Winter Storm in Montana, December 20 to 30, 1996

On 12/20/96 - Six to nine inches of new snow at Seeley Lake Area, eight inches at Darby, and seven inches at Big Fork and Heron.On 12/21/96 - Ten inches of new snow at Kalispell, eight to ten inches at Lookout Pass and between Clearwater Junction and Condon, seven inches of new snow at Swan Lake and Seeley Lake, and six inches at St. Regis.On 12/22/96 - Fourteen inches of new snow at Big Fork and seven inches at Polson.On 12/23/96 - Eight inches of new snow at Deborgia, seven inches at Seeley Lake, and six inches at Potomac.On 12/24/96 - Fourteen inches of new snow at Potomac, eleven inches at Hamilton, ten inches at Missoula, nine inches at Swan Lake, and eight inches at Seeley Lake.On 12/25/96 - Twelve to twenty inches of new snow at Hamilton and Butte, eighteen to twenty inches at Stevensville and Victor, sixteen inches at Lolo, thirteen inches at Sula, eight to eighteen inches at Missoula, eight to ten inches at Drummond and Deer Lodge, and seven inches at Anaconda.On 12/26/96 - Twenty-four inches of new snow at Discovery Basin Ski Area, sixteen inches at Seely Lake, and eight inches at Potomac.On 12/27/96 - 46 year old man dies from hypothermia and exposure in blizzard conditions while driving snowmobile in mountains north of Helmville. Twelve inches of new snow at Big Fork, ten inches of at Seeley Lake, eight to nine inches at Missoula, Thompson Falls, Glacier Park, Lolo, and Florence, seven to eight inches at Kalispell, Eureka, Libby, St. Regis, Lookout Pass, and Discovery Basin Ski Area. Snow emergency declared for the following locations: City of Missoula, a roof of a casino collapsed from heavy snow with other roofs and carports sagging due to heavy snow; Sanders and Ravalli Counties and City of Plains had numerous building collapses, road closures due to snow and mudslides as well as an avalanche closing highway 200 between Thompson Falls and Plains.On 12/28/96 - Twelve inches of new snow at Lookout Pass, eight inches at Discovery Basin Ski Area, and six inches at Potomac.On 12/29/96 - Twelve inches of new snow at Eureka, ten inches at St. Regis, Deborgia, Seeley and Lindbergh Lakes, nine inches at Kalispell, Heron and Stevensville, eight inches at Kerr Dam, Missoula, Lolo, Stevensville, Troy and Hamilton, seven inches at Libby and Big Fork, and six inches at Lakeside and Polebridge. Carport collapses in Bonner east of Missoula.On 12/30/96 - Freezing rain on top of heavy snow. Fourteen to sixteen inches of new snow at Big Fork and Big Mountain Ski Area, twelve to fourteen inches at Libby, eleven inches at Whitefish, Kalispell and Lookout Pass, and nine inches at Swan Lake. Snow emergency declared for Lincoln County and the City of Libby, where twenty or more private and public buildings collapsed over the last ten days from heavy snow. Damage occurred to cars, boats, trucks, trailers, tools and equipment from collapsing roofs. One horse was also killed and another injured from a collapsing roof. In Kalispell, a airport hanger and awnings at homes also collapsed from heavy snow. In Polson, four marquee signs collapsed from heavy snow, and a ranchers roof also collapsed. In both Mineral and Ravalli counties roof damage occurred to sheds and business buildings.