West to northwest flow resulted in a strong pressure gradient developing along the lee side of the Rocky Mountains, stretching out into the plains of Central and North Central Montana.
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.
West to northwest flow resulted in a strong pressure gradient developing along the lee side of the Rocky Mountains, stretching out into the plains of Central and North Central Montana.
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 Feb 10, 3:01 PM MST, 2 hours 21 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 301 PM MST Mon Feb 10 2014 .DISCUSSION... Today through Wednesday...An active weather pattern is in store for the area through the short term as snow develops over the Rocky Mountain Front and strong winds ahead of an advancing cold front bring gusty winds to the wind prone areas of North Central and Central Montana. By Tuesday a relatively strong shortwave will move across the area continuing to keep wind speeds up across the area until a northerly cold front moves in and displaces the stronger westerly winds. This front could bring some light precipitation as upslope develops with the cold front. Also as a result of the cold front have lowered highs over most of the plains for Tuesday. There will be drying behind the disturbance Tuesday afternoon and evening with northwest flow aloft weakening. Then later Tuesday night into Wednesday strong west to northwest flow aloft will develop and snow will increase over the western mountains. Another weather disturbance aloft will move through the forecast area but it is forecast to be weaker than the one on Tuesday. At the surface a warm front is expected to move to the east slopes by late Tuesday night then move east Wednesday. There could be a little precipitation ahead of the front but then strong low level westerly winds will kick in by Wednesday afternoon. High wind highlights...Confidence has grown for a high wind event over the Rocky Mountain Front and have upgraded the high wind watch for that area to a high wind warning. Elsewhere do not see much threat for high winds until Wednesday and mostly likely not until the afternoon. Have high enough confidence that there will not be high winds east of the Rocky Mountain Front to drop the portion of the high wind watch from tonight through Tuesday night for that area. However will leave the watch in place for Wednesday where confidence is at least moderate for a high wind event. The exception to this is have upgraded the high wind watch for Toole and Liberty counties to a high wind warning beginning tonight. The reason for this is models forecast relatively strong westerly winds aloft to develop tonight in the typically windier areas near Whitlash and Sunburst. Winter weather highlights...With strong westerly winds expected tonight into early Tuesday before winds shift to the north and weaken by the afternoon in combination with current snow cover have issued a winter weather advisory for blowing snow. Although the plains should stay mainly dry while the strong westerly winds are in place..there will be snow over the mountains of the Rocky Mountain Front so the winter weather advisory will also include the mention of snow. Also highlights might be needed for the mountains/foothills of the Rocky Mountain Front by Wednesday as significant precipitation is expected with more strong winds. But for now will just have highlights for the period from this afternoon into Tuesday. Blank/Suk Wednesday night through Monday...Unsettled west-northwesterly flow will persist through the forecast period with temperatures near to slightly above seasonal averages. As several embedded upper-level disturbances move over the Treasure State, precipitation chances will increase along the Continental Divide with strong winds possible along the Rocky Mountain Front and adjacent plains. A High Wind Watch is in effect Wednesday night and Thursday for all of north-central Montana. Long-range forecast models remain in good agreement regarding the overall weather pattern and position of the jet stream over the Northern Rockies. There is also better agreement regarding the timing of each disturbance, which has helped to raise forecast confidence. With ample Pacific moisture moving into the Northern Rockies, the best precipitation chances will be in the mountains above 6000 feet where accumulating snowfall is likely, however there may be light precipitation over the plains and southwest valleys. Impacts to travel over mountain passes will be possible throughout the forecast period. At this time, the best potential for widespread precipitation will be on Friday as a stronger upper-level shortwave and associated Pacific cold front move across the region. Precipitation type will depend on the timing of the cold front, but temperatures will remain in the upper 30s to lower 40s during the day with lows in the 20s. Given this trend, if the cold front moves trough Thursday night or Friday morning, light snow is possible, however if the front pushes through the area during the day, a mix of rain and snow at lower elevations is possible. The GFS and ECMWF show some differences for Saturday as the ECMWF brings another weak shortwave and a chance of precipitation across the area while the GFS builds a weak upper-level ridge. Have leaned towards the GFS solution with weak upper-level ridging promoting drier conditions over the plains/valleys with a chance of precipitation in the mountains. In addition, strong westerly flow aloft will promote strong downslope winds over the Rocky Mountain Front and adjacent plains. At this time, the best potential for high winds will be on Wednesday night and again Friday with the frontal passage. Will continue to monitor for any potential winter weather or additional high wind highlights. MLV && .AVIATION... UPDATED 1830Z. High pressure aloft will provide generally dry and stable conditions. A few isolated snow showers are possible over the mountains. Surface winds will increase along the Rocky Mountain Front. VFR conditions prevail with MVFR conditions possible in the vicinity of showers. Mountains may be obscured at times. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 36 28 42 25 / 0 10 50 20 CTB 32 23 36 20 / 10 10 50 20 HLN 36 23 44 23 / 20 10 60 20 BZN 34 23 42 22 / 20 20 50 20 WEY 31 15 32 18 / 40 40 50 60 DLN 37 22 43 26 / 10 10 50 20 HVR 18 7 34 13 / 0 10 30 20 LWT 29 24 37 19 / 0 10 60 20 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING until 5 PM MST Thursday Liberty...Toole. HIGH WIND WATCH from late Tuesday night through Thursday afternoon Blaine...Cascade...Central and Southern Lewis and Clark...Chouteau...Eastern Glacier...Eastern Pondera...Eastern Teton...Fergus...Hill...Judith Basin...Meagher. HIGH WIND WARNING until 5 PM MST Thursday Northern Rocky Mountain Front...Southern Rocky Mountain Front. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until Noon MST Tuesday Northern Rocky Mountain Front...Southern Rocky Mountain Front. && weather.gov/greatfalls www.twitter.com/NWSGreatFalls www.facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.GreatFalls.gov
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 509 AM MST MON FEB 10 2014 MTZ010>014-046-047-049>051-054-111215- EASTERN GLACIER-HILL-CASCADE-CHOUTEAU- CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-EASTERN PONDERA-BLAINE- EASTERN TETON-JUDITH BASIN-FERGUS-MEAGHER- 509 AM MST MON FEB 10 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MONTANA...NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A LOW PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. MTZ008-015-052-053-055-111215- BEAVERHEAD-MADISON-JEFFERSON-BROADWATER-GALLATIN- 509 AM MST MON FEB 10 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. MTZ009-048-111215- NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT- 509 AM MST MON FEB 10 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW IS IN EFFECT BEGINNING AT NOON MST. A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT BEGINNING AT 5 PM MST. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THE HIGH WIND WARNING CONTINUES IN EFFECT THROUGH 5 PM MST WEDNESDAY. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MST TUESDAY. PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE MOUNTAINS WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. MORE HIGH WINDS ARE POSSIBLE FROM WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... REPORTS OF HIGH WINDS AND/OR WIND DAMAGE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. REPORTS OF POOR VISIBILITIES IN SNOW AND/OR BLOWING SNOW WOULD ALSO BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. MTZ044-045-111215- TOOLE-LIBERTY- 509 AM MST MON FEB 10 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT BEGINNING AT 5 PM MST. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THE HIGH WIND WARNING CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... REPORTS OF HIGH WINDS AND/OR WIND DAMAGE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
428 PM MST MON FEB 10 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0351 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 E EAST GLACIER PARK 48.45N 113.19W
02/10/2014 M56 MPH GLACIER MT DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
SUSTAINED WINDS DURING THE PAST ONE HALF HOUR 40 MPH OR
GREATER
&&
CZ21 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
High winds measuring 53KT (61MPH) were reported 17 mi W of Pendroy, MT at the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch.
High winds measuring 50KT (58MPH) were reported 21 mi SE of Cascade, MT at the Millegan sensor.
High sustained winds measuring 39KT (45MPH), with a gust to 68KT (78MPH), were reported 6 mi NE of Whitlash, MT at the State Flood sensor.
High winds measuring 51KT (59MPH) were reported 1 mi E of East Glacier Park, MT at the Two Medicine DOT sensor.
High sustained winds measuring 35KT (40MPH) were reported 2 mi SSE of Geyser, MT at the Geyser DOT sensor.
High winds estimated at 52KT (60MPH), with near whiteout conditions along highway US-2, were reported 3 mi E of East Glacier Park, MT.
High sustained winds measuring 37KT (43MPH) were reported 4 mi NNE of McAllister, MT at the Norris Hill DOT sensor.
High winds measuring 61KT (70MPH) were reported 4 mi S of Cascade, MT.
High winds measuring 70KT (80MPH) were reported 6 mi NE of Whitlash, MT at the State Flood sensor.
High winds measuring 69KT (79MPH) were reported 7 mi S of Power, MT.
High winds measuring 78KT (90MPH) were reported in Cascade, MT. Unknown damage to roof and siding reported.
High winds measuring 55KT (63MPH) were reported 6 mi SE of Winston, MT near Canyon Ferry Silos.
High winds measuring 53KT (61MPH) were reported 1 mi SW of Three Forks, MT at the Three Forks Airport AWOS.
High winds measuring 61KT (70MPH) were reported 3 mi SW of Cut Bank, MT and the Cut Bank Airport ASOS.
Multiple vehicles blown off area roads. (3 Pickup trucks and 2 tractor-trailers). Multiple power poles down in Moccasin, MT and Stanford, MT.
High winds measuring 71KT (82MPH) were reported 8 mi WNW of Whitlash, MT.
High winds measuring 52KT (60MPH) were reported 11 mi E of Bozeman, MT at the Bozeman Pass DOT sensor.
High winds measuring 96KT (110MPH) were reported 13 mi WSW of St Mary, MT at the Logan Pass Visitor's Center.
High winds measuring 53KT (61MPH) were reported 13 mi S of Fort Belknap, MT at the Fort Belknap RAWS.
High winds measuring 103KT (118MPH) were reported 13 mi WSW of St Mary, MT at the Logan Pass Visitor's Center.
High winds measuring 52KT (60MPH) were reported 1 mi WNW of Marysville, MT at the Great Divide Ski Area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, February 2014
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: 495166, 495167, 495170, 495169, 495171, 495172, 495174, 495173, 495175, 495176, 495191, 495177, 495178, 495179, 495164, 495192, 495193, 495194, 495195, 495199, 495208.