A vigorous upper level trough brought a potent jet streak across the region. These strong winds just above the deck were translated to the surface across portions of North-central through Southwest Montana.
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The episode as NWS TFX wrote it up.
A vigorous upper level trough brought a potent jet streak across the region. These strong winds just above the deck were translated to the surface across portions of North-central through Southwest Montana.
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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 29, 10:50 PM MST, 2 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Great Falls MT 1050 PM MST Thu Feb 29 2024 UPDATED AVIATION SECTION .SYNOPSIS... Expect gusty winds to taper off overnight tonight across most of the area in the wake of a sharp cold front that will push through the area overnight tonight. After a few snow showers early, Friday will be a cooler but mostly dry day across the area. More snow arrives on Saturday, followed by cooler temperatures to start the work week. && .UPDATE... At 8pm, the surface Pacific cold front extends south along I-15 to just west of Great Falls then southwest to near MacDonald Pass. Winds shift to west with a brief gust to around 45 kts with the frontal passage with radar showing an area of precipitation behind the front in line with previous forecasts with slightly earlier timing by 1-2 hours. Observations have shown a quick transition to snow with temperatures falling to the mid 30s behind the front. Main impacts expected with the frontal passage and precipitation band is quickly changing conditions and visibility reduction with some minor slushy snow accumulation, primarily on non paved surfaces. Hoenisch && .AVIATION... 1050 PM MST Thu Feb 29 2024 (01/06Z TAF Period) The immediate concern for the terminals will be the gradual passage of a Pacific cold front across North Central, Central, and Southwest Montana. Gusty southwest winds will shift more westerly behind the front, while periods of rain and snow showers reduce conditions to MVFR/IFR with enhanced wind gusts. Mountain obscuration is expected with the showers as well. The Hi-Line (KCTB KHVR) will be a bit more tricky with respect to winds, as a weak Canadian cold front will linger around that area, causing winds to be a bit lighter and more variable but with periods of gusty westerly winds. After 12Z or so, conditions should mostly be VFR with partial clearing. Gusty westerly winds should also mix down to the surface after 18Z as the airmass becomes weakly unstable, which may allow scattered showers to redevelop, mainly along a line from KHLN to KLWT, but also south of a line from Monida Pass to KBZN, possibly including KEKS. The southwesterly flow aloft will also cause moderate mountain wave turbulence and periods of low level wind shear. -Coulston Refer to weather.gov/zlc for more detailed regional aviation weather and hazard information. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 450 PM MST Thu Feb 29 2024/ Key points: -Gusty winds continue this afternoon and evening, followed by a cold front with a line of rain and moderate to heavy snow showers -Light snow expected this weekend, followed by cooler temperatures Short Term (through Friday)... Windy conditions continue across the area today as a potent jet streak in the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere push through the area ahead of a vigorous upper level trough. While wind gusts to this point have not been overly strong, with most areas coming in with wind gusts between 35-45 mph, though a few areas have seen gusts over 55 mph this afternoon. Winds should begin to increase across Southwestern Montana within the next few hours or so, just ahead of a sharp cold front that will sweep through the area this evening. Turning our attention to the cold front this evening, expect a well defined and sharp cold front to push through the area this evening and overnight tonight. As the front passes through the area, expect a band of rain and moderate to heavy snowfall to accompany it as the front rushes through the area overnight tonight. The main concern with this front will be the potential for a bit of a snow squall as it passes, which would result in a sudden reduction in visibility as it passes through. With that said, given this will occur during the overnight hours, the impacts from this squall should be rather limited. Behind this front, expect cooler temperatures for Friday with a few snow showers, especially over the mountains. Extended (Saturday through next Thursday)... A deep upper level trough will push in to the Northwestern US and Northern Rockies over the weekend, bringing moisture and lift into the cold air mass that will arrive on Friday across North Central and Southwestern Montana. As this trough pushes in, expect widespread light snow to develop across the area that will last for much of the daylight hours and into the overnight. Overall, most of the area will see 1 to 2 inches, though a few areas like the Rocky Mountain Front and West Yellowstone may see a bit more snow thanks to some orographic effects. As the core of the trough moves through the area early next week, expect colder temperatures and a few afternoon snow showers thanks to the cold air mass overhead combining with a strengthening March sun angle. This trough will push eastward around or after midweek, allowing temperatures to moderate a bit for the second half of the week with drier conditions. Ludwig && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 26 44 22 33 / 100 20 10 70 CTB 20 36 13 17 / 50 0 10 60 HLN 23 42 22 34 / 100 40 20 70 BZN 25 41 21 38 / 90 60 20 70 WYS 25 31 18 30 / 90 90 70 90 DLN 25 37 23 36 / 80 30 20 60 HVR 23 42 20 35 / 30 10 20 50 LWT 26 42 22 40 / 70 40 20 50 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM MST Friday for East Glacier Park Region-Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains-Northwest Beaverhead County. High Wind Warning until 4 AM MST Friday for Beaverhead and Western Madison below 6000ft-Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains-Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains-Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains-Madison River Valley- Missouri Headwaters-Ruby Mountains and Southern Beaverhead Mountains-Upper Blackfoot and MacDonald Pass. High Wind Warning until midnight MST tonight for Cascade County below 5000ft-Judith Basin County and Judith Gap. && http://www.weather.gov/greatfalls
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
818 PM MST Thu Feb 29 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 14 W Bynum 47.98N 112.61W
02/29/2024 M59 MPH Teton MT Mesonet
Mesonet station DELMT Dellwo (MCSCN).
&&
IGPreliminary Local Storm Report...Corrected
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
828 PM MST Thu Feb 29 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 16 SE Gallatin Gateway 45.44N 110.95W
02/29/2024 M65 MPH Gallatin MT Mesonet
Mesonet station GNFHY 10.7 W Emigrant
(AVALANCHE).
&&
IGPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
951 PM MST Thu Feb 29 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0912 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 W Havre 48.55N 109.77W
02/29/2024 M59 MPH Hill MT ASOS
ASOS station KHVR Havre Airport.
&&
SACPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1006 PM MST Thu Feb 29 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 E Cascade 47.28N 111.62W
02/29/2024 M61 MPH Cascade MT Mesonet
Mesonet station MTM76 Cascade E Mda.
&&
JTGPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1159 PM MST Thu Feb 29 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1005 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 21 SW Lima 44.47N 112.95W
02/29/2024 M62 MPH Beaverhead MT Mesonet
Mesonet station HRKM8 Harkness RAWS.
&&
JTGPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1232 AM MST Fri Mar 1 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0204 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 7 S Big Sky 45.17N 111.35W
02/29/2024 M58 MPH Gallatin MT Mesonet
Yellow Mule RAWS site. Station Elevation:
8930 ft.
&&
SACThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet station MTRAY Raynolds Pass measured a gust of 58 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, March 2024
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: 1166477.