Winter Storm, Beaverhead
- When
- March 19, 5:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Beaverhead forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
Six inches of snow fell at Dillon.
Winter Storm in Montana, March 19, 2012
A Pacific storm system brought snow and gusty winds to portions of North central and Souithwest Montana. Snow amounts of 8 to 12 inches were reported.
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 9
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 TFX wrote it up.
A Pacific storm system brought snow and gusty winds to portions of North central and Souithwest Montana. Snow amounts of 8 to 12 inches were reported.
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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 19, 4:44 AM MST, 16 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 19, 4:44 AM MST, 16 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 544 AM MDT MON MAR 19 2012 .DISCUSSION... TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...A SHARP UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE TROF WILL MOVE OVER THE ROCKIES THIS MORNING. STRONG SOUTH FLOW ALOFT OVER THE REGION WILL CONTINUE TO BRING MOISTURE INTO THE BEGIN. STRONG DIFFLUENCE ALOFT WILL HELP SNOW FALL ACCUMULATIONS...ESPECIALLY OVER THE EASTERN ZONES...GALLATIN COUNTY AND NORTH. THIS DIFFLUENCE WILL WEAKEN OVER MOST OF THE ZONES THIS MORNING...MOVING NORTH OVER THE HILINE...AND BY LATE AFTERNOON THE TROF WILL BE OVER THE ZONES. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD ALOFT TONIGHT AND MID LEVEL WINDS WILL BECOME WESTERLY AND INCREASE IN STRENGTH. A HIGH WIND WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE NORTHERN ROCKIES AND ADJACENT PLAINS. A RIDGE WILL BUILD OVER THE WESTERN US BY LATE WEDNESDAY AND THE JET MOVES NORTH OF THE ZONES. TEMPS WILL THEN ONCE AGAIN CLIMB ABOVE NORMALS. ZELZER WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...FORECAST PERIOD WILL BEGIN WITH A PROGRESSIVE WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WITH PACIFIC MOISTURE EXPECTED ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WHILE THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA REMAINS DRY. A WEAK SURFACE BOUNDARY WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION ON THURSDAY THOUGH MODELS HAVE VERY LITTLE PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THERE MAY BE SOME SHOWERS ALONG THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT AND ALONG THE HI-LINE SO HAVE KEPT SLIGHT CHANCE TO CHANCE POPS IN THESE AREAS. BROAD SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW...ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AND MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY BEFORE NEXT STORM SYSTEM ENTERS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. SHORTWAVE ENERGY ASSOCIATED WITH MAIN TROUGH WILL BRING INCREASED PRECIPITATION CHANCES TO NORTH-CENTRAL MONTANA ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND HAVE RAISED POPS TO SLIGHT CHANCE AND CHANCE CATEGORY. SOUTHWEST MONTANA WILL LIKELY REMAIN DRY AS THE MAIN ENERGY STAYS FARTHER NORTH. MODELS ARE INCONSISTENT DURING THE LATTER HALF OF THE FORECAST PERIOD...ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE TREND OF NEXT SYSTEM. THE GFS IS THE WETTER SOLUTION AS IT BRINGS ADDITIONAL SHORTWAVE ENERGY INTO CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. THE ECMWF IS CONSIDERABLY DRIER SO HAVE NOT FAVORED ONE SOLUTION OVER THE OTHER AND ADDED SLIGHT CHANCE POPS OVER THE PLAINS AND CHANCE POPS IN THE MOUNTAINS FOR NEXT WEEKEND. TEMPERATURES WILL GENERALLY BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE SEASONAL AVERAGES THROUGH THE PERIOD. MLV && .AVIATION... UPDATED 1141Z. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE TROF WILL MOVE ACROSS THE ROCKIES TODAY. WIDESPREAD SNOW WITH IFR CIGS AND VSBYS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY. IN ADDITION...VERY STRONG WINDS WILL DEVELOP...STRONGEST ACROSS A REGION CONTAINING KHVR AND KLWT WHERE NORTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 35 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 40 KTS ARE EXPECTED. MOUNTAINS WILL BE OBSCURED ACROSS THE REGION. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ALTHOUGH IFR CONDS WILL CONTINUE ESPECIALLY TO THE EAST. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 36 22 47 31 / 90 10 10 10 CTB 34 18 45 30 / 90 10 10 10 HLN 34 21 45 31 / 90 10 10 10 BZN 34 16 43 27 / 90 10 10 10 WEY 25 3 28 17 / 60 30 30 30 DLN 32 18 42 27 / 80 10 20 20 HVR 36 17 46 28 / 100 30 10 10 LWT 31 17 41 29 / 100 20 10 10 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON MDT TODAY FOR ELEVATIONS BELOW 6000 FEET FOR BROADWATER...CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK...GALLATIN...JEFFERSON...MADISON. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON MDT TODAY FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 6000 FEET FOR BROADWATER...CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK...GALLATIN...JEFFERSON...MADISON. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING EASTERN GLACIER...EASTERN PONDERA...EASTERN TETON...LIBERTY...NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT...SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT...TOOLE. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON MDT TODAY BEAVERHEAD. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING CASCADE... CHOUTEAU...FERGUS...JUDITH BASIN...MEAGHER. HIGH WIND WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING EASTERN GLACIER...NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT...SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT BLAINE...HILL. && WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 19, 3:26 AM MST, 1 hour 34 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 426 AM MDT MON MAR 19 2012 MTZ011>013-044>047-049>051-054-201200- HILL-CASCADE-CHOUTEAU-TOOLE-LIBERTY-EASTERN PONDERA-BLAINE- EASTERN TETON-JUDITH BASIN-FERGUS-MEAGHER- 426 AM MDT MON MAR 19 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MONTANA...NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NUMEROUS WINTER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS ARE IN EFFECT THROUGH TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. MTZ009-010-048-201200- NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN GLACIER- SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT- 426 AM MDT MON MAR 19 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NUMEROUS WINTER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS ARE IN EFFECT THROUGH TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH MIDNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. MTZ008-014-015-052-053-055-201200- BEAVERHEAD-CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-MADISON-JEFFERSON- BROADWATER-GALLATIN- 426 AM MDT MON MAR 19 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NUMEROUS WINTER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS ARE IN EFFECT THROUGH NOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
Event by event
9 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Winter Storm, Cascade
- When
- March 19, 5:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Cascade forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Twelve inches of snow fell at Belt 6SSW. Eight inches of snow fell at Ulm 5SSE.
Winter Storm, Judith Basin
- When
- March 19, 5:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Judith Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Eight inches of snow fell at Hobson. Twelve inches of snow fell at Raynesford 3SSE.
Winter Storm, Fergus
- When
- March 19, 5:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Fergus forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Six inches of snow fell at Danvers 8SE. Six inches of snow also fell at Grass Range.
Winter Storm, Hill
- When
- March 19, 5:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Hill forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Twelve inches of snow fell at Havre and Rocky Boy 7SE.
Winter Storm, Toole
- When
- March 19, 5:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Toole forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Six inches of snow fell at Whitlash 6WNW.
Winter Storm, Gallatin
- When
- March 19, 5:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Gallatin forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Nine inches of snow fell at Bozeman 5SW.
Winter Storm, Chouteau
- When
- March 19, 5:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Chouteau forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
Twenty-six inches of snow fell at Highwood 11ESE.
Winter Storm, Blaine
- When
- March 19, 5:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Blaine forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
Ten inches of snow fell at Chinook. Sixteen inches of snow fell at Lloyd 10E.
What these are
- 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.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, March 19 to 20, 2012
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Texas, March 19 to 20, 2012
- Wildfire in North Dakota, March 19, 2012
- Damaging Winds in Minnesota, March 19, 2012
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, March 19, 2012
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, March 19 to 20, 2012
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Arkansas, March 19 to 20, 2012
- Tornado in Kansas, March 19, 2012
- Damaging Winds in Iowa, March 19, 2012
- Damaging Winds in Texas, March 19, 2012
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, March 19, 2012
- Hail in West Virginia, March 19, 2012
More
Every storm in Montana in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, March 2012
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: 367039, 367040, 367041, 367042, 367043, 367044, 367045, 367046, 367054.