Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, December 29 to 30, 2010

On December 29th at 1334 MST 2miles west-southwest of Dodson, estimated 4 inches of snow with drifts up to 4 feet, at 1350 MST visibility is 300 feet on Highway 2 (reported by the DOT), at 1530 MST December 30, Malta measured 6 inches of new snow with severe drifting.

At 1700 MST on December 29th 15 miles south of Zortman, blizzard conditions were reported with winds over 25 mph and frequent gusts over 35 mph from 0541 to 1541 MST. At 1348 MST on December 30th, spotter in Zortman estimated 6 inches of new snow with 2 to 4 foot drifts in town.

At 0941 MST on December 29th, trained spotter in Nashua estimated 1.5 inches of new snow with blowing snow and visibility down to 3/4 of a mile, At 1700 MST on December 29th, spotter in Park Grove measured 8 inches of snow snow, at 1903 MST on December 29th 3 miles southwest of Vandalia estimated 7 inches of new snow fell (and still falling). At 0515 MST on December 30th, NWS Glasgow reported 8.2 inches of new snow with drifts of 3 feet. At 0730 MST on December 30, 4 miles southwest of Hinsdale reported 9 inches of new snow, at 0800 MST on December 29th, Park Grove measured 11 inches of new snow. At 0800 MST on December 30th, 10 miles southeast of Glasgow spotter measured 7.2 inches of new snow. At 0922 on December 30th, spotter 30 miles north of Hinsdale estimated 5 inches of new snow since the 29th with 3 foot drifts. At 1100 MST on December 30th, 4 miles northwest of Glasgow, spotter measured 8.4 inches of new snow. At 1344 MST on December 30th, 46 miles southwest of Glasgow estimated 10 inches of new snow.

At 1757 MST on December 29th 20 miles northwest of Jordan, spotter reported 8 inches of new snow with 3 foot drifts (still snowing and blowing). At 1331 MST on December 30th, spotter in Jordan estimated 6 inches of new snowfall with drifts up to 3 feet.

At 1706 MST on December 29th, spotter in Winnett estimated 8 inches of new snow with blizzard conditions during the morning and visibility between 200 and 300 yards. At 1820 on December 29th, spotter 18 miles north of Winnett measured 6 inches of new snow. At 1800 MST on December 29th, coop observer near Flatwillow measured 5 inches of new snow. At 0900 MST on December 30th, coop observer measured 8 inches (storm total) with 8 to 9 foot drifts on property. At 1324 MST on December 30, spotter 6 miles north-northeast of Winnett an estimated 9 inches of new snow fell.

Observer in Baylor reported half inch of snow with winds of 20 mph. With significant loose snow, visibilities were reduced to between 200 and 300 yards.

At 1055 MST on December 29th, Scobey SuperAWOS reported sustained winds over 20 mph with frequent gusts over 30 mph with snow falling and visibility below 1/2 mile was likely from 1055 to 2355 MST. At 1120 MST on December 29th, public in Scobey reported total whiteout conditions. At 0600 MST on December 30, 5 miles east of Flaxville, one inch of snow was measured.

At 1050 MST on December 29th, Comertown DOT and the Plentywood Airport winds were sustained above 25 mph with frequent gusts over 30 mph. With the snowfall, visibility was likely to be 1/2 mile or below.

At 1346 MST on December 29th, Wolf Point ASOS reported blizzard conditions with sustained winds greater than 25 mph and frequent gusts over 35 mph between 1235 and 1830 MST. At 1714 MST on December 29th, 8 miles southwest of Bredette, spotter reported blizzard conditions with sustained winds of 25 mph or greater with gusts over 35 mph. The peak gust was 41 mph.

At 1145 MST on December 29th spotter 10 miles north of Circle reported visibility 1/8 of a mile with snow and blowing snow. At 1336 MST on December 30th, spotter in Circle reported an estimated 3 inches of new snow with drifts to 1 foot.

At 1823 MST on December 29th 11 miles northeast of Terry, blizzard conditions were reported with sustained winds over 25 mph and gusts to 43 mph for several hours. At 1154 MST on December 30th, 8 miles west-southwest of Terry, 2 to 2.5 foot drifts were observed in the yard.

At 1330 MST on December 29th, Richland County mesonet Davis unit reported several hours of sustained winds of 25 mph with falling snow. At 0539 MST on December 30th spotter 2 miles south of Sidney estimated 5 inches of new snow with one foot drifts, At 1130 MST on December 30th, spotter 15 miles south-southeast of Culbertson estimated 5 inches of snowfall total.

On December 29th, winds at the Lindsay Divide DOT sensor and the Glendive Airport AWOS reported sustained winds over 20 mph with gusts over 30 mph most of the day combined with falling snow. At 1900 MST on December 30th, spotter 2 miles west of Glendive reported 3 inch storm total. At 1700 MST on December 30th, spotter 16 miles west-southwest of Glendive measured a 2 inch storm total.

At 1300 MST on December 29th, Beaver Hill DOT sensor reported snow all day with wind sustained over 25 mph and gusts over 30 mph.

Numerous reports were received of low visibilities in falling and blowing snow. Near zero visibility was reported by Law Enforcement along Highway 2 between Brockton and Wolf Point.

At 1640 MST, Coop observer reported visibilities of 200 to 300 yards with the abundant loose snow and 20 mph sustained winds.

On Dec 29th at 1334 MST, 2 miles west-southwest of Dodson estimated 4 inches of snowfall with drifts up to 4 feet. At 1350 MST visibility is about 300 feet on Highway 2 (reported by the DOT), at 1530 MST December 30th, Malta measured 6 inches of new snow with severe drifting.

At 1700 MST on December 29th 15 miles south of Zortman, blizzard conditions were reported with winds over 25 mph and frequent gusts over 35 mph from 0541 to 1541 MST. At 1348 MST on December 30th, spotter in Zortman estimated 6 inches of new snow with 2 to 4 foot drifts in town.

At 1005 MST on December 29th, spotter 9 miles north of Nashua reported snowfall and estimated wind of 30 with gusts to 40 mph reducing visibility to less than 1/8 of a mile, at 1035 MST on December 29th, spotter in Glentana reported blowing and drifting snow with 1/4 to 1/2 a mile visibility, at 1715 MST on December 29th public in Frazer reported blizzard conditions, at 1159 MST on December 29th, NWS Glasgow reported 7 inches of new snow with 2 to 3 foot drifts.

At 1346 MST on December 29th, Wolf Point ASOS reported blizzard conditions with sustained winds greater than 25 mph and frequent gusts over 35 mph between 1235 and 1830 MST. At 1714 MST on December 29th, 8 miles southwest of Bredette, spotter reported blizzard conditions with sustained winds of 25 mph or greater with gusts over 35 mph. The peak gust was 41 mph.

At 1000 MST on December 29th, snow and drifting snow reducing visibilities to less than 1/8 of a mile. At 1345 MST on December 29th, Law Enforcement reported visibility near zero on Highway 2 between Brockton and Wolf Point. At 1615 MST on December 29th, spotter in Culbertson reported blowing snow reducing visibility to about 200 yards. At 1618 MST on December 29th, 1 mile north-northwest of Sprole, blizzard conditions were reported with sustained winds greater than 25 mph and frequent gusts over 35 mph lasting all day. At 1700 MST on December 29th, spotter 4 miles east of Bainville reported blowing and drifting snow with limited visibility.

At 1322 MST on December 29th, spotter 8 miles west-northwest of the UL Bend reported sustained winds over 25 mph with three hours of gusts over 35 mph. At 1706 MST on December 29th in Winnett, an estimated 8 inches of snow with blizzard conditions occurred during the morning with visibility between 200 and 30 yards. At 0900 MST on December 30th, Coop observer near Flatwillow measured 8 inches of new snow with 8 to 9 foot drifts on property.

At 1145 MST on December 29th 10 miles of Circle, spotter reported visibility of 1/8 of a mile with snow and blowing snow. At 1336 MST on December 30th, spotter in Circle estimated 3 inches of snow with 1 foot drifts.

At 1823 MST on December 29th 11 miles northeast of Terry, blizzard conditions were reported with sustained winds over 25 mph and gusts to 43 mph for several hours. At 1154 MST on December 30th, 8 miles west-southwest of Terry, 2 to 2.5 foot drifts were observed in the yard.