Blizzard in Montana, December 15, 2000

Name: Blizzard in Montana, December 15, 2000
Start: 2000-12-15T06:00
End: 2000-12-15T13:30
Location: Montana

December 15, 2000 · NWS MSO · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

75 mph wind gusts produced whiteout conditions in Deborgia. At Lookout Pass, wind gusts to 41 mph and snow produced whiteout conditions with wind chill to near 30 degrees below zero.

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: 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 MSO wrote it up.

75 mph wind gusts produced whiteout conditions in Deborgia. At Lookout Pass, wind gusts to 41 mph and snow produced whiteout conditions with wind chill to near 30 degrees below zero. In Missoula, wind gusts to 50 mph produced visibility to less than 1/4 mile in blowing snow; 4 inches of snow accumulated in one half hour. In Butte, winds gusted to 44 mph producing whiteout conditions and wind chills to 20 degrees below zero. Weather spotters in Sula, Anaconda and Arlee reported blizzard conditions from strong winds and blowing snow, reducing visibility less than 1/4 mile. Butte Sheriff reported blizzard conditions over Homestake Pass with deep snow drifts. DOT declared emergency travel on many roads with some roads closed at times due to blizzard conditions.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Lower Clark Fork Region

When: December 15, 6:00 AM MST to 8:55 AM MST
Where: Lower Clark Fork Region forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 47.286, -114.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: December 15, 9:48 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Butte / Pintlar Region

When: December 15, 10:30 AM MST to 1:30 PM MST
Where: Butte / Pintlar Region forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains

When: December 15, 10:30 AM MST to 11:05 AM MST
Where: Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 46.508, -113.828 (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

Every storm in Montana in 2000 Every state in 2000 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, December 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: 5167170, 5167171, 5165691, 5165692.