Winter Weather and Strong Wind in Montana, September 29 to 30, 2013

Name: Winter Weather and Strong Wind in Montana, September 29 to 30, 2013
Start: 2013-09-29T09:00
End: 2013-09-30T22:00
Location: Montana

September 29 to 30, 2013 · NWS MSO · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

A strong upper level jet brought strong gusty winds to the Bitterroot Valley and snow to higher elevations of Glacier National Park and in the Bitterroot Mountains.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

A strong upper level jet brought strong gusty winds to the Bitterroot Valley and snow to higher elevations of Glacier National Park and in the Bitterroot Mountains.

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 Sep 29, 3:05 AM MST, 5 hours 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 29, 3:05 AM MST, 5 hours 55 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
405 AM MDT Sun Sep 29 2013

...GUSTY WINDS AND RAIN WITH COLD FRONT PASSAGE TODAY AND AGAIN
ON MONDAY...

.DISCUSSION...Early this morning there is a well defined cold
front moving through eastern Washington and western Idaho.
Moderate rain and gusty winds exist ahead of and along the cold
front. The front will pass through north central Idaho and
northwest Montana early this morning and the rest of western
Montana through day. An area of clearing is showing up behind the
cold front so there should be a break from rain and less cloud
cover once the cold front passes through the region. Showers will
fill back in by this afternoon. Snow levels will lower today
behind the cold front, with high elevation snow later today.

Impacts from wind are still expected to occur through today.

STRONG WIND DETAILS: Winds gusts of 30 to 40 mph will exist along
the cold front, so just about everyone will see at least this
strong of wind today. Considering gusts to around 40 mph across the
Mission/Flathead valleys, the Missoula/Bitterroot valleys and in
the vicinity of Grangeville and the Highway 95 corridor, a Wind
Advisory remains in effect through today. Gusts will intensify to
50 mph across Lemhi County in Idaho and the Butte/Blackfoot Region
in Montana, with some gusts to 60 mph in higher terrain. Wind has been
slow to develop in these locations, however there are still strong
indications that very gusty winds will develop through the
morning. High Wind Warning continues for this area through today. Wind
will diminish by this evening, but only for a relatively short
period of time before another cold front arrives.

Another, even stronger, cold front is going to pass tonight. Much
like the current cold front, another round of moderate rain will
develop in the same locations that have been getting rain (north
central Idaho/northwest Montana). Gusty winds will redevelop
across Lemhi County, Idaho and southwest Montana beginning late
tonight. Snow levels will also further drop with the second cold
front from 5000-6000 feet, so snow may begin to affect Lookout and
Marias passes by Monday afternoon. Most of the heavy precipitation
will pass before snow levels drop to pass level, so there is
question as to whether snow will impact the roadways or not.

Model guidance has become increasingly pessimistic concerning a
pattern change over the Northern Rockies by the end of the coming
week. Unsettled conditions, including mountain snow, valley rain,
breezy afternoons, and seasonally cool temperatures are likely to
continue through at least Thursday. Some models suggest that a
very muted, less than one day, break between storm systems will
exist in the Friday-Saturday time-frame. Even the most
optimistically dry model for next weekend, the European model,
depicts high pressure only Friday through Sunday, with the next
storm cycle beginning Sunday night. Precipitation Monday night
onward will be but a blip compared to that occurring up to this
time.

&&

.AVIATION...A cold front is moving through eastern Washington and
western Idaho early this morning. Gusty winds, moderate to heavy
rain, and lowered ceilings are all being reported by surface
observations with its passage. The front will move through
northwest Montana and north central Idaho through this morning and
the rest of western Montana through the day. Expect gusty winds,
rain, and lowered ceilings with the passage. Gusty winds will
likely be an impact through the majority of the day with 30-40 kts
wind gusts common. There will also be even higher winds in the
higher terrain, Lemhi County, Idaho, and southwest Montana. KSMN
and KBTM will be included in the strong wind locations with gusts
reaching 50-60kts into this afternoon. Another, even stronger cold
front will pass tonight with similar conditions to again develop.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...HIGH WIND WARNING until 9 PM MDT this evening Butte/Blackfoot
     Region.

     WIND ADVISORY until 6 PM MDT this evening Flathead/Mission
     Valleys...Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys...Potomac/Seeley Lake
     Region.

ID...WIND ADVISORY until 11 AM PDT this morning for the Camas
     Prairie...Grangeville and Highway 95 IN THE Lower Hells
     Canyon/Salmon River Region...Orofino/Grangeville Region.

     HIGH WIND WARNING until 9 PM MDT this evening Eastern Lemhi
     County.

&&

Kitsmiller/Zumpfe

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In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 29, 6:57 AM MST, 2 hours 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
757 AM MDT SUN SEP 29 2013

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0148 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 S GRANGEVILLE         45.86N 116.12W
09/29/2013  M69 MPH          IDAHO              ID   MESONET

            MESONET STATION HIGH CAMP /AS773/

0154 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 N GRANGEVILLE         45.94N 116.12W
09/29/2013  M54 MPH          IDAHO              ID   MESONET

            MESONET STATION GRANGEVILLE 1N /GVLI1/

0155 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 N GRANGEVILLE         45.94N 116.12W
09/29/2013  M54 MPH          IDAHO              ID   AWOS

            AWOS STATION GRANGEVILLE AIRPORT /GIC/

0659 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 E EVARO               47.04N 113.98W
09/29/2013  M52 MPH          MISSOULA           MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION POINT SIX RAWS /PNTM8/

0551 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 SE NORTH FORK         45.36N 113.89W
09/29/2013  M48 MPH          LEMHI              ID   MESONET

            MESONET STATION KRILEY CREEK RAWS /KRCI1/

0606 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 8 ENE LIBBY             48.43N 115.40W
09/29/2013  M45 MPH          LINCOLN            MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION ZONOLITE /ZONM8/

0715 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST POTOMAC                 46.88N 113.58W
09/29/2013  M44 MPH          MISSOULA           MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION POTOMAC /DW1026/

0630 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SSE BLACKTAIL         48.27N 113.44W
09/29/2013  M44 MPH          FLATHEAD           MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION ESSEX CWOP /AT844/

0115 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 ESE GREER             46.38N 116.13W
09/29/2013  M43 MPH          CLEARWATER         ID   MESONET

            MESONET STATION 2 E GREER /ITD63/

0400 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 S BLOSSBURG           46.56N 112.31W
09/29/2013  M42 MPH          POWELL             MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION 4 S BLOSSBURG /MTMDP/

0500 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NNW RACETRACK         46.34N 112.77W
09/29/2013  M40 MPH          POWELL             MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION DEER LODGE /DRLM/

0525 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 N SOMERS              48.14N 114.23W
09/29/2013  M40 MPH          FLATHEAD           MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION 4 N SOMERS /DW8939/

0723 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 N WHITEFISH           48.50N 114.34W
09/29/2013  M39 MPH          FLATHEAD           MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION 6 N WHITEFISH /EW1484/

0626 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 11 N ELLIS              44.85N 114.03W
09/29/2013  M39 MPH          LEMHI              ID   MESONET

            MESONET STATION EZRA CREEK RAWS /EZRI1/

0637 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 NW MISSOULA           46.92N 114.09W
09/29/2013  M39 MPH          MISSOULA           MT   ASOS

            ASOS STATION MISSOULA, MT /MSO/

&&

IRIS SYSTEM

Local storm report, Sep 29, 7:12 AM MST, 1 hour 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
812 AM MDT SUN SEP 29 2013

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0743 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 SSE PORTERS CORNER    46.19N 113.30W
09/29/2013  M40 MPH          GRANITE            MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION 2 W GEORGETOWN /MTGTL/

&&

IRIS SYSTEM

Local storm report, Sep 29, 7:15 AM MST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
815 AM MDT SUN SEP 29 2013

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0814 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST LOLO                    46.76N 114.09W
09/29/2013  E50 MPH          MISSOULA           MT   NWS EMPLOYEE

&&

IRIS SYSTEM

Local storm report, Sep 29, 7:23 AM MST, 1 hour 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
823 AM MDT SUN SEP 29 2013

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0530 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SSW SOMERS            48.06N 114.23W
09/29/2013  M43 MPH          FLATHEAD           MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION 1 SSW SOMERS /FLB07/

&&

IRIS SYSTEM

Local storm report, Sep 29, 8:25 AM MST, 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
925 AM MDT SUN SEP 29 2013

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0828 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 S GRANGEVILLE         45.86N 116.12W
09/29/2013  M82 MPH          IDAHO              ID   MESONET

            MESONET STATION HIGH CAMP /AS773/

0759 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 E EVARO               47.04N 113.98W
09/29/2013  M56 MPH          MISSOULA           MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION POINT SIX RAWS /PNTM8/

0906 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 E DARBY               46.03N 114.06W
09/29/2013  M42 MPH          RAVALLI            MT   MESONET

            MESONET STATION DEER MOUNTAIN RAWS /DEEM8/

&&

IRIS SYSTEM

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 winter weather, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains

When: September 29, 9:00 AM MST to 1:00 PM 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 7900 ft., located 1 mile west of Lost Trail Pass reported 3 inches of snow with temperatures near freezing. The ITD webcam at Lost Trail Pass showed slick conditions during this time-frame. An undetermined amount of light snow fell again on the morning of the 30th with the webcam showing slick roads at 8 am MDT.

Winter Weather, West Glacier Region

When: September 29, 8:00 PM MST to September 30, 9:00 AM MST
Where: West Glacier Region forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Glacier National Park service reported more than 8 inches of snow fell at Logan Pass. The Going-to-the-Sun road closed at 7:19 am MDT on the 30th due to slush on the road and wind gusts to 40 mph.

Winter Weather, West Glacier Region

When: September 29, 10:00 PM MST to September 30, 10:00 PM MST
Where: West Glacier Region forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Flattop Mountain SNOTEL located at 6,300 ft or 9 miles north-northwest of Logan Pass reported 6 inches of snow. This SNOTEL reported a total of 4.20 of precipitation from the 28th through the 30th.

Strong Wind, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: September 30, 7:10 AM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A power pole in Florence had reportedly been snapped off by wind causing power outages for several hours. The local sheriff had to direct the morning commute. A NWS employee located in Lolo, estimated that the winds gusted to 50 mph at 8:14 am MDT with the passage of the cold front.

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused 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, September 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: 475710, 475694, 475692, 475695.