Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Glasgow, MT
Issued by NWS Glasgow, MT
195 FXUS65 KGGW 010028 AFDGGW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Glasgow MT 628 PM MDT Sun Jun 30 2024 .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGES: 1) This evening, there are severe thunderstorms possible north of HWY 2 and severe thunderstorms likely south of HWY 2. 2) Unsettled weather with frequent opportunities for thunderstorms will continue the rest of the week. WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: A strong shortwave trough will replace the currently benign conditions. A strong cap is expected to erode along the high terrain of central Montana late this afternoon, as moisture advection will push dewpoints into the upper 50s to low 60s. Bulk shear will mainly be above 40 knots, the low level jet will eventually exceed 30 knots and MU CAPE values are expected to exceed 800 J/kg. Max updraft helicity of 2 to 5 km of 30 to 70 meters squared per second squared are expected to occur between 01Z and 06Z, which is a proxy for the most likely time period of severe hail. The highest values are centered on Garfield and Petroleum county. These ingredients will aid in thunderstorm development beginning around 5 PM and there is high (70 percent) confidence for some of these storms to turn severe trekking eastward. This activity is expected to continue through around midnight before the storms weaken and/or move into North Dakota. A cluster or line of storms producing severe wind is more favored in this scenario, though a few cells containing severe hail are a threat early on in the event. Beyond this time period, shower and thunderstorm chances continue throughout the week, which will help limit high temps from reaching 90 degrees for most of the area. The strength of thunderstorms and amount of beneficial rain in this period are in question based on northwesterly flow continuing through the end of the week. FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: There remains high (80 percent) confidence of thunderstorms occurring this evening, with medium to high (50 to 60 percent) confidence on severe wind and/or hail at any one location. -Zanker/Stoinskers && .AVIATION... LAST UPDATED: 0030Z FLIGHT CAT: VFR - MVFR. DISCUSSION: Mostly sunny skies, with scattered high clouds are expected to transition into a line of thunderstorms moving through TAF sites from 02Z to 09Z. Some of these may produce severe winds (as high as 65 kts) and small hail this evening, as well as reduce visibility and ceilings down to brief MVFR conditions. WIND: E to SE at 15 to 20 kts into the early evening. Switching to W and increasing to 30 to 40 kts with Thunderstorms briefly in the late evening. Then calming to 10 to 15 kts early morning Monday. Gusting to 25 kts in the afternoon. Then becoming light from the NW Monday evening. GAH && .GGW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ weather.gov/glasgow