Winter Storm in Montana, January 4 to 6, 2010

Name: Winter Storm in Montana, January 4 to 6, 2010
Start: 2010-01-04T14:00
End: 2010-01-06T06:00
Location: Montana

January 4 to 6, 2010 · NWS BYZ · 13 events in 13 counties and zones

A dynamic storm system moved out of Southern Canada and across the Billings Forecast Area on the 5th and 6th of January. Ahead of the system, cold arctic air surged southward across the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 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: 13

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 BYZ wrote it up.

A dynamic storm system moved out of Southern Canada and across the Billings Forecast Area on the 5th and 6th of January. Ahead of the system, cold arctic air surged southward across the area. Moist air forced over this arctic air resulted in periods of heavy snowfall. In addition, gusty northerly winds created considerable blowing and drifting snow along with bitterly cold wind chills.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Absarokee / Beartooth Mountains

When: January 4, 2:00 PM MST to January 6, 1:00 AM MST
Where: Absarokee / Beartooth Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 45.550, -109.722 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Fisher Creek, Monument Peak and White Mill Snotels all received between 12 and |15 inches of snow.

Winter Storm, Judith Gap

When: January 4, 4:00 PM MST to January 6, 4:00 AM MST
Where: Judith Gap forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 46.424, -109.509 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Judith Gap reported 3 inches of snow with visibilities 1/4 mile as a result of blowing snow.

Winter Storm, Musselshell

When: January 5, 1:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where: Musselshell forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.497, -108.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Roundup received 6 inches of snow along with significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Southern Wheatland

When: January 5, 1:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where: Southern Wheatland forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Snow accumulations of 5 inches were reported from Harlowton to Lavina with very bad road conditions.

Winter Storm, Golden Valley

When: January 5, 1:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where: Golden Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.381, -109.175 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lavina reported 7 inches of snow along with wind gusts to 40 mph.

Winter Storm, Northern Rosebud

When: January 5, 2:00 AM MST to January 6, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Northern Rosebud forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.230, -106.731 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Forsyth received 6 inches of snow along with significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Northern Big Horn

When: January 5, 2:00 AM MST to January 6, 3:00 AM MST
Where: Northern Big Horn forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.424, -107.490 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Birney to Hardin received between 6 and 8 inches of snow.

Winter Storm, Northern Park County

When: January 5, 6:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where: Northern Park County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.488, -110.526 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Clyde Park received 3 to 4 inches of snow with significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Crazy Mountains

When: January 5, 10:00 AM MST to January 6, 3:00 AM MST
Where: Crazy Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 45.923, -110.104 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Southfork Shields Snotel received 13 inches of snow.

Winter Storm, Yellowstone

When: January 5, 2:00 PM MST to January 6, 3:00 AM MST
Where: Yellowstone forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The Billings area received anywhere from 6 to 8 inches of snow.

Winter Storm, Southern Big Horn

When: January 5, 4:00 PM MST to January 6, 3:00 AM MST
Where: Southern Big Horn forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Busby received 6 inches of snow.

Winter Storm, Northern Stillwater

When: January 5, 4:00 PM MST to January 6, 4:00 AM MST
Where: Northern Stillwater forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.669, -109.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Columbus and Absarokee received 6 inches of snow.

Winter Storm, Northern Sweet Grass

When: January 5, 4:00 PM MST to January 6, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Northern Sweet Grass forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Big Timber, McLeod and Reed Point all received 7 inches of snow.

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, January 2010

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 205502, 205504, 205129, 205507, 206945, 205125, 205127, 205512, 205510, 205126, 205128, 205500, 205509.