Montana, 2009Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Montana, February 25 to 26, 2009
February 25 to 26, 2009 · NWS MSO · 5 events in 5 counties and zones
An arctic airmass moved into northwest Montana on the afternoon and evening of the 25th. Meanwhile, a moist southwest upper level flow moved up and over the arctic airmass, creating accumulating snow and reduced visibility from areas of snow across much of western Montana.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 5
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.
An arctic airmass moved into northwest Montana on the afternoon and evening of the 25th. Meanwhile, a moist southwest upper level flow moved up and over the arctic airmass, creating accumulating snow and reduced visibility from areas of snow across much of western Montana. Total snow accumulations of six to eight inches were experienced in many valley locations with snow accumulations over a foot in the mountains.
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 Feb 25, 5:02 AM MST, 1 hour 58 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 25, 5:02 AM MST, 1 hour 58 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
502 AM MST WED FEB 25 2009
.UPDATE...
QUICKLY UPDATING TO EXPIRE WINTER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS FOR SOUTHERN
CLEARWATER AND BITTERROOT RANGES.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 414 AM MST WED FEB 25 2009/
DISCUSSION...
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS DURING THE SHORT TERM FORECAST PERIOD
WILL INCLUDE ACCUMULATING SNOW...BLOWING SNOW...AND WIND
CHILL...MAINLY FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST MONTANA.
SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL CONTINUE TO BE PRESENT THROUGH MIDDAY
THURSDAY...AS ARCTIC AIR EAST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE DEEPENS AND
MOVES WEST. VALLEY RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW SHOWERS ARE ANTICIPATED TO
CONTINUE ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN MONTANA AND NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO
THIS MORNING...LATER SHIFTING NORTHWARD TO NORTHWEST MONTANA. THE
RELATIVELY WARM AND MOIST PACIFIC FLOW WILL MOVE OVER LOW LEVEL
ARCTIC AIR MOVING THROUGH THE GLACIER PARK REGION...INCREASING THE
POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL ACROSS NORTHWEST MONTANA.
CONSEQUENTLY...WINTER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS ARE IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS
OF NORTHWEST MONTANA.
BY THURSDAY MORNING...A WEAK UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE
DEVELOPS OVER NORTHWEST MONTANA...AHEAD OF A VIGOROUS CLOSED PACIFIC
LOW PRESSURE CIRCULATION. THIS CLOSED LOW FEATURE IS ANTICIPATED TO
MOVE OVER CENTRAL IDAHO DURING THURSDAY NIGHT...WITH ANOTHER ROUND
OF LOW ELEVATION RAIN AND HIGH ELEVATION SNOW SHOWERS. NORTH CENTRAL
IDAHO AND PORTIONS OF WESTERN MONTANA SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 90
CORRIDOR WILL BE MOST FAVORED FOR PRECIPITATION.
BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON...AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE DEVELOPS
OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST...BRINGING A SPELL OF DRIER WEATHER INTO
THE REGION.
AVIATION...
A CONTINUED STORMY PATTERN WILL BE PRESENT ACROSS THE REGION
DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. WIDESPREAD TERRAIN OBSCURATIONS ARE
TO BE EXPECTED DURING THIS TIME. HIGH ELEVATION SNOW AND LOW
ELEVATION RAIN SHOWERS WILL BE THE NORM DURING THIS TIME. LOW
LEVEL WINDS MAY BE GUST FROM THE EAST AND NORTHEAST AT TIMES
ACROSS NORTHWEST MONTANA. PRECIPITATION WILL BECOME ALL SNOW
ACROSS NORTHWEST MONTANA AFTER 26/0000Z AS WELL.
&&
.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 AM MST
THURSDAY FOR FLATHEAD/MISSION VALLEYS-WEST GLACIER REGION.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 AM MST
THURSDAY FOR KOOTENAI/CABINET REGION.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 AM MST
THURSDAY FOR POTOMAC/SEELEY LAKE REGION.
ID...NONE.
&&
PUBLIC/AVIATION...ZUMPFEWinter Storm, West Glacier Region
- When
- February 25, 7:00 AM MST to February 26, 5:00 PM 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)
Department of Transportation issued a report of severe driving conditions for heavy snow and blowing snow, significantly reducing visibility on Highway 2 over Marias Pass. Total snow accumulations were estimated at seven to eight inches, although blowing and drifting made these measurements difficult.
Winter Storm, Flathead/Mission Valleys
- When
- February 25, 3:00 PM MST to February 26, 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotters in the area reported widespread wind gusts to 35 mph with heavy snow and blowing and drifting. Total snow accumulations ranged between four and eight inches, although the blowing and drifting made snow measurments difficult.
Heavy Snow, Lower Clark Fork Region
- When
- February 25, 3:00 PM MST to February 26, 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Lower Clark Fork Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.286, -114.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotters reported sixteen inches of new snow over Lookout Pass, and seven inches of new snow over Evaro Hill.
Winter Storm, Butte / Blackfoot Region
- When
- February 25, 10:00 PM MST to February 26, 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Department of Transportation declared severe driving conditions with near zero visibility in blowing and drifting snow along Highway 12 over Macdonald Pass, as well as Interstate 90 over Homestake Pass. Snow accumulations ranged between four and eight inches, although the blowing and drifting nature of the snow made for difficult snow measurments.
Heavy Snow, Kootenai/Cabinet Region
- When
- February 26, 5:00 AM MST to 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 48.171, -114.863 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Trained spotters reported seven to eight inches of new snow accumulations in the valley locations.
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
- 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.
- Dust Devil and Strong Wind in Nevada, February 25 to 26, 2009$25,000 · 2 events
- Winter Storm in South Dakota, February 25 to 26, 200921 events
- Winter Storm in Minnesota, February 25 to 26, 20099 events
- Winter Storm in South Dakota, February 25 to 26, 20098 events
- Winter Storm in North Dakota, February 25 to 26, 20095 events
- Winter Storm in Montana, February 25 to 26, 20093 events
- Heavy Snow in Washington, February 25 to 26, 20092 events
- Blizzard in Alaska, February 25, 20092 events
- Strong Wind in Colorado, February 25, 2009$10,000 · 1 event
- Winter Storm in Wyoming, February 25 to 26, 20091 event
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: 153660, 153661, 153662, 153663, 153659.