Montana, 2008

Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, January 27 to 28, 2008

January 27 to 28, 2008 · NWS MSO · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

On January 28, an Arctic front moved west across the Continental Divide and brought gusty winds, whiteout conditions and heavy snowfall to the Glacier National Park area and also to the Flathead Valley.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

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.

On January 28, an Arctic front moved west across the Continental Divide and brought gusty winds, whiteout conditions and heavy snowfall to the Glacier National Park area and also to the Flathead Valley.

What forecasters said that day

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 27, 4:45 PM MST, 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 27, 4:45 PM MST, 15 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 27, 3:15 PM MST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 winter storm, 2 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, West Glacier Region

When
January 27, 5:00 PM MST to January 28, 4:00 AM MST
Where
West Glacier Region forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Weather spotters reported 12 and 13 inches of new snow at West Glacier and Essex respectively. In addition, 7 inches of new snow was reported at Fielding and Marias Pass. Long lasting near whiteout conditions were reported along the US Highway 2 corridor between Essex and Marias Pass during this event.

Winter Storm, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When
January 27, 10:00 PM MST to January 28, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Emergency travel only was declared across Flathead County by the Montana Department of Transportation for this event. Whitefish and Columbia Falls reported between 4.5 and 7 inches of new snowfall accumulations. Whiteout conditions from substantial blowing and drifting snow was reported as well.

Blizzard, West Glacier Region

When
January 28, 4:00 AM MST to 9:00 AM MST
Where
West Glacier Region forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Montana Department of Transportation declared emergency travel only throughout Flathead County due to Blizzard conditions.

Blizzard, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When
January 28, 4:00 AM MST to 9:00 AM MST
Where
Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Montana Department of Transportation declared emergency travel only throughout Flathead County due to Blizzard conditions.

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
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 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, January 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: 68620, 68621, 68623, 68624.