Winter Storm and Avalanche in Montana, February 22 to 24, 2014

A period of light snow fell on Feb. 22 causing US-93 to become slick. Three persons died, while two were injured in an automobile accident around 5:30 pm MST near Trader Brothers on US-93 south. According to the Montana Highway Patrol both speed and the road conditions were a factor in the crash.

An avalanche buried two snowmobilers in the West Cabinet Range, about 17 miles southwest of Troy or about two miles north of Spark Peak. One person survived after being partially buried while the other person, a 49 year old male, died after being buried under 4 to 6 feet of compacted snow. The avalanche was classified as a D3 sized avalanche which means that it was a soft slab remotely triggered by a snowmobile.

The COOP at the Polson Kerr Dam reported a storm total snowfall of 8 with 0.30 of precipitation. Other snowfall amounts include: 7.5 Bigfork 2.6 SSE, 7.3 Ronan 4.1 NE, 6.5 Columbia Falls 7.7 S, and 6 Creston. Strong gusty winds brought blowing snow and reduced visibilities at Bad Rock Canyon. The St. Ignatius schools, Salish Kootenai College and Two Eagle River high school in Pablo closed on Feb. 24 due to the weather. The Arlee, Dixon and Charlo schools had a two hour delay. Multiple reports of vehicle accidents and slide-offs were reported especially in the Mission Valley.

The COOP located one mile west of Haugan measured a storm total snowfall of 14 with 0.84 of precipitation. Other snowfall reports include: 11.4 Evaro .7 miles north-northwest, 10 Thompson Falls 9.3 miles northwest, 7.5 Alberton, 7 Thompson Falls and 5.2 Heron 2 miles northwest. Fifteen motor vehicle slide-offs were reported mainly occurring on I-90 between Superior and Alberton. A motor vehicle accident near mile-marker 82 on I-90 west at 12:48 pm MST on Feb. 23, resulted in an injury after a semi-truck lost control at the Nine Mile bridge. On Feb. 24 because of the weather, the Superior and St. Regis school systems closed while the Alberton schools had a 2 hour delay. Montana DOT reported blowing and drifting snow causing limited visibility at Evaro Hill.

A NWS employee reported heavy snowfall in Florence by noon on Feb. 23. Snow was falling in the Missoula area at this time in the form of small crystals, most likely due to the influence of the strong easterly winds breaking up the dendrites. It was apparent watching webcams and observations in the Stevensville and Florence area that weak northerly winds, a shallow arctic air mass and overrunning moist Pacific air allowed for the heaviest snowfall. A person from the public from Stevensville posted 13 of total snowfall on a local media's Facebook page. Other storm snow totals include: 12 at both Florence 3.7 SE and foothills near Victor, 9 Hamilton, 8.8 Corvallis 4.2 ENE, and 4.6 at the Missoula International Airport,. On Feb. 24, Missoula Valley Christian, Darby and Victor schools closed while the Charlo, Stevensville and Frenchtown schools were delayed for 2 hours due to the weather. Numerous motor vehicle accidents were reported especially between 2 and 6 pm MST on Feb. 23 when the heaviest snow fell in the area.

The Lolo Hot Springs COOP reported a storm total of 10 with 0.57 of precipitation. A weather spotter located 7 miles south-southeast of Hamilton reported a storm total snowfall of 11.5.

The COOP located at Lindbergh Lake or 8 miles south-southwest of Condon reported a storm total snowfall of 21.2 with 0.79 of precipitation, which happens to be the highest snow total reported across western Montana during this event. Other snowfall reports include: 20 Seeley Lake, 14.2 Greenough 2 NNE, and 10 in Potomac. Montana DOT reported periods of snowfall, poor visibility, blowing and drifting snow along MT-200 Greenough Hill to Helmville and also I-90 east of Missoula near Bonner. The Potomac schools had a 2 hour delay on Feb. 24. At 5:42 pm MST on Feb. 23, a weather spotter in Seeley Lake reported 2.5 per hour snowfall rates. At 3 am MST on Feb. 24, a car slid off the road and caused a mini-avalanche east of Bonner at mile-marker 3 on Highway 200 partially burying the vehicle and roadway. Traffic was backed up for 2 hours while crews and several plows worked to clear the snow.

The COOP located 3 miles west of Deer Lodge reported a storm total snowfall of 17 with 0.49 of precipitation. The atmospheric conditions of being just to the north of the arctic frontal boundary that brought an intensification of snow near the Deer Lodge area may have been similar to what had happened near the Florence & Stevensville areas. Other snowfall amounts include: 8.2 Anaconda 7.4 NW and 4.6 Philipsburg. Montana DOT reported snow, blowing and drifting snow from MacDonald Pass west to portions of I-90 near Garrison Junction to Drummond. Numerous automobile accidents and slide-offs were reported especially between 2 and 6 pm MST on Feb. 23. Chains were required for towing vehicles on MacDonald Pass for a period of time between Feb. 23-24.