Blizzard, Richland
- When
- April 4, 5:00 AM MST to April 6, 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Richland forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 47.788, -104.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard in Montana, April 4 to 6, 1997
A strong storm system moved from northeast Colorado through the western Dakotas. The intensifying storm brought snow and gusty winds which caused blizzard conditions along eastern Montana.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- 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 GGW wrote it up.
A strong storm system moved from northeast Colorado through the western Dakotas. The intensifying storm brought snow and gusty winds which caused blizzard conditions along eastern Montana. Snow accumulations of 3 inches in Sidney to up to 10 inches in Wibaux in combination with winds of 30 to 35 mph and gusts to over 50 mph were reported. Sections of Interstate 94 were closed stranding truckers and travelers in the Glendive area. Twenty six motorists who could not find hotel rooms stayed at the National Guard Amory in Glendive. Coming at the end of calving season, this storm hit area ranchers hard with reports of cattle losses.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
4 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard, Dawson
- When
- April 4, 5:00 AM MST to April 6, 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Dawson forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 47.266, -104.899 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Prairie
- When
- April 4, 5:00 AM MST to April 6, 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Prairie forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.861, -105.378 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Wibaux
- When
- April 4, 5:00 AM MST to April 6, 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Wibaux forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.965, -104.249 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Blizzard
- Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Blizzard in North Dakota, April 4 to 7, 1997
- Ice Storm in North Dakota, April 4 to 5, 1997
- Ice Storm in Minnesota, April 4 to 6, 1997
- Flash Flood in Arkansas, April 4, 1997
- Blizzard in Wyoming, April 4 to 6, 1997
- Blizzard in Nebraska, April 4 to 6, 1997
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, April 4, 1997
- Tornado in Louisiana, April 4, 1997
- Tornado in Arkansas, April 4, 1997
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 4, 1997
- Flash Flood in Louisiana, April 4 to 5, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Louisiana, April 4, 1997
More
Every storm in Montana in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, April 1997
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: 5614315, 5614316, 5614317, 5614318.