Some impressive ice jamming on the Yellowstone River brought substantial flooding to Prairie and Dawson Counties.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Some impressive ice jamming on the Yellowstone River brought substantial flooding to Prairie and Dawson Counties.
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 Glasgow, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 13, 8:12 AM MST, 5 hours 3 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT 912 AM MDT SUN MAR 13 2011 .SHORT TERM...FOR NORTHEAST MONTANA...TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY... THE GOING FORECAST IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITIONS AND REFLECTS THE MODELS TRENDS OF WARMER TEMPERATURES AND DRIER CONDITIONS. VERY MINOR CHANGES WERE MADE TO TREND UP TEMPERATURES FOR THE TODAY PERIOD...PRIMARILY ACROSS THE EXTREME SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE WARNING AREA. ALSO INCREASED CLOUD COVER A BIT FOR LATE AFTERNOON AND THE TONIGHT PERIOD. AES PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS... UPPER RIDGING OVER THE AREA WILL BRING WARMING TODAY AS THE ARCTIC AIRMASS SHALLOWS OUT. ARCTIC HIGH CENTER MOVING WELL OFF TO OUR E. HIGH CLOUDS MOVING THRU THE AREA FROM THE W AT TIMES. THIS MORNING THOUGH...INDICATIONS OF FOG POTENTIAL STILL. ENOUGH MOISTURE IN LOWER LEVELS OF INVERSION LAYER ALONG WITH WIDESPREAD SMALL TEMP/DEWPOINT SPREADS LESS THAN 3F. MOS AND FORECAST SURFACE RELATIVE HUMIDITY FORECAST CHARTS CONTINUE TO SHOW POSSIBLE FOG. THERE HAVE BEEN JUST A FEW PATCHES SO FAR...AS WINDS CONTINUING TO BE A LIMITING FACTOR...SO KEEPING THE ONGOING PATCHY IN THE FORECAST...WHICH COULD FORM ANYWHERE IN THE CWA. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE SHORTWAVE THAT MOVES ACROSS NE MT MON. THIS SHOULD AT LEAST INCREASE THE WINDS WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE WHICH WILL MIX OUT THE SURFACE INVERSIONS RESULTING IN WARMER TEMPS...ESPECIALLY IN OUR E WHERE FRONTAL PASSAGE TIME WILL BE IN AFTERNOON. MODELS SHOWING 40-50 KT 850 MB WINDS ABOUT THIS TIME...BUT FRONT NOT STRONG ENOUGH AND NOT COOL ADVECTION ENOUGH TO DRY ADIABATICALLY MIX THAT HIGH. THIS SHORTWAVE NOT LOOKING VERY ORGANIZED ON MOISTURE EITHER..,.AND A WEAK SURFACE WAVE THAT FORMS OVER SW MT/NW WY TAKES SOME ENERGY FROM THE SYSTEM AS WELL. MOST MODELS DEVELOP PRECIP WITH THE WAVE...EVEN UP TO .4 INCH...BUT ALL MOVE THE WAVE STRAIGHT E AND NOT INFLUENCING OUR AREA...SO POPS MONDAY FOR NE MT TO BE 10 PCT AT BEST. ONLY SLIGHT COOLING OF THE AIRMASS BEHIND THE FRONT. NEAR FULL SUNSHINE EXPECTED TUE...WITH VERY LITTLE WIND. NET RESULT WILL BE JUST A FEW DEGREES COOLING OF HIGHS. SIMONSEN .LONG TERM...TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY... MODELS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT WITH A COLD FRONT COMING THROUGH EASTERN MONTANA ON WEDNESDAY WITH SHORTWAVE TROUGH PASSING THROUGH IN THE AFTERNOON OR EVENING. THE SYSTEM WILL BRING A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS DURING THE DAY THAT COULD MIX WITH SNOW SHOWERS WEDNESDAY NIGHT BEFORE MOVING TO THE EAST. MODELS DIFFER SOMEWHAT ON HOW MUCH RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS SYSTEM. WITH SOME SNOW MELT FLOODING EXPECTED WITH THE WARMER TEMPERATURES AHEAD OF THE FRONT...ANY RAIN THAT DOES OCCUR WILL LIKELY ACCELERATE THE SNOW MELT AND ADD TO ANY FLOODING THAT OCCURS. COLDER TEMPERATURES BEHIND THE FRONT WILL PREVAIL THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK ALTHOUGH THE MODELS DIFFER ON HOW MUCH COLDER AT THIS POINT. GFS IS MUCH COLDER THAN THE ECMWF AND THE OPERATIONAL GFS IS COLDER THAN MOST OF ITS ENSEMBLE MEMBERS. WILL SIDE CLOSER TO THE WARMER ECMWF ON TEMPERATURES FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY FOR NOW. THE MODELS DISAGREEMENTS CONTINUE INTO NEXT WEEKEND AS THE MODELS WANT TO BRING AN UPPER TROUGH ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S. AND DEVELOP A WINTER STORM OVER THE CENTRAL ROCKIES. WITH THE BOTH MODELS WANTING TO KEEP THE LOW TO THE SOUTH OF MONTANA AT THIS POINT WILL SIDE WITH COLDER GFS FOR THE WEEKEND. WILL MENTION SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW AT THIS POINT. && .AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED MOST OF THE TIME TODAY AND TONIGHT. SKIES WILL BE MOSTLY CLEAR TODAY WITH SOME HIGH CLOUDS MOVING INTO THE AREA TONIGHT. GFF && .HYDROLOGY... A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR WESTERN GARFIELD AND PETROLEUM COUNTIES BASED ON REPORTS OF MULTIPLE ICE JAMS ON THE MUSSELSHELL RIVER AND SURROUNDING CREEKS. WATER IN SOME AREAS ARE RUNNING BANK FULL WHILE OTHERS ARE SPILLING WELL OUT OF THEIR BANKS. NEARBY RANCHES ARE ALREADY BEING AFFECTED. SAGE HEN AND SOUTH LODGE POLE CREEKS ALREADY OUT OF THEIR BANKS. LOCAL DRAINAGES ARE SEEING PROBLEMS WITH FROZEN CULVERTS AND BLOCKED FLOW FROM THE HIGH AMOUNTS OF SNOW AND ICE THIS WINTER. EXPECT WARMER TEMPERATURES TO CONTINUE THE MELT FOR THE REGION MAKING FOR MORE LOCAL FLOOD ISSUES WITH DRAINAGES UNTIL THEY BECOME FREE FLOWING. DO EXPECT MORE ISSUES FOR THIS REGION WITH STILL 12-18 INCHES OF SNOW IN SOME AREAS ACROSS NORTHWESTERN GARFIELD COUNTY. MILK/MISSOURI DRAINAGE SYSTEM WILL ALSO SEE AN INCREASE IN TEMPERATURES STARTING TODAY AND LAST WELL INTO NEXT WEEK WHICH SHOULD BRING MELT WATER DOWN INTO THE RIVER SYSTEM. STILL A FAIR AMOUNT OF FROZEN WATER LOCKED UP IN THE HILLS AND IN THE FLATS. REPORT FROM SOUTHWEST VALLEY COUNTY HAS SOME OF THE CREEKS ALREADY UP NEARING BANK FULL WITH STILL A GOOD AMOUNT OF SNOW IN THE HILLS. THE WARM UP SHOULD BRING SOME RIVER GAGE LEVELS UP AND MAY NEED SOME HYDRO STATEMENTS ON RIVER RISES. THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER BASIN IS ACTIVE WITH ICE JAM FLOODING IN THE MILES CITY AREA. WILL HAVE TO KEEP POSTED ON THIS ACTIVITY AS THE JAMS WORK DOWNSTREAM INTO OUR FORECAST AREA. STILL PLENTY OF SNOW COVER TO MELT THIS WEEK WHICH COULD LEAD TO PROBLEMS IN THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM. RESIDENTS ACROSS NORTHEAST MONTANA SHOULD BEGIN TO PLAN FOR THIS WARM UP AND POSSIBLE SMALL STREAM FLOODING ISSUES. RANCHES SHOULD MOVE LIVESTOCK TO HIGHER GROUND OUT OF FLOOD PLAINS AND RESIDENTS IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD BEGIN TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS IN CASE FLOOD WATERS MOVE INTO YOUR LOCATION. && .GLASGOW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && WEATHER.GOV/GLASGOW
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT 418 AM MDT SUN MAR 13 2011 MTZ021-022-141000- PETROLEUM-GARFIELD- 418 AM MDT SUN MAR 13 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PETROLEUM AND WESTERN GARFIELD COUNTIES. THIS INCLUDES THE MUSSELSHELL RIVER...AS WELL AS SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS THAT FEED THE MUSSELSHELL IN THE AREA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY WARMER WEATHER WILL LINGER THROUGH AT LEAST WEDNESDAY. SNOWMELT WILL CONTINUE AND CAUSE OTHER AREA STREAMS AND CREEKS TO START RUNNING AND RISING. ICE JAMS COULD ALSO OCCUR ON AREA RIVERS AND SOME OF THE LARGER TRIBUTARIES. PLEASE REPORT ANY FLOODING AND/OR ICE JAMS TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL OF A FEW TENTHS OF AN INCH MAY FALL ON WEDNESDAY. THIS RAINFALL COULD FURTHER ENHANCE SNOWMELT AND CAUSE ADDITIONAL RISES ON REGIONAL RIVERS...CREEKS...AND STREAMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MTZ016>020-023>027-059>062-141000- CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PHILLIPS-CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VALLEY- DANIELS-SHERIDAN-WESTERN ROOSEVELT-MCCONE-RICHLAND-DAWSON-PRAIRIE- WIBAUX-NORTHERN PHILLIPS-SOUTHWEST PHILLIPS-NORTHERN VALLEY- EASTERN ROOSEVELT- 418 AM MDT SUN MAR 13 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SEVERAL DAYS OF ABOVE FREEZING DAYTIME TEMPERATURES WILL BEGIN TODAY ALLOWING SNOW TO MELT. REFREEZING AT NIGHT WILL CREATE PATCHES OF ICY ROADS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY WARMER WEATHER IS IN STORE THROUGH AT LEAST WEDNESDAY. SNOWMELT WILL CONTINUE AND CAUSE OTHER AREA STREAMS AND CREEKS TO START RUNNING AND RISING. ICE JAMS COULD ALSO OCCUR ON AREA RIVERS AND SOME OF THE LARGER TRIBUTARIES. PLEASE REPORT ANY FLOODING AND/OR ICE JAMS TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL OF A FEW TENTHS OF AN INCH MAY FALL ON WEDNESDAY. THIS RAINFALL COULD FURTHER ENHANCE SNOWMELT AND CAUSE ADDITIONAL RISES ON REGIONAL RIVERS...CREEKS...AND STREAMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
An impressive ice jam on the Yellowstone River contained ice chunks the size of a house according to an observer. This ice jam caused damage to the Shirley pumping plant at the Buffalo Rapids District 2 Irrigation Project in Terry.
On March 14th, an ice jam on the Interstate 94 bridge near Glendive caused some low land flooding. On March 15th, West Glendive beginning a threat from the Yellowstone. On March 16th, equipment such as tractor and cars had to be moved to higher ground as the Interstate 94 bridge made the ice jamming problem much worse. On March 17th, water was flowing around an ice jam on the north side of Glendive resulting in flooding of lowland close to the river. On March 18th, Dawson County commissioners passed a resolution of emergency declaration due to the flooding.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, March 2011
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: 288069, 288070.