Montana, 2005

Blizzard in Montana, January 12, 2005

January 12, 2005 · NWS TFX · 13 events in 13 counties and zones

A well organized and powerful winter storm brought blizzard conditions to a large area of North Central Montana during the morning and afternoon hours of the 12th. Sustained north winds of 30 to 40 mph were common throughout the area.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
13

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 TFX wrote it up.

A well organized and powerful winter storm brought blizzard conditions to a large area of North Central Montana during the morning and afternoon hours of the 12th. Sustained north winds of 30 to 40 mph were common throughout the area. The wind and accompanying snow caused whiteout conditions as visibilities were reduced to less than a quarter mile in many areas. The blizzard conditions closed many roads and restricted use on others to emergency travel only. Law enforcement reported numerous accidents and many vehicles sliding into ditches. In addition to the strong winds, the storm brought very cold air to much of North Central Montana and produced dangerous wind chills.

Event by event

13 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, North Rocky Mountain Front

When
January 12, 6:00 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where
North Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Blizzard, Eastern Pondera

When
January 12, 7:00 AM MST to 10:00 AM MST
Where
Eastern Pondera forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT

Blizzard, Toole

When
January 12, 7:00 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where
Toole forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Blizzard, Hill

When
January 12, 8:00 AM MST to 11:00 AM MST
Where
Hill forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Blizzard, Eastern Teton

When
January 12, 9:00 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where
Eastern Teton forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Blizzard, Southern Rocky Mountain Front

When
January 12, 9:00 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where
Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Blizzard, Chouteau

When
January 12, 9:30 AM MST to 12:30 PM MST
Where
Chouteau forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Blizzard, Liberty

When
January 12, 10:00 AM MST to 1:00 PM MST
Where
Liberty forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Blizzard, Eastern Glacier

When
January 12, 10:20 AM MST to 1:20 PM MST
Where
Eastern Glacier forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Blizzard, Cascade

When
January 12, 10:30 AM MST to 1:30 PM MST
Where
Cascade forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Blizzard, Fergus

When
January 12, 11:00 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where
Fergus forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Blizzard, Blaine

When
January 12, 1:00 PM MST to 4:00 PM MST
Where
Blaine forecast zone
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC

Blizzard, Judith Basin

When
January 12, 2:30 PM MST to 5:30 PM MST
Where
Judith Basin forecast zone
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, January 2005

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5433145, 5433140, 5433146, 5433144, 5433143, 5433152, 5433142, 5433147, 5433141, 5433151, 5433148, 5433149, 5433150.