Alert archive / Montana / Special Weather Statements in 2017

Special Weather Statement, NWS Missoula, MT

August 24, 2017Ravalli County, Montana

NWS Missoula, MT issued this special weather statement at Aug 24, 2017, 6:04 PM MDT for Ravalli County, Montana. It was in force for 41 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 24, 2017, 6:04 PM MDT (00:04 UTC)
Expired
Aug 24, 2017, 6:45 PM MDT
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS Missoula, MT

County Ravalli County, MT

The radar

The Missoula radar (KMSX), 149 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:03 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 text

As transmitted.

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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 24, 2:36 PM MDT, 3 hours 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 24, 2:36 PM MDT, 3 hours 28 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
236 PM MDT Thu Aug 24 2017

...Few thunderstorms Clearwaters into southwest Montana this
evening...
...Significant warming and very dry conditions late Friday into
early next week...

.DISCUSSION...An unstable and relatively moist atmosphere will
persist from Hells Canyon eastward across the Clearwaters,
Bitterroots and southwest Montana this evening. This should
translate into scattered thunderstorms, strong gusty winds and
potential new fire starts. The storms should be a mix of wet and
dry...but most areas should not see a wetting rain.  A drier
westerly flow will take hold Friday with moderate west winds most
areas from the Camas Prairie and Orofino eastward across western
Montana. This added wind and passing cold front will help mix out
the smoke from most valleys into Friday. The exception may be
immediately downstream or east from existing fires. Enough
moisture and instability may persist in southwest Montana for
isolated afternoon showers.

High pressure will strengthen its grip on the northern Rockies
over the weekend into early next week at least. The air mass will
again "heat up" with "very dry air" settling over the region. The
lower atmosphere is also expected to become quite stable with
smoke again becoming trapped in most valleys...especially in the
vicinity of nearby fires.

&&

.AVIATION...Another round of showers and scattered thunderstorms
is expected late this afternoon and through the evening from the
Hells Canyon area eastward across the Clearwaters, Bitterroots,
Sapphires and other parts of southwest Montana. Gusty winds and
lightning will be the main threats to KMSO, KBTM and less extent
KSMN until about midnight.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Red Flag Warning until midnight MDT tonight Bitterroot...
     Deerlodge/West Beaverhead.

ID...Red Flag Warning until 11 PM PDT this evening Clearwater/Nez
     Perce...Palouse/Hells Canyon.

&&

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 24, 5:08 PM MDT, 56 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Missoula MT
408 PM PDT THU AUG 24 2017

IDZ006>008-250000-
Southern Clearwater Mountains ID-
Lower Hells Canyon/Salmon River Region ID-
Orofino/Grangeville Region ID-
408 PM PDT THU AUG 24 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL IDAHO COUNTY UNTIL
500 PM PDT...

At 407 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Grangeville, moving northeast at 20 mph.

Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Grangeville, Kooskia, Clearwater, Stites, Harpster and Newsome.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Frequent 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.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 4567 11612 4584 11632 4621 11590 4593 11546
TIME...MOT...LOC 2307Z 227DEG 16KT 4586 11602

IV
Special weather statement, Aug 24, 6:04 PM MDT, 0 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Missoula MT
604 PM MDT THU AUG 24 2017

IDZ006-MTZ005-006-250045-
Southern Clearwater Mountains ID-Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains MT-
Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys MT-
604 PM MDT THU AUG 24 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN IDAHO AND SOUTHWESTERN
RAVALLI COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM MDT/545 PM PDT/...

At 603 PM MDT/503 PM PDT/, Doppler radar was tracking a strong
thunderstorm 21 miles southwest of Conner, or 37 miles southwest of
Hamilton, moving east at 20 mph.

Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of eastern Idaho and
southwestern Ravalli Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional
information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

If on or near Painted Rocks Lake, get out of the water and move
indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to
10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you
are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter
now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.

Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
this storm passes.

&&

LAT...LON 4567 11468 4584 11467 4592 11414 4561 11411
TIME...MOT...LOC 0003Z 268DEG 17KT 4576 11449

IV

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 25, 8:18 AM MDTRed Flag WarningMSOBeaverhead, Jefferson, Madison, Silver Bow11 hr

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Montana, 2017Every special weather statement in 2017

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.