Alert archive / Montana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2024

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 80, NWS Great Falls, MT

August 12, 2024Fergus County, Judith Basin County, Montana

NWS Great Falls, MT issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 12, 2024, 3:48 PM MDT for Fergus County, Judith Basin County, Montana. It was in force for 27 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 12, 2024, 3:48 PM MDT (21:48 UTC)
Expired
Aug 12, 2024, 4:15 PM MDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Great Falls, MT
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Fergus County, MT, Judith Basin County, MT

The radar

The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 128 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:49 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.

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 12, 1:14 PM MDT, 2 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 12, 1:14 PM MDT, 2 hours 34 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
114 PM MDT Mon Aug 12 2024

.SYNOPSIS...

Showers and thunderstorms will occur through at least
Friday across at least some portion of North-central, Central, and
Southwestern Montana. The showers and thunderstorms will be the most
widespread on Tuesday. Isolated thunderstorms this afternoon and
evening and Tuesday afternoon and evening will produce severe wind
gusts, large hail, and heavy rainfall. A cold front moves through
on Tuesday which cools down temperatures on Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

This afternoon through Tuesday... This afternoon an upper-level
ridge remains over North-central, Central, and Southwestern
Montana. This afternoon through this evening an upper-level level
shortwave moves through the upper-level flow. This will cause
there to be showers and thunderstorms in the Golden Triangle
region (the region from Cut Bank to Havre to Great Falls) and
Southwestern Montana through this evening. This afternoon the
Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Marginal Risk for
severe weather(5% chance for severe wind gusts within 25 miles of
point)for the Golden Triangle region, Madison and Gallatin
Counties, and eastern Beaverhead County. Isolated thunderstorms
will produce severe wind gusts (wind gusts greater than 58 mph).
The upper-level ridge remains over North-central, Central, and
Southwestern Montana through Tuesday morning before an upper-level
trough begins moving over the area Tuesday afternoon. A cold
front associated with the upper-level trough will move through
North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana Tuesday afternoon
through early evening. On Tuesday the SPC has issued a Marginal
Risk for severe weather(5% chance for severe wind gusts and a 5%
chance for golf ball-sized hail withing 25 miles of point) for
eastern Beaverhead, southeastern Madison, and Gallatin Counties
and Eastern Fergus and Blaine Counties. Isolated thunderstorms
will produce severe wind gusts (wind gusts greater than 58 mph)
and hail the size of golf balls (primarily in eastern Beaverhead,
southeastern Madison, and Gallatin Counties). Some thunderstorms
will produce heavy rainfall. On Tuesday locations across
Southwestern Montana have a 20 - 50% chance for receiving a
quarter inch of rain or greater. On Tuesday locations in Central
Montana have a 30 - 60% chance for receiving a tenth of an inch of
rain or greater.

Wednesday through Friday... On Wednesday the upper-level trough
remains over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. This
will allow for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and
evening across the area. Due to the cold front that moves through on
Tuesday temperatures will be 5 to 10 degrees below seasonal averages
across the lower-elevation's of North-central, Central, and
Southwestern Montana on Wednesday. On Wednesday locations across
Southwestern Montana have a 40 - 60% chance for receiving a tenth of
an inch of rain or greater. On Thursday an upper-level ridge moves
back over North-central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. However,
an upper-level shortwave moves through the upper-level flow and
will bring showers and thunderstorms to the area. On Thursday all
lower-elevations of North-central, Central, and Southwestern
Montana have a 20 - 40% chance for a tenth of an inch of rain or
greater. On Friday the upper-level ridge remains over North-
central, Central, and Southwestern Montana. However, an upper-
level shortwave moves through the upper-level flow and will bring
showers and thunderstorms to the area.

Saturday through next Monday... On Saturday clusters show an upper-
level ridge over North-central and Central Montana with an upper-
level trough beginning to move over the area. This will keep similar
weather on Saturday to Friday. On Sunday and Monday deterministic
models and clusters begin to diverge. This will continue to be
monitored for details. -IG

&&

.AVIATION...
12/18Z TAF Period

The primary concern this TAF period will be for showers and widely
scattered thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Gusty winds are
the main concern with thunderstorms, with small hail being a lesser
concern. Wildfire smoke may obscure distant mountains and reduce
slant-range visibility. Additional showers will be around late
morning tomorrow, but mention in TAFs was excluded for now due to
low confidence in terminal impacts. -AM

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

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF  55  83  56  78 /  10  40  40  30
CTB  52  82  54  78 /  20  20  20  20
HLN  56  83  55  80 /  20  60  50  40
BZN  52  80  49  78 /  20  60  60  50
WYS  44  70  39  68 /  40  70  60  70
DLN  50  76  46  73 /  10  70  40  40
HVR  56  89  59  83 /  20  20  30  20
LWT  52  83  52  76 /  10  30  60  40

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 12, 3:11 PM MDT, 37 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 12, 3:14 PM MDT, 34 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 12, 3:23 PM MDT, 25 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 12, 3:25 PM MDT, 23 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 12, 3:33 PM MDT, 15 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
333 PM MDT Mon Aug 12 2024

MTZ325-330-122200-
Madison River Valley MT-
Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains MT-
333 PM MDT Mon Aug 12 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN MADISON AND CENTRAL
GALLATIN COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM MDT...

At 333 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 24
miles south of Virginia City, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southeastern
Madison and central Gallatin Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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 4483 11191 4500 11199 4520 11138 4494 11125
TIME...MOT...LOC 2133Z 250DEG 37KT 4494 11185

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

SC
Special weather statement, Aug 12, 3:40 PM MDT, 8 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
340 PM MDT Mon Aug 12 2024

MTZ310-313-314-317-122215-
Judith Basin County and Judith Gap MT-
Little Belt and Highwood Mountains MT-
Western and Central Chouteau County MT-Fergus County below 4500ft MT-
340 PM MDT Mon Aug 12 2024

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN JUDITH BASIN...WEST
CENTRAL FERGUS AND SOUTH CENTRAL CHOUTEAU COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM
MDT...

At 340 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Highwood to 7 miles southwest of Denton.
Movement was northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Geraldine, Denton, Highwood, Shonkin, Coffee Creek, and Square Butte.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

These storms 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 4786 11053 4731 10948 4717 11004 4762 11089
TIME...MOT...LOC 2140Z 242DEG 16KT 4761 11073 4725 11006

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

SC

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 11, 7:55 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXPondera35 min
Aug 12, 1:18 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXMadison27 min
Aug 12, 1:42 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXMadison33 min
Aug 12, 1:45 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXGlacier30 min
Aug 12, 2:17 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXPondera28 min
Aug 12, 2:21 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXMadison24 min
Aug 12, 2:25 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXMadison35 min
Aug 12, 2:35 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXJudith Basin25 min
Aug 12, 2:48 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXPondera27 min
Aug 12, 2:50 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXCascade25 min
Aug 12, 3:11 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXJudith Basin34 min
Aug 12, 3:14 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXPondera46 min
Aug 12, 3:20 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXGlacier, Pondera, Toole25 min
Aug 12, 3:23 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXGallatin37 min
Aug 12, 3:25 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFX35 min
Aug 12, 3:33 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXMadison27 min
Aug 12, 3:40 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXChouteau35 min
Aug 12, 3:44 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXPondera, Toole31 min
Aug 12, 4:13 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXMadison32 min
Aug 12, 4:18 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXChouteau42 min
Aug 12, 4:20 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXLiberty, Toole40 min
Aug 12, 4:44 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXLiberty, Toole31 min
Aug 12, 4:47 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXChouteau28 min
Aug 12, 4:56 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXChouteau, Teton64 min
Aug 12, 5:15 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXChouteau30 min
Aug 12, 5:16 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTFXHill, Liberty29 min
Aug 12, 5:31 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXFergus29 min
Aug 12, 5:38 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXChouteau37 min
Aug 12, 5:40 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFX35 min
Aug 12, 5:52 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementTFXHill23 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Montana, 2024Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2024

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.