Montana, 2004

Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, January 26 to 27, 2004

January 26 to 27, 2004 · NWS MSO · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A strong arctic cold front pushed over the Continental Divide late on January 26th into the 27th, causing blizzard conditions in the West Glacier Region and local whiteout conditions in the northern portions of northwest Montana. In a two hour period between 200 AM and 400 AM the temperature dropped 50 degrees at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park, from 16 degrees above zero to 34 degrees below…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
2

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.

A strong arctic cold front pushed over the Continental Divide late on January 26th into the 27th, causing blizzard conditions in the West Glacier Region and local whiteout conditions in the northern portions of northwest Montana. In a two hour period between 200 AM and 400 AM the temperature dropped 50 degrees at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park, from 16 degrees above zero to 34 degrees below zero. Heavy wind driven snow created zero visibility and forced the closure of of U.S. 2 around the southern corner of Glacier National Park over a 50-mile stretch between West Glacier and East Glacier. As the arctic front moved westward, the Department of Transportation advised emergency travel only from Columbia Heights to West Glacier, and near whiteout conditions were reported at the Canadian border at Port of Rooseville. Glacier Park personnel were ordered home early due to the poor weather conditions. 24 hour storm total snowfall ranged from 6 to 8 inches in portions of the Kootenai/Cabinet Region, to 16 to 30 inches in the West Glacier Region. Snow drifts of 3 to 4 feet were reported in the West Glacier Region.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 blizzard, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, West Glacier Region

When
January 26, 4:00 PM MST to January 27, 4:00 PM MST
Where
West Glacier Region forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Kootenai/Cabinet Region

When
January 26, 4:00 PM MST to January 27, 4:00 PM MST
Where
Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
48.171, -114.863 (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.
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 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, January 2004

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5380345, 5380346.