Alert archive / Montana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 61, NWS Great Falls, MT

August 20, 2020Broadwater County, Lewis and Clark County, Meagher County, Montana

NWS Great Falls, MT issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 20, 2020, 4:58 PM MDT for Broadwater County, Lewis and Clark County, Meagher County, Montana. It was in force for 32 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
Aug 20, 2020, 4:58 PM MDT (22:58 UTC)
Expired
Aug 20, 2020, 5:30 PM MDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Great Falls, MT
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Broadwater County, MT, Lewis and Clark County, MT, Meagher County, MT

The radar

The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 88 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:00 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 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 114 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 2020-08-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 410 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, Great_falls, MT at 12:00Z on 2020-08-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 16 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
410 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-184 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2427 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
16 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
66 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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 20, 2:11 PM MDT, 2 hours 47 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 20, 2:11 PM MDT, 2 hours 47 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
211 PM MDT Thu Aug 20 2020

.SYNOPSIS...

Showers and thunderstorms will track east across the region through
this evening with some storms producing strong winds in addition
to lightning and localized rainfall. Very warm and dry conditions
return for Friday through Monday with some cooling likely by mid
to late next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Rest of Today through Friday...Shortwave trough moving into the
Northern Rockies this afternoon will continue east-northeast
across MT tonight. Thunderstorms development is underway across
the mountains as of early this afternoon and coverage expected to
increase as the shortwave moves east. Greatest instability and
potential for organized storm updrafts with hail and locally heavy
rain, in addition to strong winds will exist early this afternoon
with initial storms, with a transition to more of a widespread
thunderstorm wind threat as storms track east into this evening.
The upper level ridge, centered over the Great Basin/SW US,
quickly rebuilds northward on Friday with SW flow aloft bringing a
return to warm and dry conditions.

Saturday through Thursday...Overall, expect very warm to hot
afternoon temperatures to continue through much of next week. With
weak areas of monsoonal moisture rotating through the region, there
will be the chance for a passing thunderstorm, but no significant
widespread rainfalls are forecast for our region at this time during
the extended period. Brusda

&&

.AVIATION...
Updated 1140 AM MDT Thu Aug 20 2020 (18Z TAF Period)

Thunderstorms should develop early this afternoon initially near
the western and SW MT mountains and track east with increasing
coverage through late this afternoon before exiting the region this
evening. Greatest impact from storms will be strong outflow winds,
though brief MVFR ceilings and rain may impact some some terminals
as well. An elevated layer of smoke/haze covers much the the area
but visibility remains largely greater than 6SM, except in closer
proximity to any local wildland fires. Hoenisch

Refer to weather.gov/zlc for more detailed regional aviation weather
and hazard information.

NOTE: Amendments not scheduled for Ennis (KEKS) due to ongoing
runway closure.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

Thunderstorm and lightning coverage will be fairly high through early
this evening. Though wetting rain is anticipated with most storms,
the potential for new lightning starts exists as well as impacts
from strong and erratic outflow winds from thunderstorm activity,
and a Red Flag Warning continues through this evening. Warm, dry
and sunny conditions redevelop on Friday and continue through the
weekend with daytime temperatures and dryness peaking again on
Monday. Nighttime humidity recovery is also likely to become
quite poor at mid to higher elevations again late this weekend. A
weather disturbance moving through SW Canada on Saturday could
bring a period of enhanced afternoon winds with gusts around 25
mph, particularly across portions the plains of north-central MT.
Otherwise, winds look to remain below critical thresholds.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF  54  88  58  91 /  40   0   0   0
CTB  51  86  55  84 /  20   0   0   0
HLN  54  90  56  92 /  30   0   0   0
BZN  51  90  53  94 /  30   0   0   0
WYS  36  84  38  88 /  10   0   0   0
DLN  49  87  50  89 /  10   0   0   0
HVR  57  89  58  95 /  30   0   0   0
LWT  54  86  57  91 /  60   0   0   0

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning until 10 PM MDT this evening Central and
Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas...Chouteau and
Fergus Counties...Deerlodge/Western Beaverhead National Forest...
Eastern Beaverhead National Forest...Eastern
Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty...Helena and
Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest...Hill
and Blaine Counties...Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky
Mountain District-Rocky Mountain Front...Lincoln Ranger District
of the Helena National Forest.

&&

http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 20, 4:31 PM MDT, 27 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 20, 4:35 PM MDT, 23 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 20, 4:45 PM MDT, 13 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 20, 4:48 PM MDT, 10 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 20, 4:49 PM MDT, 9 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 20, 4:54 PM MDT, 4 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 19, 6:16 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXMadison29 min
Aug 19, 6:34 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXBeaverhead26 min
Aug 19, 6:43 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXGallatin32 min
Aug 19, 6:49 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXGallatin26 min
Aug 19, 7:06 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXBeaverhead24 min
Aug 19, 7:23 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXGallatin22 min
Aug 19, 7:29 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXMadison31 min
Aug 19, 7:43 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXGallatin17 min
Aug 19, 7:46 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXBeaverhead29 min
Aug 19, 8:23 PM MDTRed Flag WarningTFXBlaine, Chouteau, Fergus, Glacier, Hill, Liberty and 3 more25 hr
Aug 19, 8:42 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXGallatin33 min
Aug 20, 1:41 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXTeton49 min
Aug 20, 1:44 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXTeton46 min
Aug 20, 2:03 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXTeton42 min
Aug 20, 2:22 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXLewis and Clark, Teton38 min
Aug 20, 2:29 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXTeton31 min
Aug 20, 2:40 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXTeton50 min
Aug 20, 2:53 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXJudith Basin52 min
Aug 20, 2:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXCascade, Lewis and Clark, Pondera, Teton, Toole35 min
Aug 20, 3:19 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXJudith Basin56 min
Aug 20, 3:28 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXCascade, Chouteau, Liberty, Pondera, Teton, Toole32 min
Aug 20, 3:55 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXCascade35 min
Aug 20, 3:57 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXCascade33 min
Aug 20, 4:08 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXCascade22 min
Aug 20, 4:10 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXFergus35 min
Aug 20, 4:17 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXCascade28 min
Aug 20, 4:25 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXGallatin35 min
Aug 20, 4:28 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXMadison32 min
Aug 20, 4:30 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXCascade45 min
Aug 20, 4:31 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXBroadwater29 min
Aug 20, 4:35 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXChouteau25 min
Aug 20, 4:45 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXGallatin15 min
Aug 20, 4:48 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXJudith Basin27 min
Aug 20, 4:49 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXJudith Basin26 min
Aug 20, 4:54 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXChouteau36 min
Aug 20, 4:54 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXJudith Basin21 min
Aug 20, 5:05 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXMadison25 min
Aug 20, 5:06 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXJudith Basin39 min
Aug 20, 5:14 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXJudith Basin31 min
Aug 20, 5:17 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXGallatin28 min
Aug 20, 5:35 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXMeagher25 min
Aug 20, 5:37 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXFergus, Judith Basin38 min
Aug 20, 5:38 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXChouteau37 min
Aug 20, 5:39 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXFergus36 min
Aug 20, 5:40 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXChouteau35 min
Aug 20, 5:45 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXHill30 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Montana, 2020Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020

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.