Strong winds and falling snow combined to create blizzard conditions along the Northern Rocky Mountain Front. Visibilities were reduced to less than one-quarter mile.
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 TFX wrote it up.
Strong winds and falling snow combined to create blizzard conditions along the Northern Rocky Mountain Front. Visibilities were reduced to less than one-quarter mile. U.S. Highway 2 was closed for several hours between Browning and east Glacier.
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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 25, 4:40 AM MST, 4 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 440 AM MST WED JAN 25 2012 UPDATED AVIATION SECTION .DISCUSSION... TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY...A WEATHER DISTURBANCE CENTERED OVER SOUTHEAST ALBERTA EARLY THIS MORNING WILL CONTINUE MOVING RAPIDLY EAST THIS MORNING. STRONG WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISTURBANCE HAS RESULTED IN DECREASING CLOUDS OVER THE EAST SLOPES ALONG WITH STRONG WINDS. NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL DEVELOP OVER THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY. A SERIES OF WEATHER DISTURBANCES WILL BE EMBEDDED IN THIS FLOW. ASSOCIATED WITH THIS EXPECT PERIODS OF SNOW OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT WITH SCATTERED SNOW OVER THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS. AS FOR THE LOWER ELEVATIONS DOWNSLOPE SHOULD KEEP THESE AREAS GENERALLY DRY INTO EARLY THURSDAY. A RELATIVELY STRONGER WEATHER DISTURBANCE AND ITS ASSOCIATED MOISTURE WILL BE MOVING THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. ASSOCIATED WITH IT LATEST MODEL RUNS HAVE COME INTO AGREEMENT IN TRACKING A SURFACE LOW FROM NORTHWEST MONTANA INTO CENTRAL MONTANA THURSDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH SOUTHWEST MONTANA THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THIS DISTURBANCE AND ASSOCIATED MOISTURE WILL RESULT IN AT LEAST A CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION TO THE PLAINS AND SOUTHWEST VALLEYS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AFTER THIS DISTURBANCE IT LOOKS LIKE THE AIRMASS WILL BECOME DRIER AND AGREE WITH THE INHERITED FORECAST WHICH HAS MOSTLY DRY CONDITIONS ON FRIDAY. HOWEVER THE COOLER AIRMASS WILL KNOCK DOWN HIGHS FROM THURSDAY TO FRIDAY 5 TO 10 DEGREES. AS FOR THE HIGH WINDS HAVE RECEIVED A FEW REPORTS OF HIGH WINDS OVER SOUTHWEST MONTANA EARLY THIS MORNING SO WILL INCLUDE MOST OF THAT AREA IN THE HIGH WIND WARNING. STRONG WINDS ALOFT ARE EXPECTED OVER ALMOST ALL OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS AFTERNOON SO EXPECT THAT DAYTIME HEATING COULD RESULT IN AT LEAST A FEW REPORTS OF HIGH WINDS AT THE SURFACE. WINDS SHOULD DIMINISH TONIGHT AND ALTHOUGH THE HIGH WIND WARNING CONTINUES THROUGH THE NIGHT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THE HIGH WIND WARNING COULD BE CANCELLED EXCEPT FOR THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT LATE THIS EVENING. WILL CONTINUE THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT INTO SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK COUNTY AS SNOW AND WINDS SHOULD CONTINUE. BLANK FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...EXPECT A FAIRLY QUIET PERIOD OF WEATHER TO START THE EXTENDED. THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SMALL CHANCE FOR A MOUNTAIN SHOWER FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...WITH LITTLE TO NO PRECIP EXPECTED AT LOWER ELEVATIONS. FOR SUNDAY...A WEAK BUT FAST MOVING UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE APPROACHES THE REGION...PRODUCING A SMALL CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE AREA ON SUNDAY/SUNDAY NIGHT. AFTER THIS DISTURBANCE MOVES THROUGH...A WEAK UPPER LEVEL RIDGE TRIES TO BUILD OVER THE REGION FOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY. THUS THE CHANCES FOR ANY PRECIPITATION ARE QUITE LOW...AND MAINLY CONFINED TO THE MOUNTAINS. BY WEDNESDAY...THE EC MODEL HAS AN UPPER LEVEL TROF APPROACHING WESTERN MONTANA. THIS TROF WILL ALLOW THE RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS TO BECOME A BIT MORE WIDESPREAD OVER THE AREA BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...BUT OVERALL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS SHOULD BE ON THE MINOR/LIGHT SIDE. IN TERMS OF TEMPERATURES...GENERALLY EXPECT NEAR/SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL READINGS FOR MUCH OF THE EXTENDED...WITH SATURDAY AFTERNOON BEING THE COOLEST DAY...AND MONDAY AFTERNOON BEING THE WARMEST DAY OF THE EXTENDED PERIOD. BRUSDA && .AVIATION... UPDATED 1140Z. EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS WHICH WILL BE OBSCURED IN SNOW. THE MAIN STORY TODAY WILL BE THE STRONG WINDS. FAIRLY CONFIDENT OF WIDESPREAD SUSTAINED WEST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 KNOTS OVER THE PLAINS BY MID-MORNING AND CONTINUING THROUGH MID-AFTERNOON WITH POSSIBLY GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 KTS. GUSTS OF 75 KTS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT. WINDS WILL BE LIGHTER IN THE SOUTHWEST VALLEYS WITH SPEEDS OF 15 TO 25 KNOTS WITH POSSIBLE GUSTS 40 TO 50 KNOTS. CONFIDENT OF WINDS DIMINISHING THIS EVENING BUT COULD EVEN SEE A SLIGHT DECREASE THIS AFTERNOON. BLANK && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 47 29 42 20 / 10 10 20 30 CTB 42 23 37 16 / 10 10 30 20 HLN 40 27 40 16 / 10 10 20 20 BZN 47 24 43 15 / 10 10 30 40 WEY 29 20 31 2 / 60 50 70 50 DLN 44 24 39 14 / 20 10 30 30 HVR 44 21 37 13 / 10 10 40 30 LWT 45 25 39 11 / 10 10 20 30 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 5 AM MST THURSDAY BLAINE...BROADWATER... CASCADE...CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK...CHOUTEAU... FERGUS...GALLATIN...HILL...JEFFERSON...JUDITH BASIN...LIBERTY... MADISON...MEAGHER. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM MST THURSDAY FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 4500 FEET FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK... NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT...SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT. HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 5 AM MST THURSDAY EASTERN GLACIER... EASTERN PONDERA...EASTERN TETON...NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT...SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT...TOOLE. FLOOD WARNING FOR THE MISSOURI RIVER IN BROADWATER COUNTY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. && SHORT TERM...BLANK LONG TERM...BRUSDA AVIATION...BRUSDA WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 507 AM MST WED JAN 25 2012 MTZ009-014-048-261215- NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT- CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK- SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT- 507 AM MST WED JAN 25 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A HIGH WIND WARNING CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MST. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY CONTINUES IN EFFECT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THURSDAY. HIGH WINDS ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN SATURDAY THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEKEND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. MTZ053-261215- BROADWATER- 507 AM MST WED JAN 25 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MST. A FLOOD WARNING FOR THIS MISSOURI AT TOWNSEND CONTINUES IN EFFECT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE FLOOD WARNING FOR THE MISSOURI RIVER AT TOWNSEND WILL CONTINUE IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. REPORTS OF FLOODING WOULD ALSO BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. MTZ010>013-015-044>047-049>052-054-055-261215- EASTERN GLACIER-HILL-CASCADE-CHOUTEAU-MADISON-TOOLE-LIBERTY- EASTERN PONDERA-BLAINE-EASTERN TETON-JUDITH BASIN-FERGUS- JEFFERSON-MEAGHER-GALLATIN- 507 AM MST WED JAN 25 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MONTANA...NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 5 AM MST. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. MTZ008-261215- BEAVERHEAD- 507 AM MST WED JAN 25 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
545 AM MST WED JAN 25 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0330 AM HIGH SUST WINDS 4 NNE MCALLISTER 45.50N 111.70W
01/25/2012 M40 MPH MADISON MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
SUSTAINED WINDS OVER 40 MPH FROM 100 AM UNTIL 330 AM AT
THE DOT SENSOR ON NORRIS HILL. PEAK WIND GUST OF 56 MPH
AT 300 AM DURING THIS TIME.
&&
BRUSDAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
617 AM MST WED JAN 25 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1230 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 S CASCADE 47.20N 111.70W
01/25/2012 M61 MPH CASCADE MT TRAINED SPOTTER
61 MPH WIND GUST.
&&
BRUSDAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
634 AM MST WED JAN 25 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1002 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 SSE BYNUM 47.93N 112.28W
01/24/2012 M82 MPH TETON MT CO-OP OBSERVER
82 MPH WIND GUST.
&&
BRUSDAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
647 AM MST WED JAN 25 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG ULM 47.43N 111.51W
01/24/2012 CASCADE MT BROADCAST MEDIA
STRONG WINDS BLEW DOWN A POWERLINE BETWEEN ULM AND
CASADE THIS EVENING. THE TIME AND LOCATION OF THIS EVENT
IS ESTIMATED.
0713 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 E EAST GLACIER PARK 48.45N 113.19W
01/24/2012 M60 MPH GLACIER MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
60 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DOT SENSOR JUST EAST OF EAST
GLACIER PARK.
0715 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 WNW BROWNING 48.60N 113.11W
01/24/2012 M58 MPH GLACIER MT ASOS
STARR-BROWNING AIRSTRIP REPORTS WIND GUST TO 58 MPH.
0759 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 E EAST GLACIER PARK 48.45N 113.19W
01/24/2012 M70 MPH GLACIER MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
70 MPH PEAK WIND GUST AT THE DOT SENSOR JUST EAST OF
EAST GLACIER PARK.
0800 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 SE EAST GLACIER PARK 48.37N 113.10W
01/24/2012 M79 MPH GLACIER MT MESONET
79 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DEEP CREEK RAWS LOCATION.
0813 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ENE EAST GLACIER PARK 48.45N 113.20W
01/24/2012 M65 MPH GLACIER MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
TWO MEDICINE BRIDGE DOT SITE REPORTS WIND GUST TO 65
MPH.
1002 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 SSE BYNUM 47.93N 112.28W
01/24/2012 M82 MPH TETON MT CO-OP OBSERVER
82 MPH WIND GUST.
1005 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NW HEART BUTTE 48.30N 112.85W
01/24/2012 M65 MPH GLACIER MT CO-OP OBSERVER
1045 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 SE HILGER 47.18N 109.25W
01/24/2012 M58 MPH FERGUS MT MESONET
58 MPH WIND GUST AT THE JUDITH PEAK RAWS LOCATION.
1100 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NNE MCALLISTER 45.50N 111.70W
01/24/2012 M59 MPH MADISON MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
59 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DOT SENSOR ON NORRIS HILL ON
HIGHWAY 287.
1107 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 17 SW SIMMS 47.29N 112.15W
01/24/2012 M54 MPH LEWIS AND CLARK MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
54 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DOT SENSOR NEAR BOWMANS CORNER
ON HIGHWAY 200.
1110 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 NNW SUNBURST 48.96N 111.94W
01/24/2012 M62 MPH TOOLE MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
62 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DOT SENSOR JUST SOUTH OF SWEET
GRASS.
1130 PM HIGH SUST WINDS 4 NNE MCALLISTER 45.50N 111.70W
01/24/2012 M40 MPH MADISON MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
SUSTAINED WINDS GENERALLY OVER 40 MPH FROM 800 PM UNTIL
1130 PM...WITH A PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 50 MPH NEAR 11
PM.
1217 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SW CUT BANK 48.61N 112.38W
01/25/2012 M54 MPH GLACIER MT ASOS
54 MPH WIND GUST AT THE CUT BANK AIRPORT.
1218 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NW PENDROY 48.07N 112.33W
01/25/2012 M52 MPH TETON MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
52 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DOT SENSOR JUST NORTH OF
PENDROY.
1230 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 S CASCADE 47.20N 111.70W
01/25/2012 M61 MPH CASCADE MT TRAINED SPOTTER
61 MPH WIND GUST.
1248 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 WSW GREAT FALLS 47.47N 111.38W
01/25/2012 M52 MPH CASCADE MT ASOS
52 MPH WIND GUST AT THE GREAT FALLS AIRPORT.
0215 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SW THREE FORKS 45.88N 111.57W
01/25/2012 M60 MPH GALLATIN MT AWOS
60 MPH WIND GUST AT THE THREE FORKS AIRPORT.
0255 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSE GEYSER 47.25N 110.48W
01/25/2012 M57 MPH JUDITH BASIN MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
57 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DOT SENSOR JUST EAST OF GEYSER.
0318 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 WSW GREAT FALLS 47.47N 111.38W
01/25/2012 M53 MPH CASCADE MT ASOS
53 MPH WIND GUST AT THE GREAT FALLS AIRPORT.
0321 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 N LOMA 47.95N 110.50W
01/25/2012 M52 MPH CHOUTEAU MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
52 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DOT SENSOR JUST NORTH OF LOMA.
0330 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WNW RAYNESFORD 47.28N 110.80W
01/25/2012 M56 MPH CASCADE MT MESONET
56 MPH WIND GUST AT THE ALPHA RAWS LOCATION.
0330 AM HIGH SUST WINDS 4 NNE MCALLISTER 45.50N 111.70W
01/25/2012 M40 MPH MADISON MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
SUSTAINED WINDS OVER 40 MPH FROM 100 AM UNTIL 330 AM AT
THE DOT SENSOR ON NORRIS HILL. PEAK WIND GUST OF 56 MPH
AT 300 AM DURING THIS TIME.
0419 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NNE MONARCH 47.14N 110.81W
01/25/2012 M57 MPH CASCADE MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
57 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DOT SENSOR JUST NORTH OF
MONARCH.
0430 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WNW RAYNESFORD 47.28N 110.80W
01/25/2012 M68 MPH CASCADE MT MESONET
68 MPH WIND GUST AT THE ALPHA RAWS LOCATION.
0450 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 E GEYSER 47.28N 110.35W
01/25/2012 M53 MPH JUDITH BASIN MT MESONET
53 MPH WIND GUST AT THE BRAVO RAWS LOCATION.
0501 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSE GEYSER 47.25N 110.48W
01/25/2012 M63 MPH JUDITH BASIN MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
63 MPH WIND GUST AT THE DOT SENSOR JUST EAST OF GEYSER.
0520 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 WSW GREAT FALLS 47.47N 111.38W
01/25/2012 M60 MPH CASCADE MT ASOS
60 MPH WIND GUST AT THE GREAT FALLS AIRPORT.
&&
BRUSDAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
653 AM MST WED JAN 25 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 17 S FORESTGROVE 46.75N 109.02W
01/25/2012 M58 MPH FERGUS MT MESONET
58 MPH WIND GUST AT THE LITTLE SNOWY RAWS LOCATION.
&&
BRUSDAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
658 AM MST WED JAN 25 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SW CASCADE 47.25N 111.73W
01/25/2012 M74 MPH CASCADE MT TRAINED SPOTTER
74 MPH WIND GUST. TIME IS ESTIMATED.
&&
BRUSDA1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong winds and falling snow produced blizzard conditions for several hours. Visibilities were reduced to less than one-quarter mile. U.S. Highway 2 was closed between Browning and East Glacier.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, January 2012
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: 358074.