Montana, 2011

Ice Storm in Montana, January 16, 2011

January 16, 2011 · NWS GGW · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

An ice storm occurred in McCone and Dawson counties as a warm front to the southwest allowed warmer air to override the colder air at the surface.

Where it happened

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.

  • 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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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 GGW wrote it up.

An ice storm occurred in McCone and Dawson counties as a warm front to the southwest allowed warmer air to override the colder air at the surface.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, McCone

When
January 16, 10:00 PM MST to 10:50 PM MST
Where
McCone forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
47.645, -105.795 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At 2245 MST, a trained spotter 1 mile south of Brockway reported a quarter inch of ice. At 2250 MST in Circle, law enforcement reported a quarter inch of ice on Highway 200 with freezing rain continuing. At 2250 MST, in Brockway, law enforcement reported a quarter inch of ice on Highway 200 with freezing rain continuing. At 2250 MST, at the Flowing Wells rest Area, law enforcement reported a quarter inch of ice on Highway 200 with freezing rain continuing.

Ice Storm, Dawson

When
January 16, 10:00 PM MST to 10:35 PM MST
Where
Dawson forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.266, -104.899 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At 2235 MST, spotter 2 miles northwest of Glendive reported a quarter inch of ice.

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, January 2011

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 270073, 270076.