Alert archive / Montana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2018

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 76, NWS Billings, MT

June 7, 2018Big Horn County, Powder River County, Rosebud County, Montana

NWS Billings, MT issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 7, 2018, 6:14 PM MDT for Big Horn County, Powder River County, Rosebud County, Montana. It was in force for 61 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
Jun 7, 2018, 6:14 PM MDT (00:14 UTC)
Expired
Jun 7, 2018, 7:15 PM MDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Billings, MT
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.5 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Big Horn County, MT, Powder River County, MT, Rosebud County, MT

The radar

The Billings radar (KBLX), 155 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:18 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
Jun 7, 3:49 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Glasgow Intl Airport, MT (KGGW), launched 00:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 282 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 00:00Z on 2018-06-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1368 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 2018-06-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -17 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
1368 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-35 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1662 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
30 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
-0.1
Supercell composite
-1.4

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 Jun 7, 3:58 PM MDT, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 7, 3:58 PM MDT, 2 hours 16 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Billings MT
358 PM MDT Thu Jun 7 2018

.UPDATE...

Quick update to add Severe Thunderstorm Watch 161 from Rosebud,
Treasure, Big Horn, and Sheridan counties, and areas to the east.
The Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect through 11 pm MDT. STP

&&

.SHORT TERM...valid for Tdy and Fri...

Very minor changes to the short term forecast, as convective setup
continues to support strong to severe thunderstorms across the
region today.

High dewpoints support CAPES 1500 to 2500 j/kg for most of the
area with even higher amounts along the Montana/Dakota border.
Shear looks sufficient for some storm organization with 100m2/s2
storm relatively helicity over western half of the area and it
really climbs to 250m2/s2 along the eastern border.

Best estimate of timing for activity looks pretty consistent,
beginning in the early afternoon in the western high terrain.
Activity will spread eastward into central zones, around Billings,
between 4 and 8pm, and into eastern zones, Miles City and Baker,
after 8pm.

Overnight the approaching trof begins to pull drier air over the
region and the surface trof shifts east of the area by Friday so
convective chances are decreased. This will point to a mainly dry
day for Friday. Increased sunlight and downslope flow will be
offset by slightly cooler air aloft on Friday, resulting in
similar temps as Thurs.

Cooler air aloft goes away for Saturday, but downslope flow and
sunlight persist, so expect temperatures Saturday to be much
warmer, with high back into the 90s, and continued dry. AAG

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

Cooler weather is in store for the first part of the extended
forecast. This cool weather will come behind a strong cold frontal
passage Saturday night. This front will be driven along by a deep
upper trough moving across the northern Rockies through early
next week. This will set up a breezy day for Sunday with post
frontal winds gusting throughout the day. High temperatures will
be suppressed into the lower to mid 70s on Sunday and even upper
60s by Monday. Cyclonic flow will provide a slight chance of
showers, but coverage will be limited.

Warmer temperatures will move back in for the middle of the week
as a flat ridge slides into the northern Rockies. TWH

&&

.AVIATION...

Showers and thunderstorms are beginning to develop over the high
terrain this afternoon. Activity coverage is expected to continue
to increase, and spread eastward through the afternoon and evening.
Some storms may be severe with large hail, strong wind gusts to
50 kt, frequent lightning, and torrential rainfall. MVFR to LIFR
conditions will occur with the storms. Expect areas of obscuration
over all mountains this afternoon and evening. AAG

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...

    Tdy Fri     Sat     Sun     Mon     Tue     Wed
-------------------------------------------------------
BIL 083 056/082 057/092 059/076 047/068 046/074 050/079
    4/T 41/U    21/U    03/T    31/N    21/N    01/U
LVM 079 049/080 049/089 050/066 041/061 041/070 045/076
    5/T 41/U    20/N    03/T    32/T    21/N    01/B
HDN 085 055/084 058/093 058/079 048/069 046/076 049/080
    3/T 31/U    21/U    02/T    31/B    21/U    01/U
MLS 082 059/083 060/092 063/081 051/069 048/074 052/079
    3/T 61/U    11/U    12/T    30/B    20/U    00/U
4BQ 084 058/083 060/093 062/085 050/071 047/076 049/080
    3/T 41/U    11/U    12/T    30/U    20/U    01/U
BHK 079 056/082 058/088 062/085 050/069 045/073 047/079
    4/T 61/U    11/U    11/N    20/B    10/N    00/U
SHR 083 054/080 055/091 056/079 045/069 041/073 045/078
    3/T 31/U    21/U    03/T    31/U    20/U    01/U

&&

.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Severe Thunderstorm Watch 161 in effect until 11 PM MDT this
      evening FOR ZONES 30>33-36>38-57-58.
WY...Severe Thunderstorm Watch 161 in effect until 11 PM MDT this
      evening FOR ZONES 98-99.

&&

weather.gov/billings
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 7, 2:32 PM MDT, 3 hours 42 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Billings MT
232 PM MDT Thu Jun 7 2018

MTZ028>042-056>058-063>068-WYZ098-099-080300-
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-Northeast Bighorn Mountains-Sheridan Foothills-
232 PM MDT Thu Jun 7 2018

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

* WHAT...Strong to severe thunderstorms possible.

* WHERE...Southern Montana and north-central Wyoming.

* WHEN...This afternoon and evening.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The main hazards are large hail and damaging
  winds. Also these storms could produce heavy rainfall.

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, Jun 7, 5:10 PM MDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jun 7, 5:18 PM MDT, 56 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jun 7, 5:28 PM MDT, 46 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jun 7, 6:01 PM MDT, 13 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jun 7, 6:03 PM MDT, 11 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jun 7, 6:09 PM MDT, 5 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 7, 6:21 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZCarter24 min
Jun 7, 6:26 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZCuster34 min
Jun 7, 6:41 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZCuster, Rosebud49 min
Jun 7, 6:46 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZCarter29 min
Jun 7, 7:00 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZCuster60 min
Jun 7, 7:08 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZCuster22 min
Jun 7, 7:10 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZPowder River80 min
Jun 7, 7:30 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBYZCuster3 hr
Jun 7, 7:33 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZCarter42 min
Jun 7, 7:56 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZFallon64 min
Jun 7, 8:12 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZCarter63 min
Jun 7, 9:12 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZGolden Valley48 min
Jun 7, 9:24 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZGolden Valley36 min
Jun 7, 10:08 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZMusselshell52 min
Jun 7, 10:29 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZStillwater31 min
Jun 7, 11:10 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZYellowstone35 min
Jun 8, 4:00 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZStillwater45 min
Jun 8, 5:14 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZBig Horn31 min
Jun 8, 5:20 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZCarter40 min
Jun 8, 5:50 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZBig Horn, Rosebud22 min
Jun 7, 6:01 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZSheridan59 min
Jun 7, 6:27 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBYZSheridan34 min
Jun 8, 4:38 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZSheridan22 min
Jun 8, 5:41 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBYZSheridan49 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.