Flooding in Montana, March 23 to 31, 2011

Name: Flooding in Montana, March 23 to 31, 2011
Start: 2011-03-23T11:38
End: 2011-03-31T23:59
Location: Montana

March 23 to 31, 2011 · NWS GGW · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Beaver Creek flowed out of it's banks due to excessive snowmelt and ice jamming.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 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.

Beaver Creek flowed out of it's banks due to excessive snowmelt and ice jamming.

What forecasters said that day

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 23, 8:46 AM MST, 2 hours 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 23, 8:46 AM MST, 2 hours 52 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
946 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2011

.SHORT TERM...FOR NORTHEAST MONTANA...TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY...
UPDATED THE FORECAST THIS MORNING TO FINE TUNE THE AREA OF
EXPECTED SNOWFALL TODAY. UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AND WEAKENING TROWAL
FEATURE ALIGNED SOUTHEAST TO NORTHWEST ACROSS NORTHEAST
MONTANA...RESULTING IN BAND OF LIGHT SNOW. THESE FEATURES WILL
SHIFT SLOWLY SOUTHWEST AND WEAKEN THROUGH THE DAY. DRIER AIR IS
FILTERING IN FROM THE NORTHEAST...OUT OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER SOUTH
CENTRAL CANADA. LITTLE IF ANY ADDITIONAL SNOW IS EXPECTED
NORTHEAST OF GLASGOW AND WOLF POINT TODAY...BUT AN ADDITIONAL INCH
OR SO IS LIKELY FROM PHILLIPS COUNTY THROUGH SOUTHERN
VALLEY...TOWARD WIBAUX COUNTY. THE WIND IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE AN
ISSUE TODAY...SO HAVE CANCELLED WARNINGS/ADVISORIES OVER NORTHEAST
SECTIONS AND PETROLEUM COUNTY...BUT HAVE MAINTAINED THE HEADLINES
UNDER THE SNOW BAND UNTIL 3 PM. MOYER

...PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
SNOW CONTINUES ACROSS NORTHEAST MONTANA EARLY THIS MORNING...EVEN
AS STORM SYSTEM MOVES EASTWARD. SNOW IS DIMINISHING IN COVERAGE
AND INTENSITY AS IT BECOME FOCUSED ALONG AN INVERTED 700 MB TROF
EXTENDING FROM SOUTHERN ALBERTA THROUGH NORTHEAST MONTANA AND
SOUTH DAKOTA TO THE LOW IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. DEEP MOISTURE
CONTINUE TO FEED INTO THE SYSTEM AND SPREAD WESTWARD...INTERACTING
WITH WEAK DIVERGENCE/LIFT OVER EASTERN MONTANA...KEEPING LIGHT
SNOW ACROSS THE REGION. WHILE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE
IMPROVING THIS MORNING...EXTENDED THE WINTER STORM WARNING AND
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES INTO THIS AFTERNOON...TO ACCOUNT FOR
CONTINUING POOR TRAVEL CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA.

MOISTURE FEED DIMINISHES BY AFTERNOON...ALONG WITH LIFT AS STORM
MOVES OVER THE GREAT LAKES AND RIDGE BUILDS ALONG THE FRONT RANGE.
COLD AIRMASS ALOFT BEGINS TO MODERATE SLIGHTLY BY TONIGHT AS NEXT
SHORTWAVE PUSHES ONSHORE...AND PUMPS WARM AIR NORTHWARD. COLD AIR
WILL LINGER AT THE SURFACE...ESPECIALLY OVER THE NORTHEAST ZONES
WHERE DEEPER SNOW BOTH OLD AND NEW LINGERS.

ON THURSDAY SHORTWAVE PUSHING THROUGH THE CENTRAL ROCKIES COULD
PUSH SOME MOISTURE NORTHWARD AND ACROSS THE THERMAL BOUNDARY IN
SOUTHERN MONTANA FOR CHANCES OF SNOW. BETTER CHANCE WILL BE
THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY...WHEN ANOTHER SHORTWAVE PUSHES THROUGH
THE NORTHERN GREAT BASIN. EBERT

.LONG TERM...FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...
LONG TERM WILL START FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT WITH COLD
CORE TROUGH ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES STRETCHED UP THOUGH THE
CANADIAN PLAINS AND BUMPING UP AGAINST NORTHEASTERN MONTANA. TO
THE WEST SPLIT FLOW WILL EXIST ACROSS THE MOUNTAINOUS PORTION OF
THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT WITH THE RIDGE PORTION OF THE FLOW
ANCHORED OVER BRITISH COLUMBIA AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THIS
WILL LEAD TO A FAIRLY STAGNANT PATTERN IN TEMPERATURES WITH A
SLIGHT WARMING AS THE COLD AIR SHALLOWS OUT ACROSS THE HIGH
PLAINS.

SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... THE RIDGE OF THE SPLIT FLOW WILL MOVE
ACROSS MONTANA AND QUICKLY ENHANCE. THIS SHOULD TRANSLATE INTO A
GRADUAL WARM UP ACROSS THE REGION. ANOTHER TROUGH DEVELOPING OFF
THE COAST OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL ALSO BEGIN FLINGING OFF
MESOSCALE VORTICIES WITH INSTABILITY WHICH COULD LEAD TOWARDS SOME
ISOLATED AFTERNOON RAIN SHOWERS ACROSS THE MISSOURI BREAKS.

TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY... MODEL CHAOS BEGINS TO ENSUE
RAPIDLY WITH THE PC NW TROUGH EJECTING ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND
ONTO THE PLAINS. MODELS ARE HAVING TROUBLE DETERMINING THE DEPTH OF
THE AMPLITUDE WITH THIS PASSING TROUGH AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE
ENSEMBLE ARE ACTUALLY FORMING A CUT OFF LOW ACROSS SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA WHICH CAN CAUSE AN EVEN GREATER CONFIDENCE MESS. BEST
GUESS IS A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE REGION ROUGHLY TUESDAY
NIGHT WITH A FEW MIXED SHOWERS FOLLOWED BY A BRIEF COOL DOWN. GAH

&&

.AVIATION...
A SHRINKING NW TO SE ORIENTED BAND OF SNOW CAUSING IFR
VISIBILITIES DOWN TO 1 MILE AT TIMES...AND MVFR OVERCAST CEILINGS
THIS MORNING. THIS INCLUDES TAF SITES GGW AND GDV. THIS SNOW WILL
MOSTLY DISSIPATE BY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...RESULTING IN VFR
CONDITIONS WITH CEILINGS BECOMING BROKEN AT 3-5K FT AGL. SIMONSEN

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
AN ICE JAM ON BEAVER CREEK IN WIBAUX COUNTY WAS CAUSING SOME HIGH
WATER WITH AREA RESIDENCES POTENTIALLY THREATENED NEAR THE NORTH
DAKOTA BORDER. HIGH WATERS WITH THIS JAM EXTENDED BACK TOWARDS THE
TOWN OF WIBAUX AS WELL. TEMPERATURES ACROSS WIBAUX COUNTY WILL BE
ON THE DECREASE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS WHICH SHOULD HELP TO
SLOW THE FLOW OF MELT WATER IN THE AREA BUT WILL MAKE THE ICE JAM HARDER
TO BUDGE.

THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER IS SETTLING DOWN WITH MUCH OF THE RIVER
BEING OPEN. HOWEVER... THERE IS STILL ONE ICE JAM NEAR SIDNEY. BUT
THE WATER LEVEL NEAR THE SIDNEY RIVER GAUGE IS COMING DOWN AND
THIS WILL HOPEFULLY BE THE LAST ICE JAM TO DEAL ALONG THE RIVER.

PHILLIPS COUNTY IS IMPROVING IN REGARDS TO THE MILK RIVER AT
DODSON AS THE STAGE CONTINUES TO FALL THERE. AN AREA OF CONCERN
IS BEAVER CREEK IN THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY. THE WATER
HAS NOT YET REACHED HIGHWAY 2 BUT MINOR LOWLAND FLOODING IS
UPSTREAM IN THE CONTENT AREA... SOME OF THIS IS INTENTIONAL AS
LOCAL FARMER/RANCHERS FLOOD THEIR FIELDS TO GAIN THE MOISTURE AND
NUTRIENTS. THE WATER WAS BANK FULL ABOUT 12 TO 13 MILES SW OF SACO.
THE INITIAL SURGE OF WATER SHOULD REACH THE BRIDGE AT HIGHWAY 2
AND SACO BETWEEN TODAY AND THURSDAY.

MILK RIVER RISES ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FROM THE SACO AREA TO
NASHUA THROUGH THE WEEKEND....BUT NONE OF THE GAGE SITES ARE
ANTICIPATED TO HIT FLOOD STAGE IN THE SHORT TERM. HICKS

&&

.CLIMATE...
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL IN GLASGOW OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS ENDING AT 6
AM TODAY WAS 7.8 INCHES. THIS BRINGS THE RECORD-BREAKING SEASON
SNOWFALL TOTAL TO 105.0 INCHES. THE OLD RECORD SEASON SNOWFALL OF
70.7 INCHES IN 2003-04 WAS EXCEEDED WAY BACK ON JAN 29TH THIS YEAR.
THROUGH THE 22ND OF MARCH...THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN GLASGOW OF
17.5 DEGREES IS RUNNING 11.5 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. THIS IS THE
COLDEST START TO MARCH SINCE 2002. WE ARE SURE TO END UP WITH 5
MONTHS IN A ROW THAT HAVE BEEN BOTH COLDER AND SNOWIER THAN
NORMAL. SIMONSEN

&&

.GLASGOW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 3 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL
AND SOUTHEAST PHILLIPS...CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VALLEY...NORTHERN
PHILLIPS...SOUTHWEST PHILLIPS...NORTHERN VALLEY.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR
GARFIELD...MCCONE...DAWSON...PRAIRIE...WIBAUX.

&&

WEATHER.GOV/GLASGOW

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 23, 8:39 AM MST, 2 hours 59 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
939 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2011

MTZ016-017-059>061-241100-
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PHILLIPS-CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VALLEY-
NORTHERN PHILLIPS-SOUTHWEST PHILLIPS-NORTHERN VALLEY-
939 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

WINTER STORM WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 3 PM. LIGHT SNOW WILL
CONTINUE THIS MORNING AND ROADWAYS REMAIN SNOW COVERED AND
ICY...MAKING TRAVEL DIFFICULT ACROSS THE REGION.

FLOODING WILL ALSO CONTINUE ON PEOPLES CREEK AND THE MILK RIVER
NEAR DODSON IN WESTERN PHILLIPS COUNTY AND SMALL STREAMS ACROSS
SOUTHERN PHILLIPS COUNTY. THE MILK RIVER WILL GRADUALLY RISE THROUGH
THE WEEK...BUT IS NOT EXPECTED TO REACH FLOOD STAGE AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MTZ022-023-025>027-241100-
GARFIELD-MCCONE-DAWSON-PRAIRIE-WIBAUX-
939 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 3 PM. LIGHT
SNOW WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING AND AREA ROADWAYS REMAIN SNOW
COVERED AND ICY...MAKING TRAVEL DIFFICULT ACROSS THE REGION.

ICE JAMS WILL ALSO CONTINUE ON THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER...MAINLY ON
BEAVER CREEK NORTH OF WIBAUX.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MTZ018>020-024-062-241100-
DANIELS-SHERIDAN-WESTERN ROOSEVELT-RICHLAND-EASTERN ROOSEVELT-
939 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

ICE JAMS WILL ALSO CONTINUE ON THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER...MAINLY SIDNEY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

MTZ021-241100-
PETROLEUM-
939 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

MOYER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 23, 8:28 AM MST, 3 hours 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
928 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0845 AM     SNOW             13 SW SACO              48.32N 107.54W
03/23/2011  E6.0 INCH        PHILLIPS           MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOW STILL FALLING

0845 AM     SNOW             WIBAUX                  46.99N 104.19W
03/23/2011  E5.6 INCH        WIBAUX             MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOW STILL FALLING

0845 AM     SNOW             GLENDIVE                47.11N 104.71W
03/23/2011  E6.0 INCH        DAWSON             MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

0900 AM     SNOW             SIDNEY                  47.72N 104.16W
03/23/2011  E7.0 INCH        RICHLAND           MT   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

JBARNWEL

Local storm report, Mar 23, 10:14 AM MST, 1 hour 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
1114 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1045 AM     SNOW             1 ESE WINNETT           47.00N 108.34W
03/23/2011  E1.5 INCH        PETROLEUM          MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

1045 AM     SNOW             3 WSW WELDON            47.60N 105.96W
03/23/2011  E4.0 INCH        MCCONE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

1045 AM     SNOW             JORDAN                  47.32N 106.91W
03/23/2011  E3.0 INCH        GARFIELD           MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

1047 AM     SNOW             6 S WOLF POINT          48.01N 105.63W
03/23/2011  E7.0 INCH        MCCONE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

1049 AM     SNOW             4 WNW WATKINS           47.27N 105.96W
03/23/2011  E5.0 INCH        MCCONE             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

1051 AM     SNOW             10 ESE CIRCLE           47.37N 105.40W
03/23/2011  E6.0 INCH        DAWSON             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

1053 AM     SNOW             4 ENE MOSBY             47.01N 107.80W
03/23/2011  E5.0 INCH        GARFIELD           MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

1055 AM     SNOW             1 SSW SAND SPRINGS      47.09N 107.49W
03/23/2011  E4.0 INCH        GARFIELD           MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

1057 AM     SNOW             8 WNW NELSON CREEK RECR 47.59N 106.39W
03/23/2011  E6.0 INCH        GARFIELD           MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

1059 AM     SNOW             MEDICINE LAKE           48.50N 104.50W
03/23/2011  E5.0 INCH        SHERIDAN           MT   CO-OP OBSERVER

&&

JB

Local storm report, Mar 23, 10:21 AM MST, 1 hour 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
1121 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1120 AM     SNOW             15 SSE CULBERTSON       47.93N 104.45W
03/23/2011  M6.0 INCH        RICHLAND           MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED .77 IN OF LIQUID PRECIP

&&

JB

Local storm report, Mar 23, 11:07 AM MST, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
1207 PM MDT WED MAR 23 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1205 PM     SNOW             1 N GLASGOW             48.21N 106.64W
03/23/2011  M8.1 INCH        VALLEY             MT   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

&&

JB

Local storm report, Mar 23, 11:28 AM MST, 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
1228 PM MDT WED MAR 23 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1227 PM     HEAVY SNOW       10 SE GLASGOW           48.09N 106.48W
03/23/2011  M7.0 INCH        VALLEY             MT   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SHERIFF REPORT/COCORAHS OBSERVER.

&&

JBARNWEL

Local storm report, Mar 23, 11:33 AM MST, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GLASGOW MT
1233 PM MDT WED MAR 23 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1227 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 WSW GLENDIVE          47.10N 104.75W
03/23/2011  M6.5 INCH        DAWSON             MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL.

&&

JBARNWEL

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Phillips

When: March 23, 11:38 AM MST to March 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Phillips County, 2.58 mi ENE of Saco to 6.46 mi SSE of Saco
Cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.480, -107.276

On March 23rd, Beaver Creek was out of its banks and the Gauge at Guston Coulee on Beaver Creek was 12.28 feet and continuing to rise. On March 25th, the gauge at Guston Coulee at Beaver Creek spreading out of the creek channel and across the fields and ditches and over a few roads in the region.

Flood, Valley

When: March 23, 11:38 AM MST to March 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Valley County, 6.21 mi NW of Hinsdale to 11.38 mi W of Hinsdale
Cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.458, -107.184

On March 24rd, Larb Creek had some minor flooding along it and Beaver Creek at Hinsdale was 11.62 feet which was a rise of 6 feet in two days. On March 30th at Hinsdale on Beaver Creek the gauge rose slightly to over 11.5 feet overnight and Larb Creek in western Valley County has some minor flooding along it. The level on the Beaver Creek at Hinsdale rose slightly to 11.6 feet and Larb Creek is still having minor flooding along it.

What these are

Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, March 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 288700, 288702.