Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, December 1 to 3, 2013

Name: Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, December 1 to 3, 2013
Start: 2013-12-01T02:00
End: 2013-12-03T05:00
Location: Montana

December 1 to 3, 2013 · NWS MSO · 9 events in 8 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 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

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 2
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 MSO wrote it up.

For the second time during the 2013/2014 winter season, a strong arctic cold front plowed south and west across western Montana. The initial push of arctic air undercut moist Pacific air causing heavy snow, blowing snow and poor visibility. This arctic outbreak was very similar to those that occurred in early December of 1972 and also in 1956.

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 Missoula, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 30, 11:50 PM MST, 2 hours 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 30, 11:50 PM MST, 2 hours 10 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Missoula MT
1150 PM MST Sat Nov 30 2013

.UPDATE...Upgrading the winter storm watch to a winter weather
advisory for the Flathead and Mission valleys. Freezing rain is
currently being reported across the Flathead valley and will
create slick travel conditions. Snow is expected in these
locations by Monday, making for a prolonged period of travel
difficulties.

&&

.AVIATION...Periodic snow/rain showers with pockets of freezing
rain will impact aviation across the Northern Rockies during the
next 24 hours. Valley fog and freezing fog will persist within
some valleys, while others will experience low stratus. Terrain
obscurations will be commonplace during this time. The snow/rain
showers will become much more numerous after 01/1800Z, marking the
beginning of a prolonged winter storm scenario over the region.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1118 PM MST Sat Nov 30 2013/

UPDATE...Upgraded the winter storm watch to a winter storm
warning for the Kootenai/Cabinet region in northwest Montana.
Freezing rain is currently being reported with ice forming on
roadways making for slick travel conditions. Snow will also come
into the picture tomorrow, especially for locations above 2500
feet. Travel conditions will continue to deteriorate through Monday.

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 937 PM MST Sat Nov 30 2013/

UPDATE...Adding to the complexity of the upcoming weather
forecast, we have issued a Wind Advisory for the Grangeville area
and the Salmon River Drainage along Highway 95 starting Sunday
morning and continuing into Monday morning.

DISCUSSION...Conditions favor increasing south winds across much
of north-central Idaho and western Montana Sunday. However, the
Grangeville area and south along Highway 95 through the Salmon
River Drainage should some of the strongest winds with potential
gusts up to 55 mph later Sunday morning through early Monday
morning. Once the cold front passes through the area Monday
morning, winds will become more westerly and not quite as strong.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 353 PM MST Sat Nov 30 2013/

HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOW FOLLOWED BY ARCTIC AIR MONDAY NIGHT...

DISCUSSION...

Tonight a complex weather system really starts to impact the
region. Because this is such a complex storm system, we want to
highlight the biggest impacts that are expected:

1) HEAVY MOUNTAIN PASS AND BACK COUNTRY SNOWFALL: An atmospheric
river of tropical origins is currently making its way towards the
west coast and the Cascades. After causing heavy rain and flooding
there, the moisture plume will head eastward and impact the
northern Rockies. Areas of upslope flow in central Idaho and
western Montana will be hardest hit. This river will bring strong
winds and 200 percent of the normal amount of water to the western
slopes of the northern Rockies.

Mountain snow will be measured in feet with this system by the
time it is done, and Lolo, Lost Trail, and Lookout passes will be
have heavy snow tomorrow afternoon and evening. Those on
back country roads should be prepared for heavy snow so as to not
become trapped.

2) VALLEY RAIN CHANGING TO SNOW/CHANCE FOR MIXED PRECIP: While the
heavy snow is impacting the mountains, many of the valleys will be
warm enough for rain. Some isolated pockets of cold air may
persist in northwest Montana and cause very localized icy
conditions. Freezing rain Sunday morning is expected to be much
less than this morning. Throughout the night precipitation may
turn from rain to snow, and then possibly back to rain again
Monday morning.

Expect variable and rapidly changing conditions in the valleys of
northwest Montana, especially in the foothills surrounding the
valleys. Travel conditions will be difficult with the potential
for snow, slush, and ice through Monday morning.

3) ARCTIC FRONT: Timing is difficult as models still cannot agree
upon when the arctic front will arrive. The current consensus is
for northwest Montana to be impacted Monday late afternoon or late
evening and the front moves across western Montana and central
Idaho by late Tuesday morning. Confidence is high that the cold
air is coming, however timing remains uncertain.

There are several impacts that will make being outdoors or
traveling next week difficult and dangerous at times.
- Flash freezing of wet roads with the arrival of the cold air
- Low visibility and difficulty driving with blowing snow
- North winds 20-30 mph, especially through Hellgate and Bad Rock
canyons.
- Wind chills below -20 across northwest Montana Wednesday morning
- Coldest temperatures in 2 1/2 years from central ID through
western MT

The pattern will remain very cold through next weekend, with only
marginal chances of additional light snowfall. Overnight
temperatures will consistently be in the sub-zero and single digit
range for western Montana valleys, while central Idaho valleys
will be only slightly warmer. Daytime temperatures will remain
well below freezing. There is little sign of a pattern change
even after next weekend.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...WINTER STORM WATCH from Sunday evening through late Tuesday
     night Butte/Blackfoot Region...Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys.

     WINTER STORM WARNING until 1 AM MST Wednesday
     Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains...Lower Clark Fork Region.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until 1 AM MST Wednesday
     Flathead/Mission Valleys.

     WINTER STORM WARNING until 1 AM MST Wednesday Potomac/Seeley
     Lake Region...West Glacier Region.

     WINTER STORM WARNING until 1 AM MST Wednesday Kootenai/Cabinet
     Region.

ID...WINTER STORM WATCH from Sunday evening through late Tuesday
     night Eastern Lemhi County...Western Lemhi County.

     WINTER STORM WARNING until Midnight PST Tuesday Night Northern
     Clearwater Mountains...Southern Clearwater Mountains.

     WIND ADVISORY from 10 AM Sunday to 7 AM PST Monday for the Camas
     Prairie...Grangeville and Highway 95 IN THE Lower Hells
     Canyon/Salmon River Region...Orofino/Grangeville Region.

&&

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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 heavy snow, 2 winter storm, 2 winter weather, 1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains

When: December 1, 2:00 AM MST to December 3, 4:00 AM MST
Where: Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 46.508, -113.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Saddle Mountain SNOTEL at 7,900 ft. located about 1.7 miles west-southwest of Lost Trail Pass on US-93 received 27 inches of total storm snow with 3.50 inches of snow water equivalent. An intense, 4 hour period of heavy snow amounting to 9 inches fell between 4 and 8 pm MST on Dec. 1. At 1:40 pm MST Dec. 1, the Montana DOT reported that chains were required on towing units for Lost Trail Pass. The heaviest snowfall, according to the SNOTEL, appeared to have stopped by 2 pm MST on Dec. 2, but periods of light to moderate snow continued through the morning hours of Dec. 3.

Heavy Snow, West Glacier Region

When: December 2, 5:00 AM MST to 4:00 PM MST
Where: West Glacier Region forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A railroad weather sensor at 4,520 ft., located 6.4 miles southwest of Marias Pass, measured 2 per hour snowfall rates between 6 and 8 am MST on Dec. 2. It also depicted a distinct wind shift with falling temperatures between 9 and 10 am MST, associated with an arctic cold front passage. It measured a total storm snowfall of 5.5 inches. A person from the public located in Essex, estimated that 12 inches of total snow fell during this event. They also reported that 6 inches of that fell as heavy snow with and behind the arctic front passage near 9:30 am MST. At 1 pm MST, the MT DOT reported that chains were required on towing units on US-2 from Essex to 7 miles west of Marias Pass.

Winter Storm, Butte / Blackfoot Region

When: December 2, 11:00 AM MST to 3:50 PM MST
Where: Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An arctic cold front pushed through MacDonald Pass in the morning and brought periods of heavy snow and blowing snow reducing visibilities to near whiteout at times. The Deer Lodge AWOS reported visibilities less than one-quarter mile for 1.4 hours, while northerly winds gusting to 37 mph occurred as the arctic cold front passed through. A weather spotter at 6,200 ft., 2 miles southwest of Newcomb, measured 5.5 inches of heavy snow, 5 hours ending at 3:50 pm MST. They also reported that 6 to 10 inches of snow fell across the higher elevations.

Winter Storm, Kootenai/Cabinet Region

When: December 2, 12:00 PM MST to 4:00 PM MST
Where: Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 48.171, -114.863 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A person from the public in Olney reported heavy snow with blowing snow creating whiteout conditions on US-93 near mile-marker 145. Although snow totals ranged between 2 to 3 inches across the area, this all fell within 2 to 3 hours ahead and with the arctic cold front passage. It was this sudden change with falling temperatures from above freezing to the teens, that caused roads to become very slick with several automobile slide-offs reported by the Flathead County dispatch between Olney and Whitefish. The Eureka Airport AWOS reported visibilities less than or equal to one-quarter mile from 11:56 am to 1:46 pm MST while the City of Eureka webcam indicated falling snow.

Blizzard, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When: December 2, 1:00 PM MST to 4:00 PM MST
Where: Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
Injuries: 0 direct, 2 indirect
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trained spotter located 2 miles west-southwest of Columbia Falls reported visibilities near zero from at least 1 to 3 pm MST due to blowing snow. During this time-frame the Glacier Park International Airport ASOS sensor reported frequent gusts between 32 and 38 mph. Based on this, wind speeds could have been reaching near 50 mph towards the Bad Rock Canyon on US-2. The Flathead County 911 dispatch reported that 15 vehicle slide-offs and accidents occurred during a time span of less than two hours inside and outside of the Kalispell city limits, some of which contained injuries. The Flathead Beacon tweeted at 3:31 pm MST, Terrible driving conditions currently-please drive with caution. Even though snowfall amounts were low and near 2 inches, the sudden change from dry roads to near whiteout conditions with dropping temperatures caused high impact to the Flathead Valley.

Winter Weather, Potomac / Seeley Lake Region

When: December 2, 2:00 PM MST to 9:00 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 trained weather spotter, located 1.5 miles south of Condon, reported 1.5 of snow. Both the North Fork Jocko SNOTEL at 6,330 ft. and Kraft Creek SNOTEL at 4,750 ft. measured 2 of total snowfall. Falling temperatures from the middle 30s to upper teens in the Condon area combined with the snowfall brought slick conditions on MT-83.

Heavy Snow, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When: December 2, 4:55 PM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where: Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Ronan Airport AWOS sensor reported northerly winds to 31 mph with the arctic front passage. Heavy snow, blowing snow reducing visibility, and slick conditions on US-93 from Ronan to Polson were reported by MT DOT at 6:50 pm MST. At 8:22 pm MST, MT DOT reported heavy snow with snow-covered roads from MT-200 west of Dixon to Ravalli and on Highway-212, 4 miles north of Dixon to Moise. Total snowfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches.

Heavy Snow, Lower Clark Fork Region

When: December 2, 5:00 PM MST to December 3, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Lower Clark Fork Region forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 47.286, -114.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Montana DOT reported heavy snow with snow-covered roads on MT-200 from Trout Creek to west of Plains at 6:18 pm MST on Dec. 2. By 7 pm MST, they reported heavy snow on MT-28 junction with MT-200 to 10 miles north. The MT DOT also reported heavy snow on US-93 at Evaro Hill. Rain had fallen earlier in the day on the 2nd and when the arctic front went through by 6 pm MST at Trout Creek, snow froze quickly to the road making for very slick conditions. On Dec. 3, the MT DOT indicated that from 5:23 am to 7:11 am MST, there were severe driving conditions on MT-200 from Trout Creek to just west of Plains due to snow-pack and black ice.

Winter Weather, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: December 2, 8:25 PM MST to December 3, 3:53 AM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The arctic front passed through Missoula a little after 8 pm MST and brought 0.5 of snow, blowing snow with a few northerly wind gusts over 30 mph through 10 pm MST on Dec. 2. Visibilities fell down close to zero briefly with the combination of falling snow and blowing snow. A person from the public reported strong winds, blowing snow and whiteout conditions on US-93 between Missoula and Lolo around 11:36 pm MST on Dec. 2. Half an inch of snow fell at the Missoula Airport, 1 to 2 fell in Lolo and 3 fell in the Grant Creek area 4 miles north-northwest of Missoula.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Blizzard: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, December 2013

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: 495106, 493589, 495107, 495087, 493590, 495108, 493591, 493919, 493594.