Heavy Rain, Carter
- When
- November 1, 7:30 AM MST
- Where
- Carter County, Alzada
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.517, -104.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
1.42 inches of rain overnight and turned to snow around 6am.
Blizzard and Ice Storm in Montana, November 1, 2000
A moderate area of low pressure was positioned over the central and southern Great Basin and central Rockies. A strong storm moved north-northeast from the Great Basin to "close off" over western North Dakota by November 1st.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 14 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
- 14
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 moderate area of low pressure was positioned over the central and southern Great Basin and central Rockies. A strong storm moved north-northeast from the Great Basin to "close off" over western North Dakota by November 1st. This low deepened and slightly retrograded and wrap-around precipitation occurred over far southeastern Montana. A lack of a cold air source proved to be a factor as the precipitation began as rain over southeast Montana the night of October 31st and continued as rain the morning of November 1st. A change over to rain occured later November 1st...as cold air moved into the area. Snow and increasing wind resulted in blizzard conditions over southeast Montana. The snow eventually ended the night of November 1st.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
9 blizzard, 3 heavy rain, 1 heavy snow, 1 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy Rain, Carter
- When
- November 1, 8:30 AM MST
- Where
- Carter County, Central Portion
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.517, -104.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
2.39 inches of rain overnight and turned to snow around 830am
Heavy Snow, Carter
- When
- November 1, 1:00 PM MST
- Where
- Carter forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.517, -104.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Ekalaka reported snow with 500 feet visibility with 3-4 inches of slush on the ground. Albion had heavy rain and strong winds. 17 SE of Ekalaka reported snow with 2-3 inches on the ground and 1/2 mile visibility.
Heavy Rain, Carter
- When
- November 1, 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Carter County, Mill Iron
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.517, -104.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
2 inches of rain since 6pm the previous night
Ice Storm, Carter
- When
- November 1, 10:30 PM MST
- Where
- Carter forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 45.517, -104.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Power outages with lines down with 5-6 inches of ice and snow on the lines. 10 inches of snow in the hills. Around 2-3 inches on the ground in Ekalaka with snow and wind gusts to 20 mph.
Blizzard, Carter
- When
- November 1, 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Carter forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.517, -104.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Carter
- When
- November 1, 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Carter forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.517, -104.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Custer
- When
- November 1, 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Custer forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 46.253, -105.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Alzada reported 2-3 inches of snow with winds 30-40 mph...1/4 mile visibility in blowing snow. 6 miles northeast of Albion 2 inches of snow with 200 yards visibility. 17 miles southest of Ekalaka 2 inches of snow with 35-45 mph winds with higher gusts...1/2 mile visibility in blowing snow. 28 miles southeast of Ekalaka 6-8 inches of heavy wet snow that melted as it fell...very windy with 1/2 mile visibility in blowing snow. Ekalaka reported 2-3 inches of snow with large snow drifts...1/4 mile visibility with blowing snow and fog. Ismay reported rain that changed to wet snow with 30-40 mph winds with gusts to 50 mph at times. Baker had 6 inches of snow...very windy with near zero visibilities and many road closures. 3 miles south of Plevna reported 6 inches of snow...very windy with near zero visibilities. 10 miles south of Carlyle reported 6 inches of snow...winds 40 mph with gusts to 50 mph at times...zero visibilities.
Blizzard, Fallon
- When
- November 1, 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Fallon forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 46.334, -104.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Fallon
- When
- November 1, 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Fallon forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 46.334, -104.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Fallon
- When
- November 1, 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Fallon forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 46.334, -104.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Carter
- When
- November 1, 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Carter forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.517, -104.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Carter
- When
- November 1, 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Carter forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.517, -104.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Carter
- When
- November 1, 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Carter forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 45.517, -104.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Heavy Rain
- Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
- Heavy Snow
- Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
- Ice Storm
- Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.
- 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
- Drought in Texas, November 1 to 30, 2000
- Flash Flood in Hawaii, November 1 to 2, 2000
- Tornado in North Dakota, November 1, 2000
- Winter Storm in Montana, November 1 to 2, 2000
- Blizzard and High Wind in Wyoming, November 1, 2000
- Heavy Snow in South Dakota, November 1, 2000
- Tornado in North Dakota, November 1, 2000
- Damaging Winds in Iowa, November 1, 2000
- Drought in North Carolina, November 1 to 30, 2000
- Tornado in North Dakota, November 1, 2000
- Tornado in North Dakota, November 1, 2000
- Tornado in Minnesota, November 1, 2000
More
Every storm in Montana in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, November 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: 5166815, 5166919, 5166920, 5166814, 5166921, 5165471, 5165472, 5165483, 5165484, 5165485, 5165544, 5166922, 5166923, 5166924.