Montana, 2014

Heavy Snow and High Wind in Montana, April 22 to 24, 2014

April 22 to 24, 2014 · NWS TFX · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Shortwave and upper level energy embedded within westerly flow aloft moved through the region bringing scattered snow showers and strong down-slope winds.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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 TFX wrote it up.

Shortwave and upper level energy embedded within westerly flow aloft moved through the region bringing scattered snow showers and strong down-slope winds.

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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 22, 1:38 PM MST, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 22, 1:38 PM MST, 1 hour 25 minutes before
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In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 22, 1:52 PM MST, 1 hour 11 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 22, 2:04 PM MST, 59 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 22, 2:23 PM MST, 40 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 22, 2:31 PM MST, 32 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 22, 2:46 PM MST, 17 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 22, 2:55 PM MST, 8 minutes before
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Event by event

5 high wind, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Madison

When
April 22, 3:03 PM MST to 5:24 PM MST
Where
Madison forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways

High wind gusts, peaking at 50KT (58MPH), were reported 4 mi NNE of Mcallister, MT at the Norris Hill DOT sensor.

Heavy Snow, Gallatin

When
April 22, 7:40 PM MST to April 23, 7:40 AM MST
Where
Gallatin forecast zone
Reported by
SNOTEL

Heavy snow, measuring 9.0 inches in 12 hours, was reported at the Lick Creek SNOTEL; elevation 6860 ft.

High Wind, Southern Rocky Mountain Front

When
April 23, 3:11 AM MST
Where
Southern Rocky Mountain Front forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet

High wind gusts, peaking at 52KT (60MPH), were reported 17 mi W of Pendroy, MT at the Theodore Roosevelt Ranch sensor.

High Wind, Toole

When
April 23, 5:14 AM MST
Where
Toole forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet

High wind gusts, peaking at 51KT (59MPH), were reported 8 mi WNW of Whitlash, MT at the Fred and George sensor.

High Wind, Liberty

When
April 23, 12:56 PM MST
Where
Liberty forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet

High wind gusts, peaking at 50KT (58MPH), were reported 14 mi NNW of Joplin, MT.

High Wind, Cascade

When
April 24, 4:35 PM MST
Where
Cascade forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS

High wind gusts, peaking at 51KT (59MPH), were reported at the Malmstrom AFB, MT ASOS.

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, April 2014

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 512254, 512259, 512251, 512252, 512253, 512255.