Montana, 2011Winter Storm in Montana, November 17 to 19, 2011
November 17 to 19, 2011 · NWS BYZ · 4 events in 4 counties and zones
A moist southwest flow aloft combined with a strong disturbance brought winter storm conditions to portions of Southern Montana and Northern Wyoming. Heavy snow developed over the mountains before spreading onto the plains.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
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.
A moist southwest flow aloft combined with a strong disturbance brought winter storm conditions to portions of Southern Montana and Northern Wyoming. Heavy snow developed over the mountains before spreading onto the plains.
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 Billings, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 17, 3:15 AM MST, 5 hours 45 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Nov 17, 3:15 AM MST, 5 hours 45 minutes before
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</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 17, 3:14 AM MST, 5 hours 46 minutes before
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</html>Winter Storm, Absarokee / Beartooth Mountains
- When
- November 17, 9:00 AM MST to November 19, 3:00 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 Snotel reported 16 inches of new snow.
Winter Storm, Southern Big Horn
- When
- November 17, 10:00 PM MST to November 19, 7:00 AM MST
- Where
- Southern Big Horn forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Snowfall of 8 inches was reported about 7 miles ESE of Fort Smith and 17 miles WSW of Wyola.
Winter Storm, Red Lodge Foothills
- When
- November 18, 7:00 PM MST to November 19, 3:00 AM MST
- Where
- Red Lodge Foothills forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 45.227, -109.028 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Red Lodge area received 6 inches of snow.
Winter Storm, Southern Rosebud
- When
- November 18, 10:00 PM MST to November 19, 9:00 AM MST
- Where
- Southern Rosebud forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 46.230, -106.731 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas near Lame Deer received 8 inches of snow.
- 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.
- High Wind in Wyoming, November 17, 201157 kt wind · 12 events
- Winter Storm in Wyoming, November 17 to 19, 201111 events
- High Wind in Montana, November 17, 201158 kt wind · 5 events
- Heavy Snow in Idaho, November 17 to 18, 20114 events
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in Idaho, November 17 to 18, 201158 kt wind · 3 events
- Winter Storm in Montana, November 17 to 19, 20113 events
- Heavy Snow in Idaho, November 17 to 19, 20113 events
- Heavy Snow in Idaho, November 17 to 18, 20112 events
- Heavy Snow in Washington, November 17 to 19, 20112 events
- Heavy Snow in Washington, November 17 to 18, 20111 event
- Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, November 17, 20111 event
- Heavy Snow in Washington, November 17, 20111 event
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: 351594, 351596, 351595, 351597.