Montana, 2008

Winter Storm in Montana, December 29 to 30, 2008

December 29 to 30, 2008 · NWS GGW · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

A strong winter storm moved into the region on the afternoon of December 29, 2008. The heaviest snow fell in the counties along and north of the Missouri River.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 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
12

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 GGW wrote it up.

A strong winter storm moved into the region on the afternoon of December 29, 2008. The heaviest snow fell in the counties along and north of the Missouri River. Amounts ranged from six to ten inches of snow. There were areas of blowing and drifting snow during the event, but visibilities remained above a half mile through the event.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Northern Phillips

When
December 29, 3:00 AM MST to December 30, 6:30 AM MST
Where
Northern Phillips forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
48.259, -107.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Six to eight inches of new snowfall reported.

Winter Storm, Northern Valley

When
December 29, 3:00 AM MST to December 30, 6:30 AM MST
Where
Northern Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Six inches of new snowfall was reported.

Winter Storm, Central and Se Phillips

When
December 29, 3:00 AM MST to December 30, 6:30 AM MST
Where
Central and Se Phillips forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
48.259, -107.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ten inches of snowfall was reported in southern Phillips County.

Winter Storm, Garfield

When
December 29, 3:00 AM MST to December 30, 9:30 AM MST
Where
Garfield forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
47.278, -106.993 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four to seven inches of new snowfall was reported across northern Garfield County.

Winter Storm, Central and Southern Valley

When
December 29, 3:30 AM MST to December 30, 6:30 AM MST
Where
Central and Southern Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four to seven inches of new snowfall was reported across the area.

Winter Storm, Daniels

When
December 29, 3:30 AM MST to December 30, 5:00 AM MST
Where
Daniels forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
48.784, -105.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four to ten inches of snowfall was reported.

Winter Storm, McCone

When
December 29, 3:30 AM MST to December 30, 6:30 AM MST
Where
McCone forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.645, -105.795 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four to six inches of new snowfall was reported in the northern portion of the county.

Winter Storm, Richland

When
December 29, 3:30 AM MST to December 30, 7:30 AM MST
Where
Richland forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.788, -104.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four to nine inches of snowfall was reported.

Winter Storm, Sheridan

When
December 29, 4:00 AM MST to December 30, 5:00 AM MST
Where
Sheridan forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
48.721, -104.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four to seven inches of snowfall was reported.

Winter Storm, Western Roosevelt

When
December 29, 4:00 AM MST to December 30, 5:00 AM MST
Where
Western Roosevelt forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
48.295, -105.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Six to eight inches of new snowfall was reported.

Winter Storm, Dawson

When
December 29, 4:00 AM MST to December 30, 7:30 AM MST
Where
Dawson forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.266, -104.899 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four to six inches of snowfall was reported in the northern half of the county.

Winter Storm, Eastern Roosevelt

When
December 29, 4:30 AM MST to December 30, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Eastern Roosevelt forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
48.295, -105.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four to eight inches of snowfall was reported.

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 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, December 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 148588, 148589, 148590, 148592, 148591, 148594, 148601, 148604, 148595, 148596, 148602, 148599.