Montana, 2012Heavy Snow in Montana, November 8 to 9, 2012
November 8 to 9, 2012 · NWS MSO · 14 events in 5 counties and zones
A multifaceted winter storm moved into western Montana, when moisture from the Pacific moved in from the west on a strong jet streak. In addition very cold air moved out of central Canada and across the Continental Divide.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 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
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 14
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 multifaceted winter storm moved into western Montana, when moisture from the Pacific moved in from the west on a strong jet streak. In addition very cold air moved out of central Canada and across the Continental Divide. This combination produced areas of heavy snowfall.
Heavy Snow, Butte / Blackfoot Region
- When
- November 8, 6:30 AM MST to 11:30 AM MST
- Where
- Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy snow was measured 1 mile north northwest of Butte, when 6 inches of snow fell in 5 hours.
Heavy Snow, Butte / Blackfoot Region
- When
- November 8, 6:30 AM MST to 2:10 PM MST
- Where
- Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The public measured 6 inches of new snow in Anaconda in less than 8 hours.
Heavy Snow, Butte / Blackfoot Region
- When
- November 8, 8:00 AM MST to 8:33 PM MST
- Where
- Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- NWS Employee
- Coordinates
- 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall at Homestake pass, elevation 6385 feet was estimated at 8 inches.
Heavy Snow, Butte / Blackfoot Region
- When
- November 8, 11:54 AM MST to November 9, 11:54 AM MST
- Where
- Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A spotter measured 10.5 inches of snow in Anaconda over 24 hours.
Heavy Snow, Butte / Blackfoot Region
- When
- November 8, 2:00 PM MST to November 9, 2:00 PM MST
- Where
- Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
An observer measured 6.8 inches of snow in Philipsburg at 5270 feet. The water equivalent was 0.42.
Heavy Snow, Butte / Blackfoot Region
- When
- November 8, 2:30 PM MST to November 9, 2:30 PM MST
- Where
- Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A spotter measured 6.0 inches of snow in Deer Lodge.
Heavy Snow, Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains
- When
- November 8, 2:35 PM MST to November 9, 2:35 PM MST
- Where
- Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 46.508, -113.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The highway department estimated 6.0 inches of snow at Lost Trail pass.
Heavy Snow, West Glacier Region
- When
- November 8, 3:00 PM MST to November 9, 3:00 PM MST
- Where
- West Glacier Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A spotter measured 10.0 inches of snow 5 miles east northeast of Blacktail.
Heavy Snow, West Glacier Region
- When
- November 8, 3:00 PM MST to November 9, 3:00 PM MST
- Where
- West Glacier Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A spotter measured 6.0 inches of snow 1 mile east of Blacktail at 4500 feet.
Heavy Snow, Potomac / Seeley Lake Region
- When
- November 8, 4:00 PM MST to November 9, 4:00 PM MST
- Where
- Potomac / Seeley Lake Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 46.986, -113.597 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A spotter measured 6.0 inches of snow 2 milews east of Seeley Lake, near Seeley Lake airport at 4350 feet.
Heavy Snow, Butte / Blackfoot Region
- When
- November 8, 4:45 PM MST to November 9, 4:45 PM MST
- Where
- Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A spotter measured 11.5 inches of snow, 2 miles southwest of Newcomb. 8 inches fell between 2-3pm mst on the 9th, blowing snow with whiteout conditions.
Heavy Snow, Butte / Blackfoot Region
- When
- November 8, 7:10 PM MST to November 9, 7:10 PM MST
- Where
- Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The public measured 10.5 inches of snow 1 mile south southeast of Butte at 5480 feet.
Heavy Snow, Kootenai/Cabinet Region
- When
- November 8, 7:20 PM MST to November 9, 7:20 AM MST
- Where
- Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 48.171, -114.863 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall of 9.7 inches was measured 1 mile southwest of Libby in a 12 hour period.
Heavy Snow, Kootenai/Cabinet Region
- When
- November 8, 9:00 PM MST to November 9, 12:00 AM MST
- Where
- Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 48.171, -114.863 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A spotter measured 6 inches of snow falling between 2 pm and 5 pm MST 32 miles south southeast of Libby.
- Heavy Snow
- Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, November 8 to 11, 20122 deaths · 1 injured · $25,000 · 17 events
- Winter Storm and High Wind in Utah, November 8 to 11, 2012$180,000 · 64 kt wind · 14 events
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Montana, November 8 to 10, 201223 events
- Dense Fog in Kentucky, November 8, 201220 events
- Dense Fog in Illinois, November 8, 201215 events
- Winter Storm in Montana, November 8 to 10, 201215 events
- Tornado and Winter Storm in California, November 8 to 12, 2012EF0 · 13 events
- Winter Weather in Idaho, November 8 to 9, 20121 injured · 1 event
- Debris Flow and High Wind in California, November 8 to 9, 201270 kt wind · 5 events
- Dense Fog in Missouri, November 8, 20124 events
- High Wind in Nevada, November 8, 201257 kt wind · 4 events
- Winter Storm in Wyoming, November 8 to 10, 20123 events
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: 419281, 419282, 419283, 419966, 420038, 419971, 419972, 419973, 420034, 420036, 420035, 420040, 419284, 419954.