Winter Storm and Flood in Montana, February 11 to 14, 2014

Name: Winter Storm and Flood in Montana, February 11 to 14, 2014
Start: 2014-02-11T05:00
End: 2014-02-14T18:00
Location: Montana

February 11 to 14, 2014 · NWS MSO · 10 events in 9 counties and zones

A strong upper level jet combined with a plume of moisture from subtropical origins, provided for high snow levels approximately near 7,000 feet, freezing rain in the valleys, slick mountain passes, heavy high mountain snow, avalanche releases and rapid snow melt with minor flooding in the Bitterroot Valley. Strong westerly winds were also felt across portions of Powell and Silver Bow County on…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 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: $500
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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.

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 Feb 11, 3:52 AM MST, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 11, 3:52 AM MST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
352 AM MST Tue Feb 11 2014

.DISCUSSION...Strong westerly flow aloft is causing some
downsloping affects in the valleys which is hindering the
snowfall, but area roadways are still anticipated to be snow cover
for this morning commute across western Montana. Snowlevels have
steadily risen throughout the night causing the valleys of Idaho
to primarily experience rain. A thin layer has pushed even into
western Montana cause periods of freezing rain especially along
the I-90 and highway 200 corridors west of highway 93. The pulse
of moisture will continue to push across the Northern Rockies
during the morning hours. As this drier air moves into the region
at the mid and high levels, there appears to be a short period for
the potential of snowband development. Today's temperatures should
steadily warm compared to yesterday with many locations finally
reaching or surpassing normal readings.

Wednesday through Thursday...
A very strong westerly flow aloft will be pumping moisture laden
air into the Northern Rockies region through the period. Mountain
snow will be increasing in intensity. A strengthening southerly
flow in the lower atmosphere will not only warm temperatures in
the valleys, but also increase surface winds.

Our primary concerns from Wednesday through Thursday are as
follows:

1) Moderate to heavy mountain snowfall with high moisture content
and gusty winds. The amount of snow and wind will both make travel
difficult and increase the risk of avalanches.

2) Lower elevations will likely see snow change over to a mixed bag
of precipitation, including some freezing rain. The main focus for
freezing rain will be with the initial change from snow to rain,
sometime Wednesday morning, and again Wednesday night.

3) Surface winds will be increasing tonight and remain quite gusty
through Thursday. Strongest winds are expected in the Camas Prairie
area and south of Grangeville along Highway 95 after midnight
tonight through early Wednesday afternoon. There is a potential for
strong winds to surface in the Bitterroot valley and the I-90
corridor between Drummond and Butte Wednesday morning and again
Thursday morning.

4) The combination of warm temperatures, rain on snow, and
increased winds could result in a rapid melt of snow in the
valleys and ponding of water on streets and in fields.

5) Livestock may be vulnerable during the initial transition from
snow to rain with increasing winds and still relatively cool
temperatures Wednesday.

The models continue to indicate another warm front pushing into
the Northern Rockies on Friday. This front will cause another
round of widespread precipitation. The snow levels will be fairly
high during this event causing primarily rain the valleys and
heavy wet snow in the higher terrain. The amount of rain and snow
melt might cause minor flooding across the region. A second surge
of warm moist air will push into the area on Saturday causing more
rain and mountain snow. Temperatures on Saturday could reach the
mid 40s to low 50s in valley locations. The active moist weather
pattern appears to linger into next week.

&&

.AVIATION...Light to moderate snow is continuing to move through the
Northern Rockies this morning. All terminals are anticipated to
be affected by the snow with low ceilings and visibilities during
the morning hours. A drier airmass will move into the region this
afternoon causing the precipitation to decrease dramatically.
Another stronger front is anticipated to move into the region late
tonight into Wednesday morning.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until 11 AM MST this morning
     Butte/Blackfoot Region.

     WINTER STORM WATCH from this evening through Thursday afternoon
     Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains...Lower Clark Fork Region...
     Potomac/Seeley Lake Region...West Glacier Region.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until 11 AM MST this morning
     Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains...Lower Clark Fork Region.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until 11 AM MST this morning
     Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until 11 AM MST this morning
     Flathead/Mission Valleys...Kootenai/Cabinet Region.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until 11 AM MST this morning
     Potomac/Seeley Lake Region...West Glacier Region.

ID...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until 11 AM MST this morning Eastern
     Lemhi County...Western Lemhi County.

     WINTER STORM WATCH from this evening through Thursday afternoon
     Northern Clearwater Mountains...Southern Clearwater
     Mountains.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until 10 AM PST this morning Northern
     Clearwater Mountains...Southern Clearwater Mountains.

     WIND ADVISORY from 1 AM to Noon PST Wednesday for the Camas
     Prairie...Grangeville and Highway 95 IN THE Lower Hells
     Canyon/Salmon River Region...Orofino/Grangeville Region.

&&

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

Winter Weather, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: February 11, 5:00 AM MST to February 13, 9:00 AM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong warming aloft with above normal moisture brought light snow that changed to light freezing rain across the Missoula Valley during the morning hours of Feb. 11. The Missoula International Airport ASOS reported freezing rain from 7:46 to 8:20 am MST. Several motor vehicle accidents were reported during the morning between Stevensville and Missoula. Freezing drizzle was reported again on the morning of Feb. 12 and freezing rain caused very slick secondary roads on Feb. 13 with enough impact that the Hamilton, Victor, Florence, Corvallis and Frenchtown school districts all had two hour delays.

Winter Weather, Butte / Blackfoot Region

When: February 11, 10:00 AM MST to February 13, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Peterson Meadows SNOTEL at 7,200 ft. MSL, located 4.6 miles south-southwest of Georgetown Lake reported 5 of total snowfall. A weather spotter reported a period of heavy snow at 8:14 am MST while the Georgetown Lake MT DOT sensor indicated southwest winds gusting up to 34 mph at times. Light freezing rain with a thin glaze of ice was reported by a weather spotter one mile west-southwest of Deer Lodge at 8:54 am MST on Feb. 13. The MT DOT also reported freezing rain from Deer Lodge to Warm Springs on Interstate 90 at 8:54 am MST on Feb. 13. The MT DOT sensor located 8 miles north of Avon on Highway 141 reported snow showers that helped to bring gusty winds to 58 mph at 10:28 am MST on Feb. 11, to 50 mph at 3:12 pm MST on Feb. 10 and to 52 mph at 2:57 am MST on Feb. 13. A brief heavy snow shower brought wind gusts as high as 47 mph at the Bert Mooney Airport south of Butte between 11:30 to 12 pm MST on Feb. 11.

Winter Weather, Lower Clark Fork Region

When: February 11, 11:00 PM MST to February 13, 3:00 PM MST
Where: Lower Clark Fork Region forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.286, -114.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The COOP observer located one mile west of Haugan reported 6 of snow between Feb. 11-12. The Lookout Pass ski resort reported 9 of snow that fell in 24 hours between 6 am and 6 am MST on Feb. 12, but a total of 17 between Feb. 11-14. Freezing rain was reported along I-90 and MT-200 especially during the morning hours on Feb. 12. There were a few accidents and slide offs, and the event was a moderate impact to travel.

Winter Weather, Kootenai/Cabinet Region

When: February 12, 12:00 AM MST to February 14, 7:00 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 weather spotter in Troy reported at 8:51 am MST on Feb. 13 that there had been 4 vehicle accidents, especially on Bull Lake Road and US-2 due to very slick conditions. Rain fell on top of a frozen ground which worsened untreated road surfaces. Temperatures during the daytime were able to rise into the 40's and lower 50's but plummeted to the 20's at night helping to freeze up slush and cause slick conditions.

Winter Weather, Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains

When: February 12, 4:00 AM MST to February 13, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 46.508, -113.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A warm occlusion brought a transition from snow to rain during the morning hours of Feb. 12 to elevations below 7,000 feet. Strong warming aloft associated with a plume of moisture with subtropical origins most likely nixed the ability for the formation of stellar dendrites; therefore, heavy snow wasn't able to materialize in these areas as such is common with heavy up-slope westerly flow events. Nonetheless, moderate impact was experienced during the nighttime and morning hours as light to moderate snow made road surfaces slick. Both Lolo and Lost Trail Passes saw around 4 of total snowfall while total precipitation amounts ranged between 1 and 1.80 in the Bitterroot Mountains.

Strong Wind, Potomac / Seeley Lake Region

When: February 12, 8:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where: Potomac / Seeley Lake Region forecast zone
Measured: 48 kt (55 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $500
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.986, -113.597 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Snowbowl Ski area had to close both chair lifts due to strong winds.

Flood, Ravalli

When: February 12, 10:00 AM MST to February 14, 6:00 PM MST
Where: Ravalli County, Corvallis to 0.71 mi NE of Florence
Cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.320, -114.120

The combination of anomalous warmth with temperatures approaching 50 degrees F, rain and rapid snow-melt on frozen ground, caused lowland flooding across the Bitterroot Valley. Just before noon on Feb. 12, a National Weather Service employee reported water covering up to three-quarters of US-93 just south of Florence. They also reported ponding of water at the Florence IGA store parking lot and fire hall. More flooding was reported on Feb. 13 and the Ravalli County EM reported that home owners in Victor and Corvallis had already experienced ponding of water around their homes and water running down the streets in Victor. At least one homeowner did experience water in their basement.

Winter Weather, Potomac / Seeley Lake Region

When: February 12, 11:00 AM MST to February 13, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Potomac / Seeley Lake Region forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 46.986, -113.597 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The MT DOT reported 2 to 4 inches of snow that fell along MT-83 during the morning of Feb. 12. The MT DOT also reported freezing rain from Clinton to just west of Drummond and also from Condon on MT-83 to the junction with S-209 at 7:47 am MST on Feb. 13.

Winter Storm, West Glacier Region

When: February 13, 4:00 AM MST to 6:00 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 Pike Creek SNOTEL located 1.6 miles southeast of Marias Pass reported heavy snow during the morning of Feb. 13. It recorded a total snowfall of 5 inches with 0.50 of snow water equivalent. During the afternoon and evening hours of Feb. 13, the MT DOT required chains on towing units over Marias Pass. The Fielding RAWS located 4 miles southwest of Marias Pass reported wind gusts to 48 mph during the morning of Feb. 13 which most likely caused blowing snow. A moderate avalanche cycle was reported in the JFS Canyon the day before but didn't affect US-2.

Winter Weather, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When: February 13, 6:00 AM MST to 9:00 AM MST
Where: Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Glacier Park International Airport saw a period of freezing rain because of cold surface temperatures.

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.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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, February 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: 503140, 503447, 503139, 503137, 503430, 503152, 503150, 503151, 503136, 503138.