Strong and moist westerly flow brought rain and snow to the mountains of North-Central and Southwest Montana. A Winter Storm Warning was issued for the mountains of Central and Southwest Montana (above 5000 feet across North-Central/Central Montana - above 6000 feet in Southwest Montana).
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 and moist westerly flow brought rain and snow to the mountains of North-Central and Southwest Montana. A Winter Storm Warning was issued for the mountains of Central and Southwest Montana (above 5000 feet across North-Central/Central Montana - above 6000 feet in Southwest Montana). Forecast models indicated likely snow totals through the period of 8 to 18 inches, with up to 2 feet at the higher peaks. Gusty westerly winds shifted northerly with the frontal passage on Monday, keeping blowing snow and reduced visibility across the Rocky Mountains.
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 Dec 1, 10:45 AM MST, 15 minutes earlier.
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</html>10 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow measuring 8.0 inches in 24 hours reported at the Pike Creek SNOTEL; elevation 5928 feet.
Heavy snow measuring 8.0 inches in 24 hours reported at the Waldron SNOTEL; elevation 5600 feet.
Heavy snow measuring 18.0 inches in 24 hours reported by Heart Butte, MT co-op observer.
Heavy snow measuring 9.5 inches in 24 hours reported 2 mi SSE of Bozeman, MT.
Heavy snow measuring 11.0 inches in 18 hours reported 7 mi SSW of Bozeman, MT via Facebook post.
Heavy snow measuring 10.0 inches in 24 hours reported at Showdown ski area; elevation 7500 feet.
Heavy snow measuring 6.0 inches in 12 hours reported at the Sacajawea SNOTEL; elevation 6550 feet.
Heavy snow measuring 6.0 inches in 12 hours reported at the Deadman Creek SNOTEL; elevation 6950 feet.
Heavy snow measuring 12.0 inches in 24 hours reported at the Lick Creek SNOTEL; elevation 6860 feet.
Heavy snow measuring 6.0 inches in 10.5 hours reported in Great Falls, MT.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, December 2013
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 490207, 490208, 490239, 490240, 490243, 490258, 490219, 490228, 490236, 490238.