Montana, 1996

Flooding in Montana, February 7 to 11, 1996

February 7 to 11, 1996 · NWS TFX · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Warmer temperatures, after an extended cold and snowy period, caused numerous flooding problems across central Montana during the second week of February. Snowmelt over frozen ground caused streams and rivers to go out of their banks, washing out roads and bridges.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$733,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS TFX wrote it up.

Warmer temperatures, after an extended cold and snowy period, caused numerous flooding problems across central Montana during the second week of February. Snowmelt over frozen ground caused streams and rivers to go out of their banks, washing out roads and bridges. Flooding problems ranged from minor inundation of fields to portions of towns being under water. Ice jams also caused flooding problems as snowmelt ran into frozen streams and rivers. Some of the worst flooding occurred in East Helena where 3 creeks went out of their banks, damaging over 150 homes. Ice jams on the Missouri river caused flooding in Fort Benton. Much of the town was under 1 to 2 feet of water at one point. Other significant flood damage occurred in White Sulpher Springs, Bozeman, Belgrade, Chinook, Anaconda, and Butte.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

4 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When
February 7, 12:00 AM MST to February 11, 8:00 PM MST
Where
Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
Coordinates
47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Lower Clark Fork Region

When
February 7, 12:00 AM MST to February 11, 8:00 PM MST
Where
Lower Clark Fork Region forecast zone
Property damage
$700,000
Coordinates
47.286, -114.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When
February 7, 12:00 AM MST to February 11, 8:00 PM MST
Where
Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Property damage
$33,000
Coordinates
46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains

When
February 7, 12:00 AM MST to February 11, 8:00 PM MST
Where
Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains forecast zone
Coordinates
46.508, -113.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, February 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5548283, 5548284, 5548285, 5548286.