A strong low pressure system from the Gulf of Alaska moved towards the Rocky Mountain Front as jet stream winds over 100 mph moved into the region. The low pressure system and a sharp cold front reached North-Central Montana Wednesday, adding moisture and light snow to the mix.
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.
A strong low pressure system from the Gulf of Alaska moved towards the Rocky Mountain Front as jet stream winds over 100 mph moved into the region. The low pressure system and a sharp cold front reached North-Central Montana Wednesday, adding moisture and light snow to the mix.
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 16, 4:45 PM MST, 18 hours 15 minutes earlier.
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</html>10 high wind, 6 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
High winds measuring 73KT (84MPH) were reported 8 mi SE of East Glacier Park at the Deep Creek RAWS.
High sustained winds measuring 35KT (40MPH) were reported 2 mi SSE of Geyser, MT at the Geyser DOT site.
High winds measuring 55KT (63MPH) were reported 13 mi W of Bynum, MT.
High winds measuring 51KT (59MPH) were reported in Cascade, MT.
High winds measuring 35KT (40MPH) were reported 3 mi SW of Cut Bank, MT at the Cut Bank Airport ASOS.
High sustained winds measuring 35KT (40MPH) were reported in Sunburst, MT.
High sustained winds measuring 35KT (40MPH) were reported in Whitlash, MT. Peak sustained wind of 47KT (54MPH).
High winds measuring 67KT (77MPH) were reported 17 mi W of Pendroy, MT.
High winds measuring 71KT (82MPH) were reported in Cascade, MT.
High winds measuring 55KT (75MPH) were reported 13 mi W of Bynum, MT.
Heavy snow measuring 10.0 inches in 3 hours was reported 11 mi WSW of Babb, MT.
Heavy snow measuring 13.0 inches in 7 hours was reported at the Many Glacier SNOTEL; elevation 4900 ft.
Heavy snow measuring 12.0 inches in 10 hours was reported 1 mi W of East Glacier Park, MT.
Heavy snow measuring 8.0 inches in 12 hours was reported at the Dupuyer Creek SNOTEL; elevation 5750 ft.
Heavy snow measuring 9.0 inches in 12 hours was reported at the Brackett Creek SNOTEL; elevation 7320 ft.
Heavy snow measuring 9.0 inches in 12 hours was reported at the Sacajawea SNOTEL; elevation 6550 ft.
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: 490519, 490525, 490526, 490527, 490528, 490529, 490530, 490533, 490532, 490531, 490554, 490560, 490569, 490559, 490567, 490566.