KMSO.WS.W.0003.160202T1813Z-160203T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KMSO.WW.Y.0013.160203T0000Z-160203T0500Z/
1113 AM MST TUE FEB 2 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
10 PM MST THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST
THIS AFTERNOON. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED.
THIS WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 10 PM MST THIS EVENING. 

* IMPACTS/TIMING: HIGH SNOWFALL RATES HAVE PRODUCED SEVERE DRIVING
  CONDITIONS FROM LOOKOUT PASS TO ST. REGIS. SNOW BANDS WILL
  PERSIST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL
  WITH THESE SNOW BANDS IS CAUSING FURTHER ISSUES FOR ROAD CREWS.
  USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS TODAY AND BE ALERT FOR SUDDEN CHANGES.

* THIS EVENINGS COMMUTE MAY ALSO BE DIFFICULT AS MELTING WET
  ROADS WILL REFREEZE. FRESH LIGHT SNOW ON ICE WILL MAKE TRAVEL
  DIFFICULT.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...EVARO HILL...HIGHWAY 200 THOMPSON 
  FALLS TO PLAINS...HIGHWAY 200 TROUT CREEK TO HERON...I-90 
  LOOKOUT PASS TO HAUGAN

$$

MTZ003-005-043-030500-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-160203T0500Z/
1113 AM MST TUE FEB 2 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM
MST THIS EVENING...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: LIGHT POWDERY SNOW FALLING OVER ALREADY SLICK
  SURFACES WILL BRING A SLICK COMMUTE WITH BLACK ICE TODAY.

* TODAY AND THIS EVENING: SNOW SHOWERS WILL PERSIST AND PICK UP IN
  INTENSITY THIS AFTERNOON. THERE IS A GOOD POTENTIAL FOR A FEW
  STRONG SNOW BANDS WHICH WILL BRING TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES.
  SPECIFICALLY SUDDEN REDUCTION OF VISIBILITY TO JUST A FEW
  HUNDRED FEET. USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS AND BE ALERT FOR SUDDEN
  CHANGES.

* THIS EVENINGS COMMUTE MAY ALSO BE DIFFICULT AS MELTING WET
  ROADS WILL REFREEZE. FRESH LIGHT SNOW ON ICE WILL MAKE TRAVEL
  DIFFICULT.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...FLATHEAD LAKE...FLATHEAD VALLEY...
  MISSION VALLEY...POLSON...BITTERROOT VALLEY...MISSOULA...
  HIGHWAY 200 BONNER TO GREENOUGH...HIGHWAY 83 SEELEY LAKE TO
  CONDON...I- 90 EAST MISSOULA TO BEARMOUTH

$$
2 follow-up statements
461 
WWUS45 KMSO 021949
WSWMSO

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
1249 PM MST TUE FEB 2 2016

MTZ004-030500-
/O.CON.KMSO.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-160203T0000Z/
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0013.160203T0000Z-160203T0500Z/
1249 PM MST TUE FEB 2 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 10 PM MST THIS EVENING...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: HIGH SNOWFALL RATES HAVE PRODUCED SEVERE 
  DRIVING CONDITIONS FROM LOOKOUT PASS TO ST. REGIS. SNOW BANDS 
  WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. MODERATE TO HEAVY 
  SNOWFALL WITH THESE SNOW BANDS IS CAUSING FURTHER ISSUES FOR 
  ROAD CREWS. USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS TODAY AND BE ALERT FOR SUDDEN 
  CHANGES. 

* THIS EVENINGS COMMUTE MAY ALSO BE DIFFICULT AS MELTING WET 
  ROADS WILL REFREEZE. FRESH LIGHT SNOW ON ICE WILL MAKE TRAVEL 
  DIFFICULT. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...EVARO HILL...HIGHWAY 200 THOMPSON 
  FALLS TO PLAINS...HIGHWAY 200 TROUT CREEK TO HERON...I-90 
  LOOKOUT PASS TO HAUGAN

$$

MTZ007-030500-
/O.EXB.KMSO.WW.Y.0012.160202T2000Z-160203T0500Z/
1249 PM MST TUE FEB 2 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM MST THIS
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM MST
THIS EVENING.

* IMPACTS/TIMING: LIGHT POWDERY SNOW FALLING OVER ALREADY SLICK
  SURFACES WILL BRING A SLICK COMMUTE WITH BLACK ICE THIS
  AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

* TODAY AND THIS EVENING: SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AND
  PICK UP IN INTENSITY THIS AFTERNOON. THERE IS A GOOD POTENTIAL
  FOR A FEW STRONG SNOW BANDS WHICH WILL BRING TRAVEL
  DIFFICULTIES. SPECIFICALLY SUDDEN REDUCTION OF VISIBILITY TO
  JUST A FEW HUNDRED FEET. USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS AND BE ALERT FOR
  SUDDEN CHANGES.

* THIS EVENINGS COMMUTE MAY ALSO BE DIFFICULT AS MELTING WET 
  ROADS WILL REFREEZE. FRESH LIGHT SNOW ON ICE WILL MAKE TRAVEL 
  DIFFICULT. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...BUTTE...GEORGETOWN LAKE...HIGHWAY 
  12 GARRISON TO ELLISTON...HOMESTAKE PASS...MACDONALD PASS

$$

MTZ003-005-043-030500-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-160203T0500Z/
1249 PM MST TUE FEB 2 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM MST THIS
EVENING...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: LIGHT POWDERY SNOW FALLING OVER ALREADY SLICK 
  SURFACES WILL BRING A SLICK COMMUTE WITH BLACK ICE TODAY. 

* TODAY AND THIS EVENING: SNOW SHOWERS WILL PERSIST AND PICK UP 
  IN INTENSITY THIS AFTERNOON. THERE IS A GOOD POTENTIAL FOR A 
  FEW STRONG SNOW BANDS WHICH WILL BRING TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. 
  SPECIFICALLY SUDDEN REDUCTION OF VISIBILITY TO JUST A FEW 
  HUNDRED FEET. USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS AND BE ALERT FOR SUDDEN 
  CHANGES. 

* THIS EVENINGS COMMUTE MAY ALSO BE DIFFICULT AS MELTING WET 
  ROADS WILL REFREEZE. FRESH LIGHT SNOW ON ICE WILL MAKE TRAVEL 
  DIFFICULT. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...FLATHEAD LAKE...FLATHEAD VALLEY...
   MISSION VALLEY...POLSON...BITTERROOT VALLEY...MISSOULA...
  HIGHWAY 200 BONNER TO GREENOUGH...HIGHWAY 83 SEELEY LAKE TO 
  CONDON...I- 90 EAST MISSOULA TO BEARMOUTH

$$
981 
WWUS45 KMSO 022143
WSWMSO

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
243 PM MST TUE FEB 2 2016


MTZ004-030500-
/O.CAN.KMSO.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-160203T0000Z/
/O.EXT.KMSO.WW.Y.0013.160202T2143Z-160203T0500Z/
243 PM MST TUE FEB 2 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM MST THIS
EVENING...
...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
STORM WARNING. 

* * IMPACTS/TIMING: SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE EVENING
  HOURS. A FEW OF THESE SHOWERS MAY PRODUCE BRIEF MODERATE TO
  HEAVY SNOWFALL. THIS MAY IMPACT TRAVEL AS SUDDEN CHANGES IN
  VISIBILITY ARE POSSIBLE, FROM CLEAR TO LESS THAN A MILE. 

* MELTING WET ROADS WILL REFREEZE THIS EVENING. FRESH LIGHT SNOW
  ON ICE WILL MAKE TRAVEL DIFFICULT.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...EVARO HILL...HIGHWAY 200 THOMPSON 
  FALLS TO PLAINS...HIGHWAY 200 TROUT CREEK TO HERON...I-90 
  LOOKOUT PASS TO HAUGAN

$$

MTZ003-005-043-030500-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-160203T0500Z/
243 PM MST TUE FEB 2 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM MST THIS
EVENING...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: LIGHT POWDERY SNOW FALLING OVER ALREADY SLICK
  SURFACES WILL BRING A SLICK COMMUTE WITH BLACK ICE THIS EVENING.

* TODAY AND THIS EVENING: SNOW SHOWERS WILL PERSIST AND PICK UP IN
  INTENSITY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THERE IS A GOOD POTENTIAL
  FOR A FEW STRONG SNOW BANDS WHICH WILL BRING TRAVEL
  DIFFICULTIES. SPECIFICALLY SUDDEN REDUCTION OF VISIBILITY TO
  JUST A FEW HUNDRED FEET. THIS EVENINGS COMMUTE MAY ALSO BE
  DIFFICULT AS MELTING WET ROADS WILL REFREEZE. FRESH LIGHT SNOW
  ON ICE WILL MAKE TRAVEL DIFFICULT.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...FLATHEAD LAKE...FLATHEAD VALLEY...
  MISSION VALLEY...POLSON...BITTERROOT VALLEY...MISSOULA...
  HIGHWAY 200 BONNER TO GREENOUGH...HIGHWAY 83 SEELEY LAKE TO
  CONDON...I-90 EAST MISSOULA TO BEARMOUTH

$$

MTZ007-030500-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-160203T0500Z/
243 PM MST TUE FEB 2 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM MST THIS
EVENING...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: LIGHT POWDERY SNOW FALLING OVER ALREADY SLICK 
  SURFACES WILL BRING A SLICK COMMUTE WITH BLACK ICE THIS 
  AFTERNOON AND EVENING. 

* TODAY AND THIS EVENING: SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP 
  AND PICK UP IN INTENSITY THIS AFTERNOON. THERE IS A GOOD 
  POTENTIAL FOR A FEW STRONG SNOW BANDS WHICH WILL BRING TRAVEL 
  DIFFICULTIES. SPECIFICALLY SUDDEN REDUCTION OF VISIBILITY TO 
  JUST A FEW HUNDRED FEET. USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS AND BE ALERT FOR 
  SUDDEN CHANGES. 

* THIS EVENINGS COMMUTE MAY ALSO BE DIFFICULT AS MELTING WET 
  ROADS WILL REFREEZE. FRESH LIGHT SNOW ON ICE WILL MAKE TRAVEL 
  DIFFICULT. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...BUTTE...GEORGETOWN LAKE...HIGHWAY 
  12 GARRISON TO ELLISTON...HOMESTAKE PASS...MACDONALD PASS

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 1, 5:46 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementMSOMissoula59 min
Feb 1, 5:50 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementMSOMissoula70 min
Feb 2, 11:13 AM MSTWinter Weather AdvisoryMSOMineral, Missoula, Sanders11 hr

Nearby

Winter Storm Warnings in Montana, 2016Every winter storm warning in 2016

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.