Heavy Snow in Montana, April 5, 2008

Name: Heavy Snow in Montana, April 5, 2008
Start: 2008-04-05T05:00
End: 2008-04-05T22:00
Location: Montana

April 5, 2008 · NWS TFX · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A Pscific storm brought heavy snow and gusty winds to the Rocky Mountain Front and adjacent plains. Snow amounts in excess of 6 inches and wind speeds greater than 30 mph were reported.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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 Pscific storm brought heavy snow and gusty winds to the Rocky Mountain Front and adjacent plains. Snow amounts in excess of 6 inches and wind speeds greater than 30 mph were reported.

Event by event

8 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Southern Rocky Mountain Front

When: April 5, 5:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where: Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Ten inches fell at Simms 16W.

Heavy Snow, North Rocky Mountain Front

When: April 5, 6:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where: North Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thirteen inches of snow were reported at Swift Reservoir 7WSW (Badger Pass SNOTEL site - elevation 6900 feet). Six inches of snow also fell at Heart Butte 15SSW.

Heavy Snow, Cascade

When: April 5, 6:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where: Cascade forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Fourteen inches of snow fell at Cascade 5S. Additionally, 12 inches was reported at Cascade and at Belt 9SSW, 10 inches fell at Ulm 13S, 8 inches at Sun River 4S, 7 inches at Fort Shaw, Fort Shaw 5W and Cascade 16E and 6 inches at Cascade 20SSE, Armington 5SSE and Ulm 6SSE. A report of an estimated 26 inches was received from a location in the Dearborn Mountains (elevation 4850 feet).

Heavy Snow, Chouteau

When: April 5, 6:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where: Chouteau forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Six inches of snow fell at Fort Benton and Loma 10SE.

Heavy Snow, Southern Lewis and Clark

When: April 5, 6:00 AM MST to 5:00 PM MST
Where: Southern Lewis and Clark forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Ten inches of snow fell at Helena 17E, 9 inches fell at Helena 17E and 8 inches fell at Craig 5NW. West winds gusting to 35 mph reduced visibilities to less than one-quarter mile at Helena.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Teton

When: April 5, 6:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where: Eastern Teton forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Eight inches of snow fell at Fairfield 6ENE.

Heavy Snow, Judith Basin

When: April 5, 6:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where: Judith Basin forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Eight inches of snow fell at Raynesford 2W. Visibilities were reduced by blowing snow.

Heavy Snow, Meagher

When: April 5, 6:00 AM MST to 10:00 PM MST
Where: Meagher forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet

Thirteen inches of snow fell at Duck Creek Pass 5NNW (Boulder Mountain SNOTEL site - elevation 7950 feet).

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, April 2008

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: 93010, 93001, 93006, 93007, 93008, 93013, 93014, 93015.