Alert archive / Montana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2018

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 39, NWS Billings, MT

May 31, 2018Golden Valley County, Wheatland County, Montana

NWS Billings, MT issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 2018, 3:44 PM MDT for Golden Valley County, Wheatland County, Montana. It was in force for 46 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 31, 2018, 3:44 PM MDT (21:44 UTC)
Expired
May 31, 2018, 4:30 PM MDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Billings, MT
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.5 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Golden Valley County, MT, Wheatland County, MT

The radar

The Billings radar (KBLX), 94 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:44 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
May 31, 1:50 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Great_falls, MT (KTFX), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 142 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 12:00Z on 2018-05-31Temperature 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, Great_falls, MT at 12:00Z on 2018-05-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -17 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
892 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
50 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 31, 2:48 PM MDT, 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 2:48 PM MDT, 56 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
248 PM MDT Thu May 31 2018

.SHORT TERM...valid for Fri and Sat...

Starting to see convection over the western zones. CAMs continue
to show this convection and more over the mountains moving to the
east. Still looking at plenty of shear and deep layer shear
through the evening for most of southern Montana. Given that
there has been some cloud cover from Rosebud County east, there is
some question as to how much convection will actually develop in
the eastern zones. The main threats remain large hail and damaging
winds.

Tomorrow as a cold front moves across the area, more showers and
thunderstorms are possible. This will also decrease the
instability, however some of the high-res guidance does show some
lingering in the southeast. At this point cannot rule out an
isolated strong thunderstorm along the Dakotas. Showers and
thunderstorms will be decreasing through the afternoon, and will
end overnight. By Saturday, ridging will be working into the area
which will result in drying conditions and temperatures around
normal. Reimer

.LONG TERM...valid for Sun...Mon...Tue...Wed...Thu...

High pressure over the region looks to bring dry conditions to the
area Sunday through most of Monday. Models then prog the ridge to
break down Monday evening/night, as a cold front sweeps through
the region and generates showers and thunderstorms. Showers and
thunderstorms then look possible at times through Thursday as
waves of energy move through the region with troughing over the
eastern Pacific/west coast and ridging over the central US.
Uncertainty still remains in the timing of these waves, as models
remain out of sync. High temperatures look to range from the 70s
to lower 80s most days, with the warmest day being Monday ahead of
an approaching front. Low temperatures look to range from the 40s
to lower 50s most nights/mornings. STP

&&

.AVIATION...

Scattered thunderstorms can be expected across much of the area
through the evening, with showers lingering overnight. Some
storms could be severe and produce large hail and strong/erratic
(50 kt) wind gusts. Brief MVFR/IFR is possible with any stronger
storm, otherwise VFR will prevail. Mountains will be obscured at
times. JKL/STP

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Fri     Sat     Sun     Mon     Tue     Wed     Thu
-----------------------------------------------------------
BIL 055/068 046/075 049/081 054/086 055/073 052/078 054/079
    66/T    20/U    00/U    11/U    22/T    21/U    11/U
LVM 048/061 040/071 044/079 049/083 048/073 046/075 048/076
    67/T    20/N    00/U    11/U    22/T    21/U    11/U
HDN 056/071 047/076 049/083 054/088 055/076 053/079 055/081
    56/T    30/U    00/U    11/U    22/T    31/U    21/U
MLS 058/070 050/071 051/081 057/088 058/076 055/080 058/080
    44/T    30/N    00/U    01/U    21/B    21/B    31/U
4BQ 058/076 048/072 049/083 055/089 057/079 055/081 057/080
    26/T    50/U    00/U    00/U    21/B    21/U    31/U
BHK 059/074 049/070 047/079 053/085 056/077 052/079 055/078
    33/T    30/N    00/U    00/U    21/B    21/B    32/T
SHR 054/070 044/073 046/079 050/085 053/077 050/079 053/076
    37/T    40/U    00/U    01/U    22/T    21/U    11/U

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

MT...Severe Thunderstorm Watch 140 in effect until 10 PM MDT this
      evening FOR ZONES 28>32-34>36-38>42-56>58-63>68.
WY...None.

&&

weather.gov/billings
Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 4:15 AM MDT, 11 hours 29 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Billings MT
415 AM MDT Thu May 31 2018

MTZ028>042-056>058-063>068-011015-
Southern Wheatland-Musselshell-Treasure-Northern Rosebud-Custer-
Fallon-Northern Stillwater-Yellowstone-Powder River-Carter-
Southern Big Horn-Eastern Carbon-Northern Park-
Northern Sweet Grass-Golden Valley-Red Lodge Foothills-
Northern Big Horn-Southern Rosebud-Judith Gap-Paradise Valley-
Livingston Area-Beartooth Foothills-Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains-
Crazy Mountains-
415 AM MDT Thu May 31 2018

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

* WHAT...Severe Thunderstorms.

* WHEN...This afternoon and evening.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Scattered thunderstorms are expected today.
  Some storms may become capable of large hail and very strong wind
  gusts.

* ADDITIONAL HAZARD CONCERNS...Very heavy rainfall is likely with
  some storms and may cause rapid rises on creeks, with localized
  flash flooding possible.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Be sure to stay tuned for future updates as locations, timing, and
impacts could change.

&&

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 31, 2:32 PM MDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Billings MT
232 PM MDT THU MAY 31 2018

MTZ040-041-064>068-312115-
Beartooth Foothills MT-Paradise Valley MT-Northern Park MT-
Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains MT-Crazy Mountains MT-
Livingston Area MT-Northern Sweet Grass MT-
232 PM MDT THU MAY 31 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

At 231 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles east of Bozeman, moving east at 50 mph.

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

Locations impacted include...
Livingston, Clyde Park, Springdale and Mc Leod.

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.

&&

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT for
south central Montana.

LAT...LON 4559 11085 4559 11080 4589 11079 4612 11020
      4561 11003 4556 11086 4558 11086
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 251DEG 43KT 4569 11082

Palmquist
Special weather statement, May 31, 2:58 PM MDT, 46 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Billings MT
258 PM MDT THU MAY 31 2018

MTZ028-042-063-312145-
Golden Valley MT-Southern Wheatland MT-Judith Gap MT-
258 PM MDT THU MAY 31 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

At 256 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles west of Deadmans Basin Reservoir, or 10 miles southeast of
Harlowton, moving northeast at 15 mph.

Dime size hail and wind gusts to 40 mph are expected with this
storm, along with heavy rain and frequent lightning. This storm will
track over Highway 12 west of Shawmut.

Locations impacted include...
Deadmans Basin Reservoir, Franklin and Shawmut.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT for
central Montana.

LAT...LON 4633 10916 4626 10974 4639 10978 4670 10961
      4670 10939 4675 10939 4675 10918
TIME...MOT...LOC 2056Z 240DEG 16KT 4635 10964

Lester
Special weather statement, May 31, 3:40 PM MDT, 4 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 30, 8:08 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZTreasure52 min
May 31, 11:48 AM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBYZBig Horn23 hr
May 31, 2:32 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZSweet Grass43 min
May 31, 2:38 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZPark, Sweet Grass52 min
May 31, 2:58 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZGolden Valley47 min
May 31, 3:11 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZGolden Valley, Wheatland34 min
May 31, 3:27 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZPark, Sweet Grass48 min
May 31, 3:40 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZCarter35 min
May 31, 4:07 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZPark38 min
May 31, 4:09 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZCarbon51 min
May 31, 4:14 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZSweet Grass46 min
May 31, 4:16 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZCarbon, Stillwater43 min
May 31, 4:27 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZSweet Grass48 min
May 31, 4:28 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZGolden Valley, Musselshell62 min
May 31, 4:58 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZStillwater47 min
May 31, 5:07 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBYZYellowstone48 min
May 31, 5:10 PM MDTRiver Flood WarningBYZBig Horn18 hr
May 31, 5:11 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZGolden Valley, Sweet Grass37 min
May 31, 5:20 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZMusselshell55 min
May 31, 5:39 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZBig Horn51 min
May 31, 4:54 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZSheridan29 min
May 31, 5:08 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZSheridan52 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.