Montana, 2004

Winter Storm in Montana, January 3 to 4, 2004

January 3 to 4, 2004 · NWS MSO · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A reinforcing shot of cold arctic air brought dangerous winter weather conditions to northwest Montana. Arctic air spilled over the Continental Divide during the early morning hours of January 3, with northeast wind gusts between 40 to 50 MPH recorded between Kalispell and Columbia Falls, causing whiteout conditions from blowing snow.

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.

A reinforcing shot of cold arctic air brought dangerous winter weather conditions to northwest Montana. Arctic air spilled over the Continental Divide during the early morning hours of January 3, with northeast wind gusts between 40 to 50 MPH recorded between Kalispell and Columbia Falls, causing whiteout conditions from blowing snow. Wind Chill temperatures dropped to 25 to 30 degrees below zero, with a wind chill temperature of 52 degrees below zero reported from a weather spotter in Columbia Falls. By 1000 AM, whiteout conditions developed over the Mission Valley south of Flathead Lake, as the arctic front moved southward. Snow drifts of 5 to 7 feet were reported in Columbia Falls and in the Mission Valley. Snowfall totals for the storm were 4 to 8 inches in the valleys, and up to 10 inches in the mountains. Highway 200 between Bonner and Greenough Hill was declared emergency travel only, as well as US-93 in the Mission Valley throughout the day from poor visibility in blowing snow.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, West Glacier Region

When
January 3, 7:00 AM MST to January 4, 12:00 AM 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, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When
January 3, 7:00 AM MST to January 4, 12:00 AM MST
Where
Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lower Clark Fork Region

When
January 3, 7:00 AM MST to January 4, 12:00 AM MST
Where
Lower Clark Fork Region forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
47.286, -114.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Blackfoot Region

When
January 3, 7:00 AM MST to January 4, 12:00 AM MST
Where
Blackfoot Region forecast zone
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
46.986, -113.597 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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 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: 5382141, 5382142, 5382143, 5382144.