A strong jet stream, combined with tight surface pressure gradients, resulted in high wind gusts across portions of the Billings Forecast Area.
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The episode as NWS BYZ wrote it up.
A strong jet stream, combined with tight surface pressure gradients, resulted in high wind gusts across portions of the Billings Forecast Area.
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 Billings, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 1, 4:05 AM MST, 6 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
405 AM MST Wed Jan 1 2020
.DISCUSSION...
Today and tonight...
Winds were cranking in the warning areas, with gusts to 70 mph
yet at Livingston. Winds were not that strong at Big Timber, but
still gusting to 50 mph. Winds will stay very strong through the
morning and into the afternoon. Would expect to see some decrease
in the stronger gusts at Livingston and Nye as a cold front works
across the area this afternoon, and this transitions things away
from a gap event to a mixing one. Still expect to see Advisory
level winds in the afternoon (especially early afternoon) at
Livingston, as 50kt winds were lingering at 700mb. All indications
point to winds falling below Advisory levels this evening at
Livingston. For Big Timber through Harlowton, 700mb winds approach
70kts this morning and cling to 55kts this afternoon. Would
expect an uptick in winds in these locations this morning into the
afternoon as instability increases and mixing maxes out. All in
all, the warnings for wind look in real good shape. For the rest
of southern Montana today, expect winds to gust in a similar
manner to Tuesday. Gusts should reach 35-40mph for many locations
in south central Montana, with lesser gusts over southeast
Montana. 850mb winds to 35kts should limit wind gusts to 40mph
today.
A shortwave trough will work across the area today and generate
rain and snow showers. Strong downslope flow will keep the highest
PoPs over the mountains and nearest the foothills and locations
east of Billings today and tonight. Warm air aloft will mix down
today and allow for highs to surge into the 40s. There is a slight
risk for some freezing precipitation this morning over eastern
zones with surface temperatures sub freezing in spots and a warm
layer off the surface. Most locations have mixed out to above
freezing, so not expecting a widespread risk. Those locations
below freezing will rise quickly above freezing this morning and
alleviate the risk for freezing rain. Another wave swings across
the area tonight and this combined with some low level convergence
points to a higher PoP area over the east. Should be all snow, or
at least a rain and snow mix, with 850mb temperatures below zero.
Models were consistent on this, so went with a brief period of
likely snow from around Hysham to Miles City to Colstrip. Not
expecting a lot of snow, maybe an inch or two.
For the mountains, rounds of snow have been swinging in through
the night. As the shortwave to the west approaches, this will tap
into more instability and increase the snow rates for the high
country. The heaviest snow should fall this morning and early this
afternoon. Warning looks on track. TWH
Thursday through Tuesday
High winds will continue for the rest of the week and into next
week, with a slightly cooler pattern for next week.
A strong pressure gradient will reposition over south-central
Montana on Thursday, bringing about another brief round of gap
winds. Strong mixing is expected over the plains, so ahead of a
cold front that passes through Thursday afternoon and evening,
winds will pick up throughout the rest of the cwa. Behind the
front, temperatures will drop into the 20s overnight, and winds
will briefly shut off.
The pressure gradient will redevelop throughout Friday as brief
upper ridging sets up over the area, and gap winds will make a
return. High winds will remain in the vicinity of Livingston and
Big Timber (and up north through Harlowton to an extent) through
Friday and into Saturday morning. Then just like on Thursday,
strong mixing potential exists across the rest of SE Montana
Saturday afternoon and evening, and gusty winds will move east
across the area. Behind the winds will be another cold front that
will shut off the winds Saturday night. With strong downslope
winds on Saturday, temperatures still have the potential to reach
the upper 50s, though upper 40s to low 50s are expected at this
time.
1-2 more rounds of shortwaves and associated cold fronts look to
move through the area for the first half of next bring, again
bringing about off and on gap winds. The flow does look more
slightly unsettled though, and temperatures will take a slight
dip, with highs mainly in the 30s. Vertz
&&
.AVIATION...
Strong southwest winds will continue around KLVM, K6S0, and up to
KHWQ. Gusts up to 55 to 65 kts are expected this morning, then
winds will slowly decrease through the day. The strongest winds
will be around KLVM and K6S0. East of this area will have gusts of
20 to 30 kts through the day. Strong winds aloft around KMLS will
result in LLWS.
Areas of light rain, snow and freezing rain will occur early this
morning east of a line from KBIL to KSHR. Rain and snow will
occur over the west. VFR will prevail, with areas of MVFR possible
through the day over the west. The mountains will be obscured.
Arthur/TWH
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...
Tdy Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
-------------------------------------------------------
BIL 048 032/043 026/044 034/051 029/042 027/039 025/040
2/O 21/N 11/B 11/N 11/U 11/N 11/B
LVM 044 030/038 025/042 033/044 024/036 022/034 020/035
6/O 54/S 11/N 04/S 21/N 11/N 11/B
HDN 047 031/043 022/041 029/051 026/041 024/039 020/039
4/O 53/S 21/B 11/N 11/U 12/S 11/B
MLS 047 029/042 021/036 027/050 026/040 021/036 020/037
5/O 64/S 20/B 00/E 10/U 11/N 10/B
4BQ 045 028/041 020/036 025/049 025/037 021/035 018/035
5/O 64/S 20/B 01/N 10/U 11/N 10/B
BHK 042 028/038 018/032 020/045 024/035 019/032 015/033
5/O 45/S 40/B 00/B 00/N 01/B 10/B
SHR 045 028/040 018/039 025/050 021/038 019/035 016/037
3/O 43/S 21/B 01/B 11/U 12/S 11/B
&&
.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...High Wind Warning in effect until 10 PM MST this evening FOR
ZONES 63-141-172-228.
High Wind Warning in effect until 6 PM MST this evening FOR
ZONES 65-66.
Winter Storm Warning in effect until midnight MST tonight FOR
ZONE 67.
WY...None.
&&
weather.gov/billingsPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
502 AM MST WED JAN 01 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0318 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 17 S FORT SMITH 45.07N 107.89W
01/01/2020 M51.00 MPH BIG HORN MT MESONET
&&
VERTZPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
802 AM MST WED JAN 01 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0712 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 17 NE WILSALL 46.16N 110.38W
01/01/2020 M53.00 MPH PARK MT MESONET
&&
REIMERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
835 AM MST WED JAN 01 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0352 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 ENE LIVINGSTON 45.70N 110.45W
12/31/2019 M54.00 MPH PARK MT ASOS
0440 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW BIG TIMBER 45.81N 109.98W
12/31/2019 M59.00 MPH SWEET GRASS MT AWOS
0916 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 ENE LIVINGSTON 45.70N 110.45W
12/31/2019 M67.00 MPH PARK MT ASOS
1125 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW BIG TIMBER 45.81N 109.98W
12/31/2019 M60.00 MPH SWEET GRASS MT AWOS
1200 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SW GREYCLIFF 45.74N 109.83W
12/31/2019 M63.00 MPH SWEET GRASS MT MESONET
1218 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 17 S FORT SMITH 45.07N 107.89W
12/31/2019 M52.00 MPH BIG HORN MT MESONET
0225 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW BIG TIMBER 45.81N 109.98W
12/31/2019 M67.00 MPH SWEET GRASS MT AWOS
0415 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 ENE LIVINGSTON 45.70N 110.45W
12/31/2019 M70.00 MPH PARK MT ASOS
0457 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 ENE LIVINGSTON 45.69N 110.50W
12/31/2019 M68.00 MPH PARK MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
0603 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 ENE LIVINGSTON 45.70N 110.45W
12/31/2019 M80.00 MPH PARK MT ASOS
0807 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 ENE LIVINGSTON 45.69N 110.50W
12/31/2019 M72.00 MPH PARK MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
1019 PM NON-TSTM WND GST JUDITH GAP 46.69N 109.75W
12/31/2019 M51.00 MPH WHEATLAND MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
1119 PM NON-TSTM WND GST JUDITH GAP 46.69N 109.75W
12/31/2019 M54.00 MPH WHEATLAND MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
1210 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW BIG TIMBER 45.81N 109.98W
01/01/2020 M58.00 MPH SWEET GRASS MT AWOS
1253 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 ENE LIVINGSTON 45.70N 110.45W
01/01/2020 M69.00 MPH PARK MT ASOS
0210 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW BIG TIMBER 45.81N 109.98W
01/01/2020 M64.00 MPH SWEET GRASS MT AWOS
0225 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW BIG TIMBER 45.81N 109.98W
01/01/2020 M66.00 MPH SWEET GRASS MT AWOS
0325 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW BIG TIMBER 45.81N 109.98W
01/01/2020 M67.00 MPH SWEET GRASS MT AWOS
0712 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 17 NE WILSALL 46.16N 110.38W
01/01/2020 M53.00 MPH PARK MT MESONET
&&
REIMERThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Winds gusted to 60 mph at the Sheridan Airport.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, January 2020
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: 866903.