On January 5 and 6, a strong winter storm brought heavy snow and strong gusty winds to Northwest Montana and the mountains of West Central Montana. Visibility was reduced in blowing snow over mountain passes.
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.
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.
The episode as NWS MSO wrote it up.
On January 5 and 6, a strong winter storm brought heavy snow and strong gusty winds to Northwest Montana and the mountains of West Central Montana. Visibility was reduced in blowing snow over mountain passes. Total snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 8 inches in the lower elevations to 15 inches in the mountains.
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 Missoula, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 5, 2:30 PM MST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Snotel data reported 4 to 8 inches above 4000 feet, with 13 inches above 5000 feet. Local wind gusts between 20 to 30 mph were reported from automated wind sensors.
Highway Department reported heavy snow, poor visibility and blowing snow from St. Regis to Lookout Pass. Snowfall ranged from 10 inches new over Thompson Pass to 15 inches over Lookout Pass with 5 inches in the lower valleys. Highest wind gusts were 56 mph at Mullan Pass at 353 am 1/6/07 and gusts to 48 mph at Lookout Pass at 330 am 1/6/07.
Highway Department and Avalanche Safety crew reported 6 to 8 inches along Highway 2, with Snotels reporting up to 13 inches in the mountains. Local wind gusts between 20 to 40 mph were reported from automated wind sensors.
Snotel data reported 6 to 10 inches new snow above 5000 feet, with up to 12 inches above 6000 feet. Highway Department reported heavy snow with poor visibility and blowing snow over Lolo Pass. Automated wind sensors reported wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, January 2007
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: 13183, 13207, 13186, 13210.