An arctic cold front moved across the forecast area during the late evening hours of the 19th and early morning hours of the 20th. Upslope flow developed behind the front.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 BYZ wrote it up.
An arctic cold front moved across the forecast area during the late evening hours of the 19th and early morning hours of the 20th. Upslope flow developed behind the front. This resulted in heavy snow across the foothills of the Beartooth/Absaroka Mountains with minor accumulations across the plains. However, very slick roads resulted in dangerous traveling conditions. As a result of the icy roads, a 16 year old girl died in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 90 near Dunmore, Montana. In addition, two women died in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 212, about 8 miles west of Ashland. Although road conditions were icy and snowpacked at the time of the accidents, Montana State Patrol reported speed was also a factor.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 winter weather, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Two women died in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 212, about 8 miles west of Ashland. Although road conditions were icy and snowpacked at the time of the accidents, Montana State Patrol reported speed was also a factor.
As a result of the icy roads, a 16 year old girl died in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 90 near Dunmore, Montana. Although I-90 was icy and snowpacked at the time, Montana Highway Patrol said speed was a factor.
Columbus and vicinity received 8 to 9 inches of snow.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather, Southern Rosebud | 2009-02-19 | 25 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Winter Weather, Southern Rosebud | 2009-02-19 | 26 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Winter Weather, Southern Big Horn | 2009-02-19 | 16 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, February 2009
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: 151029, 151028, 153045.