Alert archive / Montana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2018

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 19, NWS Billings, MT

May 23, 2018Yellowstone County, Montana

NWS Billings, MT issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 23, 2018, 3:49 PM MDT for Yellowstone County, Montana. It was in force for 56 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 23, 2018, 3:49 PM MDT (21:49 UTC)
Expired
May 23, 2018, 4:45 PM MDT
In force
56 min
Issued by
NWS Billings, MT
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Yellowstone County, MT

The radar

The Billings radar (KBLX), 27 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:52 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

Glasgow Intl Airport, MT (KGGW), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 284 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, Glasgow Intl Airport, MT at 12:00Z on 2018-05-23Temperature 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°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Glasgow Intl Airport, MT at 12:00Z on 2018-05-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 2 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
1678 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
2 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
57 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Billings, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 23, 3:28 PM MDT, 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 23, 3:28 PM MDT, 21 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, May 23, 3:17 AM MDT, 12 hours 32 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Billings MT
317 AM MDT Wed May 23 2018

MTZ030>041-056>058-064>068-WYZ098-099-231030-
Treasure-Northern Rosebud-Custer-Fallon-Northern Stillwater-
Yellowstone-Powder River-Carter-Southern Big Horn-Eastern Carbon-
Northern Park-Northern Sweet Grass-Red Lodge Foothills-
Northern Big Horn-Southern Rosebud-Paradise Valley-Livingston Area-
Beartooth Foothills-Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains-Crazy Mountains-
Northeast Bighorn Mountains-Sheridan Foothills-
317 AM MDT Wed May 23 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central
Montana...southeast Montana and north central Wyoming.

* WHAT...Showers and thunderstorms, with potential for heavy
  rainfall and a few severe thunderstorms.

* WHERE...Southern Montana and northern Wyoming.

* WHEN...Today.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A few severe thunderstorms capable of
  producing large hail and strong winds are possible from Hysham to
  Lame Deer eastward this afternoon and evening.

* ADDITIONAL HAZARD CONCERNS...Showers and thunderstorms will
  produce areas of heavy rainfall. Some rivers and streams could
  see aggressive rises from this rainfall. Localized low land
  flooding is possible as well.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Hazardous Weather Outlook is issued when hazardous weather could
impact the region within the next week. Be sure to stay tuned for
future updates as locations, timing, and impacts could change.
Begin preparations to mitigate any impacts that could result from
the hazardous weather.

&&

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 23, 1:14 PM MDT, 2 hours 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
114 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2018

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

0600 AM     HEAVY RAIN       5 SE REED POINT         45.67N 109.47W
05/23/2018  M1.69 INCH       STILLWATER         MT   COCORAHS

0600 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 NW COLUMBUS           45.64N 109.27W
05/23/2018  M1.93 INCH       STILLWATER         MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

0600 AM     HEAVY RAIN       8 SE ROUNDUP            46.35N 108.44W
05/23/2018  M1.36 INCH       MUSSELSHELL        MT   COCORAHS

0630 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 S ROUNDUP             46.44N 108.54W
05/23/2018  M1.14 INCH       MUSSELSHELL        MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

0634 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 SW REED POINT         45.68N 109.59W
05/23/2018  M2.22 INCH       SWEET GRASS        MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       4 N RED LODGE           45.26N 109.23W
05/23/2018  M1.38 INCH       CARBON             MT   COCORAHS

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       MCLEOD                  45.66N 110.12W
05/23/2018  M1.08 INCH       SWEET GRASS        MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       7 E COLUMBUS            45.62N 109.10W
05/23/2018  M1.49 INCH       STILLWATER         MT   COCORAHS

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 ENE FORT SMITH        45.31N 107.92W
05/23/2018  M1.01 INCH       BIG HORN           MT   COCORAHS

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 NE FROMBERG           45.42N 108.87W
05/23/2018  M1.39 INCH       CARBON             MT   COCORAHS

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       10 E LAVINA             46.29N 108.72W
05/23/2018  M1.78 INCH       MUSSELSHELL        MT   COCORAHS

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 WSW JOLIET            45.47N 109.01W
05/23/2018  M2.13 INCH       CARBON             MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       5 SE KLEIN              46.35N 108.48W
05/23/2018  M1.23 INCH       MUSSELSHELL        MT   COCORAHS

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 S KLEIN               46.40N 108.55W
05/23/2018  M2.28 INCH       MUSSELSHELL        MT   COCORAHS

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       13 SW ROUNDUP           46.33N 108.74W
05/23/2018  M1.42 INCH       MUSSELSHELL        MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 WNW JOLIET            45.50N 109.01W
05/23/2018  M3.18 INCH       CARBON             MT   COCORAHS

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       6 SSW MOLT              45.78N 108.97W
05/23/2018  M1.32 INCH       STILLWATER         MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       8 E COLUMBUS            45.62N 109.10W
05/23/2018  M1.84 INCH       STILLWATER         MT   COCORAHS

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 NE RED LODGE          45.22N 109.22W
05/23/2018  M1.59 INCH       CARBON             MT   COCORAHS

0736 AM     HEAVY RAIN       5 WSW BILLINGS          45.76N 108.61W
05/23/2018  M1.00 INCH       YELLOWSTONE        MT   COCORAHS

0744 AM     HEAVY RAIN       6 E MELSTONE            46.59N 107.75W
05/23/2018  M1.07 INCH       ROSEBUD            MT   COCORAHS

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 SW RED LODGE          45.16N 109.29W
05/23/2018  M1.62 INCH       CARBON             MT   COCORAHS

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       16 S SHERIDAN           44.57N 106.93W
05/23/2018  M1.46 INCH       SHERIDAN           WY   COCORAHS

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       RAPELJE                 45.97N 109.25W
05/23/2018  M1.15 INCH       STILLWATER         MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       23 SSW MCLEOD           45.33N 110.22W
05/23/2018  M1.17 INCH       SWEET GRASS        MT   MESONET

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       7 SW BILLINGS           45.71N 108.65W
05/23/2018  M1.06 INCH       YELLOWSTONE        MT   COCORAHS

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       6 SSE COLUMBUS          45.55N 109.22W
05/23/2018  M3.31 INCH       STILLWATER         MT   COCORAHS

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       7 WSW ROUNDUP           46.43N 108.67W
05/23/2018  M1.89 INCH       MUSSELSHELL        MT   MESONET

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 S ABSAROKEE           45.52N 109.45W
05/23/2018  M1.65 INCH       STILLWATER         MT   COCORAHS

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       6 WSW RED LODGE         45.16N 109.36W
05/23/2018  M2.18 INCH       CARBON             MT   MESONET

0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       13 SSW GREYCLIFF        45.58N 109.85W
05/23/2018  M2.42 INCH       SWEET GRASS        MT   MESONET

0900 AM     HEAVY RAIN       7 SE ROUNDUP            46.38N 108.43W
05/23/2018  M1.42 INCH       MUSSELSHELL        MT   COCORAHS

0900 AM     HEAVY RAIN       4 SSE ROUNDUP           46.39N 108.52W
05/23/2018  M2.33 INCH       MUSSELSHELL        MT   COCORAHS

0900 AM     HEAVY RAIN       6 NNE RED LODGE         45.28N 109.22W
05/23/2018  M1.56 INCH       CARBON             MT   COCORAHS

0930 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 S RED LODGE           45.18N 109.26W
05/23/2018  M2.07 INCH       CARBON             MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

1037 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 E REED POINT          45.69N 109.48W
05/23/2018  M3.00 INCH       STILLWATER         MT   PUBLIC

0109 PM     HEAVY RAIN       BIG TIMBER              45.83N 109.95W
05/23/2018  M1.20 INCH       SWEET GRASS        MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

VLS
Special weather statement, May 23, 1:25 PM MDT, 2 hours 24 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Billings MT
125 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2018

MTZ029-035-232015-
Yellowstone MT-Musselshell MT-
125 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

At 123 PM MDT, trained weather spotters reported a strong
thunderstorm 9 miles north of Billings, moving north at 15 mph.

Small hail and winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this
storm. Brief funnel clouds have been reported with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Mainly rural areas of northern Yellowstone County.

This advisory does not include the city of Billings.

LAT...LON 4582 10833 4582 10866 4619 10877 4619 10822
TIME...MOT...LOC 1923Z 174DEG 15KT 4592 10857

Palmquist
Local storm report, May 23, 2:13 PM MDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
213 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2018

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

0117 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 NE BILLINGS           45.82N 108.51W
05/23/2018                   YELLOWSTONE        MT   PUBLIC

&&

VLS
Special weather statement, May 23, 2:52 PM MDT, 57 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Billings MT
252 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2018

MTZ031-232130-
Northern Rosebud MT-
252 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

At 251 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Forsyth, moving north at 30 mph.

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

Locations impacted include...
Forsyth, Rosebud and Cartersville.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 4586 10670 4614 10692 4665 10674 4648 10627
TIME...MOT...LOC 2051Z 199DEG 28KT 4619 10677

Borsum
Special weather statement, May 23, 3:31 PM MDT, 18 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 23, 3:35 PM MDT, 14 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 22, 6:07 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZYellowstone38 min
May 22, 6:07 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZCarter38 min
May 22, 6:18 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZStillwater43 min
May 22, 7:49 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZStillwater41 min
May 22, 8:43 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBYZYellowstone3 hr
May 22, 8:51 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZCarbon54 min
May 22, 9:13 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBYZCarbon, Stillwater3 hr
May 22, 10:31 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBYZCarbon6 hr
May 23, 5:00 AM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBYZCarbon, Stillwater, Yellowstone7 hr
May 23, 7:55 AM MDTAreal Flood WarningBYZCarbon, Stillwater, Sweet Grass6 hr
May 23, 11:09 AM MDTRiver Flood WarningBYZPark5 days
May 23, 11:45 AM MDTRiver Flood WarningBYZSweet Grass5 days
May 23, 12:14 PM MDTRiver Flood WatchBYZStillwater, Yellowstone3 days
May 23, 12:44 PM MDTAreal Flood WarningBYZCarbon, Stillwater, Sweet Grass6 hr
May 23, 1:25 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZYellowstone50 min
May 23, 2:52 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZRosebud38 min
May 23, 3:31 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZYellowstone44 min
May 23, 3:35 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZRosebud40 min
May 23, 3:45 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZRosebud60 min
May 23, 3:58 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZYellowstone47 min
May 23, 4:03 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZRosebud57 min
May 23, 4:12 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZYellowstone48 min
May 23, 4:29 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZYellowstone61 min
May 23, 4:42 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZBig Horn63 min
May 23, 4:52 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZCuster38 min
May 23, 5:06 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZPowder River39 min
May 23, 5:18 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZCuster57 min
May 23, 5:31 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZTreasure44 min
May 23, 5:54 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZCarter51 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Montana, 2018Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2018

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.