Alert archive / Montana / Special Weather Statements in 2016

Special Weather Statement, NWS Great Falls, MT

August 6, 2016Gallatin County, Montana

NWS Great Falls, MT issued this special weather statement at Aug 6, 2016, 6:29 PM MDT for Gallatin County, Montana. It was in force for 76 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 6, 2016, 6:29 PM MDT (00:29 UTC)
Expired: Aug 6, 2016, 7:45 PM MDT
In force: 76 min
Issued by: NWS Great Falls, MT

County Gallatin County, MT

The radar

The Billings radar (KBLX), 229 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:28 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 00:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 288 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: 213 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -123 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 2464 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 41 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 165 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

793 
WWUS85 KTFX 070029
SPSTFX

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
629 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016
 
MTZ015-055-070145-
MADISON MT-GALLATIN MT-
629 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MADISON AND
SOUTHEASTERN GALLATIN COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM MDT...

AT 630 PM...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
HENRYS LAKE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WEST YELLOWSTONE...YELLOWSTONE VILLAGE AND BIG SKY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4457 11118 4458 11123 4462 11122 4473 11132
      4475 11139 4471 11141 4472 11146 4481 11159
      4525 11161 4561 11090 4536 11092 4535 11104
      4508 11104 4511 11110 4505 11115 4501 11110
      4449 11111
TIME...MOT...LOC 0028Z 209DEG 40KT 4473 11138 

$$

BRUSDA

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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at Aug 6, 5:55 PM MDT, 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 6, 5:55 PM MDT, 34 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
555 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

Aviation Section Updated

.DISCUSSION...
Tonight through Monday...An upper level disturbance continues to
push northward through the region. Scattered thunderstorms are
developing as a result. Most storms will remain below severe
limits...but an isolated severe thunderstorm will be possible.
Most storms will diminish around Midnight, then expect another
round of storms to develop over Southwest MT late Sunday morning
or during the early afternoon hours. This line of storms again
will push northward into North Central MT by Sunday evening.
Precipitation amounts look fairly widespread Sunday evening, thus
pops are on the higher side. On Monday, the next upper level low
will over Washington state...a bit further west than previously
thought, thus pops have been reduced a bit, as the bulk of the
precipitation from this upper level low will start to move into
the region Monday night into Tuesday. Overall afternoon
temperatures for Sunday and Monday will be near to just a few
degrees below normal across the region. Brusda

MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...Forecast models are in much better
agreement than yesterday with this period's solution. The upper
level low pressure trough is forecast to remain over the Pacific
Northwest through Tuesday evening, which will continue to draw
monsoonal and Gulf of Mexico moisture into Montana. This will keep a
good chance of showers and thunderstorms over the area through
Tuesday morning, with more widespread storms likely during the
afternoon and evening hours. The GFS and ECMWF models both lift the
trough out of the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday to the
Montana/Canada border Wednesday night. This is more in line with
last night's GFS solution, but it is about 12 to 24 hours quicker
with its movement than last night. Regardless, this will keep a good
chance of showers and thunderstorms over the forecast area through
Wednesday, but the chance will decrease Wednesday night through
Friday as the trough exits the area. High pressure aloft will then
build in behind the trough, keeping the area dry into Saturday. The
passage of the trough will keep temperatures 5 to 10 degrees below
normal through Thursday, but as the high pressure builds into the
area, temperatures will warm back closer to normal by Saturday.
Coulston

&&

.AVIATION...
Updated 2355z.
Scattered showers/thunderstorms will continue to move northeast
through the region this evening. The stronger storms could produce
wind gusts near 50kts. Expect a short break later tonight, with
storms redeveloping after 18z Sun in Southwest MT. Some patchy fog
is possible in the Havre/Cut Bank areas around 12z. Otherwise mainly
VFR conditions should prevail outside the storms and fog. Brusda

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Tonight, scattered thunderstorms will move through the region. A
mix of wet/dry thunderstorms can be expected. Some of the stronger
storms could produce gusty erratic wind gusts around 50 mph.
Expect a repeat of these conditions on Sunday, with more storms on
the wetter side, especially over North Central MT. Scattered
thunderstorms will continue to affect mainly North Central MT from
Mon thru Wed...with afternoon temperatures slightly below normal.
Brusda

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Increasing chances for widespread rainfall is expected over North
Central MT from Tonight through Wednesday. The WRF model progs
heavy rainfall of 1 to 1.50 inches over Glacier Park on Sunday
night. This model is the only model that went that high with the
QPF...thus holding off on any highlights for now. Otherwise, a
good rainfall is expected for much of the region, but some
agricultural harvesting problems could develop with the wetter
conditions. Brusda

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF  53  83  52  83 /  50  70  80  20
CTB  52  79  51  78 /  50  60  80  10
HLN  57  83  54  84 /  30  90  40  30
BZN  53  86  50  85 /  40  50  40  20
WEY  46  73  42  74 /  20  40  30  10
DLN  51  82  48  81 /  40  50  30  20
HVR  58  86  58  83 /  30  40  80  10
LWT  55  84  55  81 /  40  50  60  20

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

Red Flag Warning continues until 9 PM this evening for portions
of Southwest MT.

&&

weather.gov/greatfalls

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 6, 5:13 PM MDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
513 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

MTZ009-070030-
NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT MT-
513 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN GLACIER COUNTY
UNTIL 630 PM MDT...

AT 510 PM...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG
THE DIVIDE IN GLACIER PARK. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BROWNING...NORTH BROWNING...EAST GLACIER PARK VILLAGE...
SOUTH BROWNING...KIOWA...EAST GLACIER PARK...SAINT MARY...
MANY GLACIER...GOAT HAUNT...LOGAN PASS...BABB AND STARR SCHOOL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4900 11336 4837 11282 4832 11335 4835 11338
      4837 11334 4842 11335 4842 11340 4846 11349
      4855 11347 4859 11354 4858 11361 4869 11372
      4882 11376 4885 11379 4884 11387 4899 11402
TIME...MOT...LOC 2311Z 192DEG 32KT 4873 11379 4827 11338

BRUSDA

Local storm report, Aug 6, 5:16 PM MDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
516 PM MDT SAT AUG 06 2016

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

0430 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 WNW TOWNSEND          46.33N 111.59W
08/06/2016  M64 MPH          BROADWATER         MT   MESONET

            64 MPH WIND GUST AT THE GINGER RAWS. TIME OF EVENT IS
            ESTIMATED.

&&

BRUSDA

Special weather statement, Aug 6, 5:22 PM MDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
522 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

MTZ008-015-070015-
BEAVERHEAD MT-MADISON MT-
522 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN MADISON AND SOUTHEASTERN
BEAVERHEAD COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM MDT...

AT 521 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING SCATTERED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST MONTANA...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
DILLON...VIRGINIA CITY...ENNIS...LIMA...ALDER...MONIDA...
BANNACK STATE PARK...CAMERON...JEFFERS...DELL...BANNACK...LAKEVIEW...
BEAVERHEAD ROCK STATE PARK...CLARK CANYON...SNOWLINE AND MONIDA PASS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4529 11303 4539 11141 4457 11157 4454 11222
      4457 11223 4457 11229 4454 11232 4450 11299
TIME...MOT...LOC 2321Z 218DEG 37KT 4491 11215

MPJ

Local storm report, Aug 6, 5:39 PM MDT, 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
539 PM MDT SAT AUG 06 2016

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

0442 PM     TSTM WND GST     7 SE GLEN               45.39N 112.60W
08/06/2016  M58 MPH          BEAVERHEAD         MT   MESONET

            58 MPH THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST.

&&

BRUSDA

Local storm report, Aug 6, 5:53 PM MDT, 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
553 PM MDT SAT AUG 06 2016

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

0535 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 SE ENNIS              45.27N 111.65W
08/06/2016  M48 MPH          MADISON            MT   AWOS

            48 MPH WIND GUST AT THE ENNIS AIRPORT.

&&

BRUSDA

Special weather statement, Aug 6, 6:29 PM MDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
629 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

MTZ015-055-070145-
MADISON MT-GALLATIN MT-
629 PM MDT SAT AUG 6 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MADISON AND
SOUTHEASTERN GALLATIN COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM MDT...

AT 630 PM...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
HENRYS LAKE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WEST YELLOWSTONE...YELLOWSTONE VILLAGE AND BIG SKY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4457 11118 4458 11123 4462 11122 4473 11132
      4475 11139 4471 11141 4472 11146 4481 11159
      4525 11161 4561 11090 4536 11092 4535 11104
      4508 11104 4511 11110 4505 11115 4501 11110
      4449 11111
TIME...MOT...LOC 0028Z 209DEG 40KT 4473 11138

BRUSDA

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 6, 6:31 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	TFX	Lewis and Clark, Teton	59 min
Aug 6, 7:06 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	TFX	Judith Basin	69 min
Aug 6, 8:15 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	TFX	Fergus	30 min
Aug 7, 12:42 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	TFX		48 min
Aug 7, 2:25 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	TFX	Jefferson	50 min
Aug 7, 2:36 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	TFX		39 min
Aug 7, 3:07 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Broadwater, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark	23 min
Aug 7, 3:30 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Broadwater, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark	30 min
Aug 7, 4:00 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Broadwater, Lewis and Clark, Meagher	45 min
Aug 7, 4:08 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Jefferson	52 min
Aug 7, 4:45 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Cascade, Judith Basin, Meagher	60 min
Aug 7, 4:56 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Broadwater, Jefferson	49 min
Aug 7, 5:45 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Broadwater, Meagher	41 min
Aug 7, 5:46 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Fergus, Judith Basin	59 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Montana, 2016 Every special weather statement 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.