Strong west winds aloft associated with a passing low pressure system impacted northeast Montana from the afternoon of the 23rd and into the early morning hours of the 24th. Although a strong surface inversion prevented the strongest winds from becoming widespread across the area, lapse rates were strong enough to mix these stronger winds aloft down to the surface across some of the higher…
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The episode as NWS GGW wrote it up.
Strong west winds aloft associated with a passing low pressure system impacted northeast Montana from the afternoon of the 23rd and into the early morning hours of the 24th. Although a strong surface inversion prevented the strongest winds from becoming widespread across the area, lapse rates were strong enough to mix these stronger winds aloft down to the surface across some of the higher elevation sites in Phillips County. In addition, a grass fire was started southeast of Malta, which showed signs of growing quickly before it was put out that evening.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Glasgow, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 23, 7:59 PM MST, 3 hours 54 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Glasgow MT 759 PM MST Thu Nov 23 2017 .SHORT TERM...for northeast Montana...tonight through Fri... Evening Update: Combined the 6 & 9 pm updates with the rapidly changing fire weather issues tonight. Made adjustments with the wind forecast with the lull before the cold arrives around midnight kicking the winds up again for the overnight hours. Made a few changes with the timing of the front and conditions expected with it. Proton Previous Discussion: Today will go down in the record books with temperatures smashing previous records by quite a bit. The high today was achieved thanks to more sunshine than expected and strong downsloping west winds. Surface low pressure over Alberta/Sask this afternoon was the weather system in the driver's seat. It will move east tonight and allow a cold front to drop south into the CWA late tonight. Cold Air Advection coupled with strong mid-level winds will allow for winds to increase a bit after they diminish late today, with warning criteria speeds expected for areas in SW Phillips County. Lake Wind Advisory winds are expected over Fort Peck lake. The GFS, which did a splendid job this morning picking out the timing/placement with the clearing today, may be a bit too wet later tonight, showing good coverage of showers in the southern zones. Still leaned on it heavily since is had a good track record today. Friday, NW winds will bring cooler air in, but no arctic cold. Sunshine should allow temperatures to reach the 40s to near 50, about 10 degrees above normal. TFJ .LONG TERM...Fri night through Thu... 12z models didn't show too much different than what previous models showed. Precipitation on Monday continues to split around us and therefore not too many concerns yet. Yo-yo temperatures continue. TFJ Previous Discussion... Ridge continues to rebound through the weekend with another warm front lifting across the region on Sunday for temperatures warming again into the 50s or lower 60s. The rebounding ridge is in response to a trof digging south from the Gulf of Alaska. This trof moves through western Canada and the Great Basin on Monday. Models remain in better agreement with most of the moisture and energy splitting around northeast Montana and the best chance for precipitation across the southern zones as a cold front sweeps through the state. Temperatures should drop to near normal on Tuesday before the western ridge begins to rebound. Ebert && .AVIATION... Flight Conditions: VFR. Mid-level clouds will increase then showers will develop especially close the Glendive area late tonight as a cold front sweeps in from the NW. LLWS is possible later tonight in the vicinity of the cold front. && .FIRE WEATHER... A Red Flag warning is in effect until 11pm for the western half of the forecast area. Major grass fire reported in Central Phillips county. The fire was very visible on satellite until the high clouds moved in. The radar had the plume from the fire for the afternoon and early evening hours, and now the plume has gone from the radar image. Strong wind and low relative humidity lead to ability of the grass fire to spread rapidly this afternoon. Do expect by 11pm with RH recovery and some light showers moving into the area the RFW will be allow to expire by then. Proton && .GLASGOW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until 11 PM MST this evening for MTZ134>137. High Wind Warning until 6 AM MST Friday for Southwest Phillips. Lake Wind Advisory until 6 PM MST Friday For Fort Peck Lake for Central and Southeast Phillips...Central and Southern Valley... Garfield...McCone...Petroleum. && weather.gov/glasgow
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Glasgow MT 328 AM MST Thu Nov 23 2017 MTZ016>027-059>062-241030- Central and Southeast Phillips-Central and Southern Valley- Daniels-Sheridan-Western Roosevelt-Petroleum-Garfield-McCone- Richland-Dawson-Prairie-Wibaux-Northern Phillips- Southwest Phillips-Northern Valley-Eastern Roosevelt- 328 AM MST Thu Nov 23 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Montana. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Strong gusty west to northwest winds are anticipated from this afternoon through Friday. This could produce a significant chop on Fort Peck Lake and cause problems for high profile vehicles driving on north/south roads. A High Wind Warning is in effect around the Little Rockies. A Lake Wind Advisory is in effect for Fort Peck Lake. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to standard operating procedures.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
603 PM MST THU NOV 23 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 11 ENE ZORTMAN 47.96N 108.31W
11/23/2017 M53 MPH PHILLIPS MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
MEASURED AT THE MALTA SOUTH DOT SITE.
&&
AEHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
634 PM MST THU NOV 23 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1232 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ESE ZORTMAN 47.91N 108.50W
11/23/2017 M50 MPH PHILLIPS MT MESONET
ZORTMAN RAWS
&&
AEHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
642 PM MST THU NOV 23 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0131 PM WILDFIRE 7 E MALTA 48.37N 107.73W
11/23/2017 PHILLIPS MT FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
LARGE WILDFIRE STARTED WITH STRONG WEST WINDS PUSHING IT
EAST. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON FIRST INCIDENCE OF SMOKE
PLUME ON RADAR AND IS PRELIMINARY.
&&
AEHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
1002 PM MST THU NOV 23 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0906 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NE GLASGOW 48.21N 106.62W
11/23/2017 M50 MPH VALLEY MT ASOS
GUST MEASURED AT THE GLASGOW AIRPORT
&&
AEHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
1005 PM MST THU NOV 23 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0541 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 11 ENE ZORTMAN 47.96N 108.31W
11/23/2017 M56 MPH PHILLIPS MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
MEASURED AT THE MALTA SOUTH DOT SITE
&&
AEHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Winds at the Malta South DOT site gusted to or above 58 mph from 11:53 PM MST the night of November 23rd to 12:39 AM MST the morning of the 24th, with a peak wind gust of 68 mph 12:00 AM.
A 61 mph wind gust was measured at the Hays DOT site, located on MT-66 at milepost 10.5.
A 71 mph wind gust was measured by the BLM RAWS site in Zortman.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, November 2017
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 723047, 723049, 723051.