A trough moved across the Pacific Northwest bringing southwest flow and moisture to the region. Winds aloft increased as a strong pressure gradient set up along the Rocky Mountain Front.
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 trough moved across the Pacific Northwest bringing southwest flow and moisture to the region. Winds aloft increased as a strong pressure gradient set up along the Rocky Mountain Front. An associated cold front moved across the Continental Divide helping enhance wind speeds and dynamics over the Rocky Mountain Front. As a result, snow developed and become heavy at times above 5000 feet. The system later moved into Manitoba leaving the area under unstable cyclonic flow which allowed scattered mountain snow showers to continue.
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 Nov 2, 10:53 AM MST, 1 hour 24 minutes earlier.
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</html>7 heavy snow, 4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
High sustained winds of 35KT (40MPH) were reported over several hours at the Norris Hill DOT sensor 4 miles NNE of McAllister, MT.
Heavy snow measuring 9.0 inches in 24 hours was reported by the Pike Creek SNOTEL. Elevation 5930 feet.
Heavy snow measuring 14.0 inches in 12 hours was reported by the Black Bear SNOTEL. Elevation 7949 feet.
Heavy snow measuring 7.0 inches in 12 hours was reported by the Whiskey Creek SNOTEL. Elevation 6700 feet.
Heavy snow measuring 9.0 inches in 12 hours was reported by the Madison Plateau SNOTEL. Elevation 7750 feet.
Heavy snow measuring 7.0 inches in 12 hours was reported by the Mount Lockhart SNOTEL. Snow Water Equivalent of .40 inches. Elevation 6400 feet.
Heavy snow measuring 6.0 inches in 12 hours was reported by the Madison Plateau SNOTEL. Elevation 7750 feet.
Heavy snow measuring 9.0 inches in 12 hours was reported by the Brackett Creek SNOTEL. Elevation 7320 feet.
High winds of 55KT (63MPH) were reported at the Deep Creek RAWS sensor 8 miles SE of East Glacier Park, MT.
High sustained winds of 35KT (40MPH) were reported at the Two Medicine DOT sensor 1 miles E of East Glacier Park, MT.
High winds of 52KT (60MPH) were reported at the Deep Creek RAWS sensor 8 miles SE of East Glacier Park, 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, November 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: 480528, 480548, 480539, 480544, 480546, 480550, 480535, 480536, 480533, 480530, 480534.