Severe Thunderstorms Expected Across Northern Plains
• The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a slight risk of severe thunderstorms for portions of the northern Plains, including southeast Montana, northeast Wyoming, and the central Dakotas, for the afternoon and evening of August 30,
• A shortwave trough moving eastward across southern Saskatchewan and western Montana is expected to interact with a moist and unstable airmass, leading to the development of strong to severe thunderstorms. Forecasts indicate mid-60s dewpoints in the western Dakotas and upper 50s to low 60s in eastern Montana, with afternoon high temperatures ranging from the low 80s to low 90s. This setup is expected to produce MLCAPE values between 500-2000 J/kg, supporting storm development.
Impact & Risks
The primary risks associated with these storms include damaging wind gusts, with some gusts potentially reaching 65-80 mph. The most intense storms are forecast to occur near the intersection of the North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana borders, extending eastward into south-central North Dakota and north-central South Dakota. Additional risks include isolated hail and strong outflow winds in the central High Plains and western Colorado. While the storms are expected to weaken as they move eastward, localized impacts may still occur.
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