Montana, 2000

Heavy Snow and High Wind in Montana, April 2, 2000

April 2, 2000 · NWS BYZ · 7 events in 6 counties and zones

A strong cold front moved across Montana during the late evening of April 1st and the morning of April 2nd. Very stong gusty winds accompanied this cold front as it crossed the state.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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 BYZ wrote it up.

A strong cold front moved across Montana during the late evening of April 1st and the morning of April 2nd. Very stong gusty winds accompanied this cold front as it crossed the state. 40 MPH sustained winds were recorded at 5:08 am in Alzada in Carter County, 44 MPH sustained winds were measured at 7:07 am in Rock Springs in Rosebud County, 39 MPH sustained winds were measured in Baker in Fallon County at 8:41 am, and 41 MPH sustained winds were measured at 9:00 am in Miles City in Custer County. A wind gust of 60 MPH was measured at Miles City at 10:34 am and a gust to 60 MPH was measured 14 miles Northwest of Broadus at 12:21 pm. Pockets of heavy snow were also observed with this cold front and 11 inches of snow fell 6 miles south of Roscoe in Carbon County and 4 inches was measured at Nye in Stillwater County.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 high wind, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Carter

When
April 2, 5:08 AM MST
Where
Carter forecast zone
Measured
40 kt (46 mph)
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
45.517, -104.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Rosebud

When
April 2, 7:07 AM MST
Where
Rosebud forecast zone
Measured
44 kt (51 mph)
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
46.230, -106.731 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Stillwater/Carbon

When
April 2, 7:15 AM MST
Where
Stillwater/Carbon forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.669, -109.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Fallon

When
April 2, 8:41 AM MST
Where
Fallon forecast zone
Measured
39 kt (45 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
46.334, -104.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Custer

When
April 2, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Custer forecast zone
Measured
41 kt (47 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
46.253, -105.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Custer

When
April 2, 10:34 AM MST
Where
Custer forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
46.253, -105.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Powder River

When
April 2, 12:21 PM MST
Where
Powder River forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.395, -105.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, April 2000

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: 5138598, 5138599, 5137126, 5138600, 5137123, 5137124, 5137125.