Montana, 2000

Heavy Snow in Montana, September 22, 2000

September 22, 2000 · NWS BYZ · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

A strong cold front moved through south central Montana. In addition, an area of low pressure formed in central Wyoming and moved northeast into southeast Montana.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$14,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

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 through south central Montana. In addition, an area of low pressure formed in central Wyoming and moved northeast into southeast Montana. This provided a large area of upslope over south central Montana. The combination of these two systems brought the first snow of the season to the area. Trees still had full foliage, and as a result, many areas experienced power outages due to broken tree limbs on power lines. Many trees were also damaged.Snowfall amounts ranged from 4 inches to 18 inches. Roscoe received 18 inches. Red Lodge reported 12 inches. Livingston and Billings received 4 inches. There were many areas that reported anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of snowfall.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Big Horn

When
September 22, 6:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Big Horn forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

A strong cold front moved through south central Montana during the early morning on the 22nd. In addition, an area of low pressure formed in central Wyoming. This low pressure moved along the cold front across southern Montana and northern Wyoming. The combination of these two systems brought the first snowfall of the season to the area.

Heavy Snow, Carter

When
September 22, 6:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Carter forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.517, -104.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Custer

When
September 22, 6:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Custer forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
46.253, -105.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Fallon

When
September 22, 6:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Fallon forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
46.334, -104.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Golden Valley/Musselshell

When
September 22, 6:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Golden Valley/Musselshell forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
46.497, -108.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Powder River

When
September 22, 6:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Powder River forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.395, -105.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Rosebud

When
September 22, 6:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Rosebud forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
46.230, -106.731 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Stillwater/Carbon

When
September 22, 6:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Stillwater/Carbon forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.669, -109.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wheatland/Park/Sweet Grass

When
September 22, 6:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Wheatland/Park/Sweet Grass forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Snow, Yellowstone

When
September 22, 6:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where
Yellowstone forecast zone
Property damage
$14,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

A strong cold front moved through south central Montana. In addition, an area of low pressure formed in Central Wyoming and moved northeast into southeast Montana. The provided a large area of upslope across south central Montana. The combination of these two systems brought the first snow of the season to the area. Trees still had full foliage and as a result, many power outages occurred due to broken tree limbs over power lines.

What these are

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, September 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: 5174360, 5174361, 5174362, 5174363, 5174364, 5174365, 5174366, 5174367, 5174677, 5174678.