Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Montana, December 27 to 28, 2014

Name: Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Montana, December 27 to 28, 2014
Start: 2014-12-27T12:00
End: 2014-12-28T19:00
Location: Montana

December 27 to 28, 2014 · NWS MSO · 8 events in 7 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 2
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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 winter storm and associated arctic front brought widespread snowfall and travel impacts to much of western Montana. Hardest hit areas were forecast to be from roughly I-90 and points north and west. The Missoula and Bitterroot valleys and most locations across SW MT were not hit as hard as forecast until midday Sunday, 12/28, when a convergence band set up and dropped 4 to 7 inches in Missoula, with 4 inches measured at the Missoula National Weather Service Forecast Office for the day. The accident rate was very high in the Missoula area, with 8-12 slideoffs/hour being reported from 2pm until 5pm. Impacts for Missoula lessened after 5pm on 12/28, but Butte continued to see moderate snow throughout the evening.

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 Dec 27, 3:54 AM MST, 8 hours 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 27, 3:54 AM MST, 8 hours 6 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
354 AM MST SAT DEC 27 2014

...WIDESPREAD TRAVEL IMPACTS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY...

...BITTERLY COLD TEMPERATURES RETURN SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...

.DISCUSSION...

The next weather system is already spreading cloud cover and light
snow through the region early this morning. Moderate to heavy snow
will develop by this afternoon with widespread snow accumulations
by Sunday morning. Confidence remains high for northwest Montana
and north central Idaho to receive the heaviest snow with this
weather system. Valleys in northwest Montana and central Idaho
will likely see 5 to 10 inches of snow with 15 to 24 inches in the
mountains. There are still some differences in snow amounts along
the I-90 corridor among model guidance so there is a chance for
higher snow amounts than the current forecast.

The entire region is either under a winter weather advisory or
winter storm warning with most of the snow accumulations
anticipated by sunday morning.

Behind the main area of snow an arctic front will pass through the
region from the northeast. Snow, blowing snow, gusty winds, and
cold wind chill will accompany this front especially along the
divide and through Hellgate and Badrock canyons. This front will
pass Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening so this will be
another focus for travel impacts. Wind chill readings between
10 to 25 degrees below zero will be common Monday morning.

A strong surface high pressure system will settle into the region
Monday night into Tuesday, and remain nearby through the first day
of the New Year leading to very cold temperatures and generally
dry conditions. Low temperatures will be well below zero with high
temperatures in the single digits for many locations through at
least Wednesday. Mountain locations will gradually warm up by late
in the coming week but valley warming will be limited by
inversions. Longer range guidance hints at another surge of very
cold air along with a chance of more snow Friday into next
weekend.

&&

.AVIATION...Cloud cover and light snow are expanding through the
region this morning and this trend will continue through today.
Once the main shortwave arrives this afternoon moderate to heavy
snow will obscure terrain and bring moderate to major aviation
impacts to KGPI and KMSO....and likely KBTM and KSMN due to low
ceiling and visibilities. Moderate to heavy snow is likely from
27/1800Z through 28/1800Z for most locations across the Northern
Rockies. Blowing snow, low visibilities, and very low ceilings
will develop on Sunday afternoon, especially along the divide and
for KGPI and KMSO. KGPI will also experience wind gusts up to 30
to 40 knots at times out of the east/northeast, beginning Sunday
afternoon.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...     WINTER STORM WARNING from 11 AM this morning to 11 PM MST Sunday
     Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 5 PM this afternoon to 11 AM MST
     Monday Butte/Blackfoot Region.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 11 AM this morning to 11 AM MST
     Monday Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys.

     WINTER STORM WARNING from 11 AM this morning to 11 PM MST Sunday
     Lower Clark Fork Region.

     WINTER STORM WARNING from 11 AM this morning to 11 AM MST Monday
     Flathead/Mission Valleys...West Glacier Region.

     WINTER STORM WARNING from 11 AM this morning to 5 PM MST Sunday
     Kootenai/Cabinet Region.

     WINTER STORM WARNING from 11 AM this morning to 11 AM MST Monday
     Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.

ID...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 11 AM this morning to 11 AM MST
     Monday Eastern Lemhi County...Western Lemhi County.

     WINTER STORM WARNING from 10 AM this morning to 10 PM PST Sunday
     Northern Clearwater Mountains...Southern Clearwater
     Mountains.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 10 AM this morning to 4 PM PST
     Sunday Lower Hells Canyon/Salmon River Region...
     Orofino/Grangeville Region.

&&

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 winter storm, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, West Glacier Region

When: December 27, 12:00 PM MST to December 28, 6:00 PM MST
Where: West Glacier Region forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A storm spotter reported 13 inches of snow in Essex over 48 hours with periods of blowing and drifting snow when the arctic air moved through. Also, the MDT reported periods of moderate to heavy snow during this event along US-2 and also mentioned that there were times when they had a difficult time keeping up with the snowfall.

Winter Storm, Kootenai/Cabinet Region

When: December 27, 5:00 PM MST to December 28, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.171, -114.863 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A storm spotter from Olney reported 12 inches of snow over 24 hours with periods of 1/4 mile visibility at times during this holiday weekend. Another spotter from Marion reported around 8 inches of snow on the 28th.

Winter Storm, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When: December 27, 5:00 PM MST to December 28, 8:00 AM MST
Where: Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

As snow began to fall over the Flathead Valley, reports of crashes and slide offs began to increase sharply around 5 pm on the 27th. By the next morning, a storm spotter in Colombia Falls reported 13.5 inches of snow during this event. Over the Mission Valley, storm spotters reported 13 inches of storm total snow in Polson and 9 inches in Ronan. Strong winds associated with the arctic cold front caused numerous power outages over the Flathead Valley. Sustained winds of 43 mph over Flathead Lake near Yellow Bay was recorded by mesonet sensors for several hours.

Heavy Snow, Lower Clark Fork Region

When: December 27, 5:00 PM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Lower Clark Fork Region forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.286, -114.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lookout Pass ski resort reported 17 inches of snow over a 24 hour period. Out of the 17 inches, 14 inches of snow fell between 4 pm MST Saturday and 5 am MST Sunday. MDT required that towing vehicles use chains after 5 pm on the 27th.

Winter Storm, Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains

When: December 27, 6:00 PM MST to December 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 46.508, -113.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lost Trail Pass received 14 inches of snow and 10 inches of snow fell at Lolo pass over a 24 hour period. Periods of blowing and drifting snow also occurred at Lost Trail pass.

Winter Storm, Potomac / Seeley Lake Region

When: December 27, 6:00 PM MST to December 28, 6:00 PM MST
Where: Potomac / Seeley Lake Region forecast zone
Injuries: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 46.986, -113.597 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A moist weather system brought heavy snow and dangerous back country conditions to the Seeley Lake region. Local media reported 4 snowmobilers were buried in an avalanche in the North Fork Bowl area, but were able to ride out on their own. 8 inches of snow was measured by a SNOTEL 6 hours before the avalanche. A spotter from Condon also reported 14 inches of snow over 24 hours.

Winter Storm, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: December 28, 2:00 PM MST to 5:00 PM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Injuries: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A heavy snow band developed along the arctic frontal boundary and caused numerous accidents between Frenchtown and the west end of Missoula valley. This resulted to the shutdown of the westbound lanes on Interstate 90 for a couple of hours. An observation of 3.3 inches of snow was reported at the Missoula International Airport from this band which lasted around 2 hours.

Winter Storm, Lower Clark Fork Region

When: December 28, 5:00 PM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where: Lower Clark Fork Region forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 47.286, -114.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

As the arctic front continued to move through western Montana, a snow band developed near Missoula and eventually made its way over Interstate 90 between Frenchtown and Superior. Multiple accidents and slide offs were reported with whiteout conditions under the heavy snow band.

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
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

Every storm in Montana in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, December 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 548263, 547964, 550107, 550235, 550122, 550214, 550120, 550109.