Full Text of Alerts Issued by the National Weather Service Regarding Incoming Storm
Billings office of the National Weather Service Alerts issued at 3:46 this morning
Flood Watch
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Billings MT
346 AM MDT Sun Apr 27 2025
.Runoff from a combination of heavy rain and some mid elevation snow
melt may cause flooding of streams and low lying areas in and
downstream of the foothills. Moderate to heavy rainfall over recent
burn areas (Robertson Draw and American Fork) may produce flash
flooding in and downstream of the burned area.
MTZ034-040-056-064>068-139-141-170-172-281000-
/O.CON.KBYZ.FA.A.0001.250427T2100Z-250429T0000Z/
/00000.0.RS.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Northern Stillwater-Northern Park-Red Lodge Foothills-Paradise
Valley-Livingston Area-Beartooth Foothills-Absaroka/Beartooth
Mountains-Crazy Mountains-Southeastern Carbon-Northern Sweet
Grass-Northern Carbon-Melville Foothills-
Including the locations of Bridger, Big Timber, Joliet, Fishtail,
Wilsall, Livingston, McLeod, Red Lodge, Emigrant, Cooke City,
Fromberg, Absarokee, Melville, Clyde Park, and Columbus
346 AM MDT Sun Apr 27 2025
...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...
* WHAT...Flooding caused by rain and snowmelt remains a threat.
* WHERE...A portion of south central Montana, including the
following areas, Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains, Beartooth
Foothills, Crazy Mountains, Livingston Area, Melville Foothills,
Northern Carbon, Northern Park, Northern Stillwater, Northern
Sweet Grass, Paradise Valley, Red Lodge Foothills and Southeastern
Carbon.
* WHEN...From 3 PM MDT this afternoon through Monday afternoon.
* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of streams and
other low-lying and flood-prone locations close to the foothills.
Some roads may become impassable. Now is the time to move
equipment and livestock to higher ground away from waterways.
Recent burn scars may be more susceptible to produce flash
flooding, including the Robertson Draw south of Red Lodge and the
American Fork in the Crazy mountains.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- Thunderstorms this afternoon will turn to more persistent
rain this evening into the overnight hours. Snow levels will
fall from 9500 feet this evening to around 5000 feet Monday
morning. Rain falling on snow may melt 1 to 3 inches of snow
water before cooler temperatures change precipitation to snow
ending the snowmelt. The combination of precipitation and
snowmelt may result in a 2 to 5 inch water event with rapid
runoff filling small streams and creeks along the foothills.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood
Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared
to take action should flooding develop. Those near burn areas should
have an evacuation plan in place and be prepared to move to a safe
location quickly should conditions warrant.
&&
$$
Winter Weather Advisory
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Billings MT
322 AM MDT Sun Apr 27 2025
MTZ056-066-280930-
/O.NEW.KBYZ.WW.Y.0027.250428T0600Z-250429T0000Z/
Red Lodge Foothills-Beartooth Foothills-
Including the locations of Roberts, Nye, Fishtail, McLeod, Red
Lodge, and Roscoe
322 AM MDT Sun Apr 27 2025
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM
MDT MONDAY...
* WHAT...Wet snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4-8 inches
expected with up to 10 inches in the higher foothills. Winds
gusting as high as 35 mph.
* WHERE...Beartooth Foothills and Red Lodge Foothills.
* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 6 PM MDT Monday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Wet snow will create
slushy road conditions. The hazardous conditions will impact the
Monday morning and evening commutes.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The greatest accumulations will be over
grassy surfaces.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Slow down and use caution while traveling. For the latest road
conditions, call 5 1 1.
&&
$$
Additional graphics for this hazard can be found at
http://www.weather.gov/billings
Stetzer
Hydrologic Outlook
Hydrologic Outlook
MTC003-009-037-065-067-075-087-095-097-107-111-WYC033-272100-
Hydrologic Outlook
National Weather Service Billings MT
233 PM MDT Sat Apr 26 2025
...Foothills flooding possible late Sunday into Monday due to rain
falling on existing snowpack...
The latest snow data from the NRCS and NOHRSC shows a significant
snowpack existing between 5500 and 7500 feet. In this elevation 3 to
7 inches of water is contained within the snowpack. A storm system
is expected to impact the area from Sunday afternoon through Monday.
From Sunday afternoon into early Monday morning temperatures will be
warm enough for rain to fall in this mid elevation layer over the
Beartooth, Absaroka and Crazy mountains and foothills. The Pryor and
Bighorn mountains and foothills will see rain potential from late
Sunday evening into early afternoon Monday. A few thunderstorms may
bring locally heavy rainfall Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening.
Snowmelt models are estimating half of this mid elevation snowpack
could melt out during the rainfall period. With 1 to 2 inches of
rain in the forecast, this means an additional 1.5 to 3.5 inches of
water contribution from snowmelt. Total water event could be 2.5 to
5.5 inches if these forecasts are correct.
Anywhere snowpack is present, the ground underneath is likely frozen
resulting in quick runoff until reaching unfrozen ground at lower
elevations. Burn scar areas will also see rapid runoff due to burnt
soil conditions, including the Robertson Draw, American Fork, and
Elk burn areas.
Smaller creeks and streams will see the highest potential for
flooding with this event. Forecasts for the larger rivers in our
area show up to 3 times the current flows by Tuesday, though water
levels remain well below flood stage. Water may flow overland and
across roadways creating difficult to dangerous foothills travel.
Low lying areas may fill with water creating additional property
flooding.
The severity of the impacts will depend on how quickly and how much
the snowpack melts, in addition to the amount of rain that falls on
top of the snowpack.
While flooding is not imminent, now is the time to move equipment
and livestock out of low lying areas, and away from waterways. If
you are downstream from a burn scar, have an evacuation plan ready
should conditions become dangerous. Do not drive over flooded
roadways as the roadbed may be washed out. Be especially careful
driving at night when water covered roadways are less visible.
This period is not a good time to recreate in the foothills, but
anyone that is recreating in these areas should expect changing
conditions and use extreme caution near waterways. Do not camp in
low lying areas adjacent to streams.
There is still uncertainty with this storm system. Stay tuned to the
forecast through the weekend for the latest trends, along with any
watches, warnings or advisories that may be issued. Please report
any flooding to local law enforcement and have them relay the report
to the National Weather Service.