Montana, 2002

Winter Storm in Montana, February 23 to 24, 2002

February 23 to 24, 2002 · NWS TFX · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

12 winter storm, as filed by the National Weather Service.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
12

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 forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 23, 2:40 AM MST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 23, 2:40 AM MST, 1 hour 20 minutes before
SOUTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
240 AM MST SAT FEB 23 2002

.SHORT TERM...RATHER SURE FORECAST FROM LAST NIGHT NOW BECOMING
COMPLICATED. RADAR INDICATES ONLY PRECIPITATION FALLING AT THIS
TIME ACROSS THE CWA IS OVER THE NORTHWEST AND MOVING SLOWLY TO THE
NORTH. PROBLEM LIES WITH CLOSED UPPER LOW OVER OREGON WHICH IS
SLOWLY MOVING SOUTH AND EAST. CIRCULATION AROUND THIS FEATURE
KEEPING A WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT OVER THE CWA AND PREVENTING UPPER TROF
OVER CANADA FROM DROPPING FURTHER SOUTH. SATELLITE IMAGERY
INDICATING DRY SLOT MOVING OVER THE AREA AT THIS TIME FURTHER
INHIBITING ANY PRECIPITATION FROM FALLING. DRY SLOT SHOULD BE EAST
OF THE AREA WITHIN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. AS UPPER TROF CONTINUES TO
TRACK SOUTH OF THE CWA FLOW ALOFT BECOMES SOUTHWESTERLY AGAIN AND
WE SHOULD SEE A RETURN OF MOISTURE. RADAR RETURNS BEGINNING TO FILL
IN OVER CENTRAL IDAHO. MODELS MAINTAIN HEALTHY QPF VALUES OVER THE
AREA. WILL BASE FORECAST ON BELIEF DEVELOPING SYSTEM JUST A BIT
SLOWER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT. WILL LEAVE HIGHLIGHTS IN PLACE FOR
TODAY BUT DROP BLIZZARD WARNING. EMANUEL

.EXTENDED...NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL BE THE DOMINANT WEATHER
FEATURE DURING THE PERIOD...WITH A FEW EMBEDDED SHORT WAVES DROPPING
THRU THE REGION. THE PERIOD SHOULD BE MOSTLY DRY...ESPECIALLY OVER
THE PLAINS. THE BEST CHANCE FOR ANY PRECIP WILL BE OVER SOUTHWEST
ZONES AND FAVORED MOUNTAIN LOCATIONS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
EXACT TIMING ON SHORT WAVES STILL IN QUESTION...SO WILL LEAVE
FORECAST AS IS FOR NOW. TEMPS WILL MODERATE DURING THE WEEK BUT WILL
STILL BE BELOW NORMAL...EVENTUALLY GETTING BACK TO SEASONAL LEVELS
WITH DOWNSLOPE GRADIENT SETTING UP BY FRIDAY. JPV

.CCF NUMBERS
GTF SE 023/903 005/910 008 08862
   BBEEE 905/025 015/032 015/032 022/038 022 11101222211
CTB SE 020/908 001/915 010 08862
   BBEEE 907/020 010/028 010/028 015/036 015 11101222211
HLN SE 032/014 018/902 010 08763
   BBEEE 902/030 010/032 012/035 015/035 015 21112222211
BZN SE 038/015 018/905 008 08763
   BBEEB 908/026 007/030 004/031 009/034 009 21112222211
WEY SJ 032/005 020/910 008 08874
   BEJJB 910/018 910/018 905/020 910/025 910 21112333311
DLN JE 040/015 023/000 021 08452
   BBBEB 003/030 008/028 008/032 008/032 008 11111222211
HVR SE 025/002 012/910 016 08752
   BBEEE 905/020 010/028 010/028 012/033 012 11101222211
LWT SJ 025/000 011/908 010 08863
   BBEEE 903/028 018/030 018/032 020/036 020 21101222211

.TFX...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL PORTION
       OF CWA TODAY.
       WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN PORTION OF CWA TODAY.

Event by event

12 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Cascade

When
February 23, 4:00 AM MST to February 24, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Cascade forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Areas of moderate to heavy snow developed over North Central Montana early on the 23rd. The snow then moved into much of Southwest Montana during the afternoon hours on the 23rd before diminishing in intensity on the 24th. Snow amounts over North Central Montana generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches. Farther south, the Helena area received between 6 and 9 inches. In the Bozeman area, snow totals were generally around 6 inches in the city, with up to a foot in the mountains. Additionally, considerable blowing and drifting of the snow occurred during the day over the entire region.

Winter Storm, Chouteau

When
February 23, 4:00 AM MST to February 24, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Chouteau forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Areas of moderate to heavy snow developed over North Central Montana early on the 23rd. The snow then moved into much of Southwest Montana during the afternoon hours on the 23rd before diminishing in intensity on the 24th. Snow amounts over North Central Montana generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches. Farther south, the Helena area received between 6 and 9 inches. In the Bozeman area, snow totals were generally around 6 inches in the city, with up to a foot in the mountains. Additionally, considerable blowing and drifting of the snow occurred during the day over the entire region.

Winter Storm, Southern Lewis and Clark

When
February 23, 4:00 AM MST to February 24, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Southern Lewis and Clark forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Areas of moderate to heavy snow developed over North Central Montana early on the 23rd. The snow then moved into much of Southwest Montana during the afternoon hours on the 23rd before diminishing in intensity on the 24th. Snow amounts over North Central Montana generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches. Farther south, the Helena area received between 6 and 9 inches. In the Bozeman area, snow totals were generally around 6 inches in the city, with up to a foot in the mountains. Additionally, considerable blowing and drifting of the snow occurred during the day over the entire region.

Winter Storm, Eastern Teton

When
February 23, 4:00 AM MST to February 24, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Eastern Teton forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Areas of moderate to heavy snow developed over North Central Montana early on the 23rd. The snow then moved into much of Southwest Montana during the afternoon hours on the 23rd before diminishing in intensity on the 24th. Snow amounts over North Central Montana generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches. Farther south, the Helena area received between 6 and 9 inches. In the Bozeman area, snow totals were generally around 6 inches in the city, with up to a foot in the mountains. Additionally, considerable blowing and drifting of the snow occurred during the day over the entire region.

Winter Storm, Judith Basin

When
February 23, 4:00 AM MST to February 24, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Judith Basin forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Areas of moderate to heavy snow developed over North Central Montana early on the 23rd. The snow then moved into much of Southwest Montana during the afternoon hours on the 23rd before diminishing in intensity on the 24th. Snow amounts over North Central Montana generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches. Farther south, the Helena area received between 6 and 9 inches. In the Bozeman area, snow totals were generally around 6 inches in the city, with up to a foot in the mountains. Additionally, considerable blowing and drifting of the snow occurred during the day over the entire region.

Winter Storm, Fergus

When
February 23, 4:00 AM MST to February 24, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Fergus forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Areas of moderate to heavy snow developed over North Central Montana early on the 23rd. The snow then moved into much of Southwest Montana during the afternoon hours on the 23rd before diminishing in intensity on the 24th. Snow amounts over North Central Montana generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches. Farther south, the Helena area received between 6 and 9 inches. In the Bozeman area, snow totals were generally around 6 inches in the city, with up to a foot in the mountains. Additionally, considerable blowing and drifting of the snow occurred during the day over the entire region.

Winter Storm, Jefferson

When
February 23, 4:00 AM MST to February 24, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Areas of moderate to heavy snow developed over North Central Montana early on the 23rd. The snow then moved into much of Southwest Montana during the afternoon hours on the 23rd before diminishing in intensity on the 24th. Snow amounts over North Central Montana generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches. Farther south, the Helena area received between 6 and 9 inches. In the Bozeman area, snow totals were generally around 6 inches in the city, with up to a foot in the mountains. Additionally, considerable blowing and drifting of the snow occurred during the day over the entire region.

Winter Storm, Meagher

When
February 23, 4:00 AM MST to February 24, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Meagher forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Areas of moderate to heavy snow developed over North Central Montana early on the 23rd. The snow then moved into much of Southwest Montana during the afternoon hours on the 23rd before diminishing in intensity on the 24th. Snow amounts over North Central Montana generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches. Farther south, the Helena area received between 6 and 9 inches. In the Bozeman area, snow totals were generally around 6 inches in the city, with up to a foot in the mountains. Additionally, considerable blowing and drifting of the snow occurred during the day over the entire region.

Winter Storm, Toole

When
February 23, 4:00 AM MST to February 24, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Toole forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Areas of moderate to heavy snow developed over North Central Montana early on the 23rd. The snow then moved into much of Southwest Montana during the afternoon hours on the 23rd before diminishing in intensity on the 24th. Snow amounts over North Central Montana generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches. Farther south, the Helena area received between 6 and 9 inches. In the Bozeman area, snow totals were generally around 6 inches in the city, with up to a foot in the mountains. Additionally, considerable blowing and drifting of the snow occurred during the day over the entire region.

Winter Storm, Eastern Pondera

When
February 23, 4:00 AM MST to February 24, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Eastern Pondera forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Areas of moderate to heavy snow developed over North Central Montana early on the 23rd. The snow then moved into much of Southwest Montana during the afternoon hours on the 23rd before diminishing in intensity on the 24th. Snow amounts over North Central Montana generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches. Farther south, the Helena area received between 6 and 9 inches. In the Bozeman area, snow totals were generally around 6 inches in the city, with up to a foot in the mountains. Additionally, considerable blowing and drifting of the snow occurred during the day over the entire region.

Winter Storm, Gallatin

When
February 23, 4:00 AM MST to February 24, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Gallatin forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Areas of moderate to heavy snow developed over North Central Montana early on the 23rd. The snow then moved into much of Southwest Montana during the afternoon hours on the 23rd before diminishing in intensity on the 24th. Snow amounts over North Central Montana generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches. Farther south, the Helena area received between 6 and 9 inches. In the Bozeman area, snow totals were generally around 6 inches in the city, with up to a foot in the mountains. Additionally, considerable blowing and drifting of the snow occurred during the day over the entire region.

Winter Storm, Madison

When
February 23, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Madison forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Areas of moderate to heavy snow developed over North Central Montana early on the 23rd. The snow then moved into much of Southwest Montana during the afternoon hours on the 23rd before diminishing in intensity on the 24th. Snow amounts over North Central Montana generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches. Farther south, the Helena area received between 6 and 9 inches. In the Bozeman area, snow totals were generally around 6 inches in the city, with up to a foot in the mountains. Additionally, considerable blowing and drifting of the snow occurred during the day over the entire region.

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, February 2002

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: 5282563, 5282564, 5282565, 5282653, 5282654, 5282655, 5282656, 5282657, 5282761, 5282762, 5282763, 5282764.