|
|
|
|
Short Fuse Warning/Watch
Products related to Severe Thunderstorms
(WFO Missoula)
AFOS/AWIPS
Product
Category
|
Product
|
Issued For
|
Issuing Office
|
GTFSVRMSO
|
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
|
3/4 inch hail, 50 kt wind
(58 mph)
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFFFWMSO
|
Severe Thunderstorm and
Flash Flood Warning
|
3/4 inch hail, 50 kt wind
(58 mph) combined
with flash flooding
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFSEL#
|
Severe Thunderstorm Watch by
box
|
forecast of conditions
favorable for severe
thunderstorm
development
|
SPC
|
GTFSEV#
|
Severe Thunderstorm Watch by
counties
|
forecast of conditions
favorable for severe
thunderstorm
development
|
SPC
|
GTFSVSMSO
|
Severe Weather Statement
|
observed severe
weather, canceling all
or part of a warning
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFSPSMSO
|
Special Weather Statement
|
canceling all or part of
a watch
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFLSRMSO
|
Local Storm/Spotter Report
|
reporting severe or
significant weather by
location, time, and
effect; e.g. damage,
death, injuries. Include
information source
|
WFO Missoula
|
Products related to Tornadoes
(WFO Missoula)
AFOS/AWIPS
Product
Category
|
Product
|
Issued For
|
Issuing Office
|
GTFTORMSO
|
Tornado Warning
|
tornado or funnel cloud
observed
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFTORMSO
|
Tornado and Flash Flood
Warning
|
tornado or funnel cloud
observed with flash
flooding rainfall
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFSEL#
|
Tornado/Severe Thunderstorm
Watch by box
|
forecast of conditions
favorable for severe
thunderstorm
development
|
SPC
|
GTFSEV#
|
Tornado/Severe Thunderstorm
Watch by counties
|
forecast of conditions
favorable for severe
thunderstorm
development
|
SPC
|
GTFSVSMSO
|
Severe Weather Statement
|
more information on
Tornado warning,
cancellation, or a
statement to report a
tornado which
dissipated before a
warning could be
issued
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFLSRMSO
|
Storm Report
|
reporting severe or
significant weather by
location, time, and
effect; e.g. damage,
death, injuries. Include
information source
|
WFO Missoula
|
Products related to Flooding
(WFO Missoula)
AFOS/AWIPS
Product
Category
|
Product
|
Issued For
|
Issuing Office
|
GTFFFWMSO
|
Flash Flood Warning
|
urban and small stream
flash flooding that is
imminent or in progress--life threatening
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFFLWMSO
|
Flood Warning
|
major river flooding that is
imminent or in progress
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFFFAMSO
|
Flash Flood/Flood Watch
|
a threat of flash flooding
or flooding when
occurrence is not yet
certain or imminent;
usually more than 6 hours
lead time
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFFLWMSO
|
Small Stream Flood Warning
|
small stream flooding that
is imminent or in progress
not life threatening but is
causing property damage
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFFLWMSO
|
Urban Flood Warning
|
urban flooding that is
imminent or in progress
not life threatening but is
causing property damage
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFFLWMSO
|
Urban and Small Stream
Flood Warning
|
urban and small stream
flooding that is imminent
or in progress - not life
threatening but is causing
property damage
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFFLSMSO
|
Urban and Small Stream
Flood Advisory
|
urban and/or small
stream flooding that is a
significant inconvenience--not life threatening and
causing property damage
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFFFSMSO
|
Flash Flood Statement
|
more information on a
flash flood watch or
warning or to cancel all or
a part of those products
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFFLSMSO
|
Flood Statement
|
more information on a
flood watch, warning or
advisory, or to cancel all
or part of those products
|
WFO Missoula
|
GTFLSRMSO
|
Local Storm/Spotter Report
|
reporting flash flooding or
other types of flooding by
time, location and effect;
e.g. damage, death,
injuries. Include
information source
|
WFO Missoula
|
Winter Weather Warnings/Advisories
(Missoula WFO)
Product
|
Definition |
| Winter Storm
Watch |
issued when hazardous weather
is forecast to occur, but timing is still uncertain, such as second, third
or fourth periods |
| Winter Storm Warning |
** The following Heavy Snow criteria along with
any one or more of the following:**
- Significant blowing and/or drifting of snow
- Sustained and/or frequent wind gusts >20 mph and
<35 mph
- Wind Chills <20 below zero
- Freezing Rain or Sleet.
Heavy Snow Criteria:
|
Warm
Season:
(Early May to mid October)
ALL ELEVATIONS including MSO and GPI Airports:
- 4 inches or more of snow in 12 hours,
or
- 6 inches or more in 24 hours ...
|
|
Cool
Season
(Mid October to Early May)
Idaho and Montana
|
Montana:
Zones 3, 5 <= 3500 feet,
Zones 1, 4, 43 <= 4500 feet,
Zones 2, 6, <= 5500 feet,
Zone 7 <= 6500 feet
- 6 inches or more in 12 hours..or
- 8 inches or more in 24 hours
|
|
Idaho::
Zones 5, 9 <= 4000 feet,
Zones 7, 8 <= 5000 feet,
Zones 6 <= 6000 feet,
Zone 10 <= 7000 feet
- 6 inches or more in 12 hours...or
- 8 inches or more in 24 hours
|
|
MSO and GPI Airports:
4 inches or more of snow in 12 hours...or
6 inches or more in 24 hours
|
|
|
| Winter Weather Advisory |
issued when multiple hazardous
or significant winter weather events are occurring, imminent or have a very
high probability of occurring (e.g freezing rain, snow, sleet, wind
chill, dense fog etc.). Advisory used when conditions pose a significant
inconvenience |
| Blizzard Warning |
the following conditions are
expected to prevail for 3 hours or longer:
sustained winds or gusts to 35 mph or
more AND
considerable falling or blowing snow,
reducing visibilities frequently to < 1/4
mile |
| Freezing Rain/Drizzle Advisory |
Advisory used when conditions
pose a significant inconvience from precipitation that is generally light. |
| Heavy Snow Warning |
Heavy Snow Criteria:
|
Warm Season:
(Early May to mid October)
ALL ELEVATIONS including MSO and GPI Airports:
- 4 inches or more of snow in 12 hours,
or
- 6 inches or more in 24 hours ...
|
|
Cool
Season
(Mid October to Early May)
Idaho and Montana
Montana:
Zones 3, 5 <= 3500 feet,
Zones 1, 4, 43 <= 4500 feet,
Zones 2, 6, <= 5500 feet,
Zone 7 <= 6500 feet
- 6 inches or more in 12 hours..or
- 8 inches or more in 24 hours
|
|
Idaho::
Zones 5, 9 <= 4000 feet,
Zones 7, 8 <= 5000 feet,
Zones 6 <= 6000 feet,
Zone 10 <= 7000 feet
- 6 inches or more in 12 hours...or
- 8 inches or more in 24 hours
|
|
MSO and GPI Airports:
4 inches or more of snow in 12 hours...or
6 inches or more in 24 hours
|
|
|
| Ice Storm Warning |
1/4 inch accumulation of ice,
and when significant and possibly damaging accumulation of ice are expected |
| Snow and Blowing/Drifting Snow Advisory
or
Blowing and Drifting Snow Advisory |
Snow Advisory Criteria with wind driven snow that reduces
visibility.
Blowing and Drifting Snow Advisory can be used without snow falling but for snow that has already accumulated
and is picked up and blown by strong winds. Drifting snow is an uneven distribution
of snowfall/depth caused by strong surface wind, which may occur during
or after snowfall. |
| Snow Advisory |
Advisory Criteria:
|
Warm Season:
(Early May to mid October)
ALL ELEVATIONS:
- 1 to 3 inches in 12 hours
|
|
Cool
Season
(Mid October to Early May)
Idaho and Montana
|
Montana:
Zones 3, 5 <= 3500 feet, Zones 1, 4, 43 <= 4500 feet, Zones 2, 6, <= 5500 feet, and Zone 7 <= 6500 feet
Idaho:
Zones 5, 9 <= 4000 feet, Zones 7, 8 <= 5000 feet, Zone 6 <= 6000 feet and Zone 10 <= 7000 feet,
and GPI and MSO airports
- 2 to 5 inches in 12 hours, where 4 inches
triggers AWWGPI and AWWMSO issuance
|
No Advisories are issued
for snow above 7000 feet
|
|
Anywhere
|
Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory
|
Issued for sustained winds >=30
mph, < 40 mph or gusts to >= 40
mph
Issued only from April 1 to
November 30 for sustained winds
> 20 mph, < 40 mph or gusts to
30 mph
|
GTFNPWMSO
|
High Wind Warning
|
Sustained winds >= 40 mph
and/or gusts >= 50 mph (58 mph
Camas Prairie IDZ007)
|
GTFNPWMSO
|
Freeze Warning
|
Temps at or below 32 over a
large area for a significant period
or time during the growing season
|
GTFNPWMSO
|
Frost Warning
|
When frost is expected over a
large area during the growing
season
|
GTFNPWMSO
|
High Wind Watch
|
Normally issued when high winds
are expected in the latter portion
of the first forecast period or in
the second or third periods.
|
GTFNPWMSO
|
Wind Chill Warning
|
-20 F or less with wind >= 10 mph
and duration > 1 hour
|
GTFWSWMSO
|
Wind Chill Advisory
|
-10 F or less with wind >= 10 mph
and duration > 1 hour
|
GTFWSWMSO
|
Dense Fog Advisory
|
Widespread visibility of less than
1/4 mile
|
GTFNPWMSO
|
Dust Storm Warning
|
Widespread visibility of ¼ mile or
less and winds 30 mph or greater
|
GTFNPWMSO
|
Volcanic Ash Advisory
|
Whenever it occurs
|
GTFNPWMSO
|
|
|
|
Webmaster
US Dept of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
Missoula Weather Forecast Office
6633 Aviation Way
Missoula, MT 59808-9381
Tel: (406) 329-4840
|
Disclaimer
Information Quality
Credits
Glossary |
Privacy Policy
Freedom of Information Act
About Us
Career Opportunities
|
National Weather Service Mission: "The
National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather,
hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for
the United States, its territories, adjacent waters
and ocean areas, for the protection of life and
property and the enhancement of the national economy.
NWS data and products form a national information
database and infrastructure which can be used by
other governmental agencies, the private sector,
the public, and the global community." |
|
|
|
|