Strong winds combined with falling and/or loose snow on the ground to create large drifts and blizzard conditions.
Every event with a place to put it; 16 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 GGW wrote it up.
Strong winds combined with falling and/or loose snow on the ground to create large drifts and blizzard conditions.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
16 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Spotters estimated six to eight inches of snow. Ground blizzards were also observed and the Winnett observations reported gusts in the upper 40s. These conditions came to an end on the afternoon of January 24th.
Spotters reported eight to ten inches of snow. Blowing snow reduced visibility to less than a quarter of a mile at times. Some roads were drifted shut. Wind gusts to 48 mph were reported with roads in and around Jordan closed. Visibilities were less than a quarter of a mile for several hours.
Blizzard conditions began with sustained winds between 30 and 40 mph, lasting over 24 hours in places. Six to eight inches of snowfall were commonly reported across the zone. Blowing snow reduced the visibility to less than a quarter of a mile 35 S of Malta and across other parts of the zone.
Snowfall estimates ranged from seven to eight inches in most locations before the wind hit the area. 14 inches were estimated 5 SW of Hinsdale the morning of the 24th. Sustained winds over 30 mph created blizzard conditions across the entire area.
Wind gusts over 40 mph along with new snowfall created blizzard conditions on the morning of January 24th. The blizzard conditions lasted through the morning of January 25th.
Spotter estimated new snowfall of 6 inches with some blowing and drifting. Winds were sustained at 30 to 40 mph creating blizzard conditions. which started on the morning of January 24th and lasting until the early morning on January 25th.
Spotter 1 SSE Zortman estimated 15 inches of snowfall. Wind gusts over 40 mph resulted in blizzard conditions and snow drifts of six to eight feet. The wind started on the evening of the 23rd and lasted through the 24th.
Spotter estimated seven inches of new snowfall along with drifting snow. Wind gusts over 35 mph created blizzard conditions on the morning of January 24th which lasted until into the next morniing.
Sustained winds over 40 mph were observed (McDonalds DOT). widespread blizzard conditions were reported in Wolf Point with observed wind gusts to 40 mph. Reports of sustained winds over 35 mph were reported throughout the day at Poplar on January 24th.
There were numerous reports of blizzard conditions with wind gusts over 45 mph, sustained winds over 35 mph and visibilities less than a quarter of a mile. Blizzard conditions started the morning of the January 24th and lasted through the morning of the January 25th.
Stateline DOT observations reported sustained winds of 30 mph with gusts over 40 mph. The blizzard conditions started the morning of January 24th and lasted into the afternoon of January 25th.
Blizzard conditions were reported as gusts were observed up to 46 mph. Near Brockway, visibility never got above a quarter of a mile with drifts of 10 feet. The county opened up a Red Cross shelter as people had been stuck on county roadways. Power poles were also damaged. Dollar amounts are estimated from actual losses, not to replace them.
Blizzard conditions started the morning of January 24th with snowfall and high winds. The blizzard conditions lasted until the late morning of January 25th. Spotter reported visibility less than 50 yards all day with some neighbors without power.
Blizzard conditions started the morning of January 24th with snowfall and high winds. The blizzard conditions lasted until the afternoon of January 25th. Lindsay Divide DOT reported sustained winds over 50 mph with gusts over 60 mph while blizzard conditions lasted more than 24 hours.
Blizzard conditions started the morning of January 24th with snowfall and high winds. The blizzard conditions lasted until the afternoon of January 25th. Reporting stations registered wind gusts over 35 mph lasting over 24 hours (Sioux Pass DOT sensor).
Visibility was around zero all day in Wibaux, which caused semi trucks to be stuck on Interstate 94. One snow drift was measured at 56 inches deep. Gusts over 35 mph lasted for over 24 hours (Beaver Hill DOT).
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, January 2010
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: 208465, 208466, 208079, 208423, 208431, 208080, 208082, 208435, 208448, 208440, 208454, 208467, 208471, 208470, 208469, 208472.