Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Montana, January 29 to 31, 2014

Light freezing rain was reported around 12:25 pm MST on Jan. 29 by a trained spotter located 9.1 miles north-northwest of Noxon at 2,400 ft. They had reported 2.5 of snow that morning before the freezing rain began. The rain changed to all snow by the morning of Jan. 30 as colder arctic air pushed south and west through the area. Total storm snowfall amounts include: 11 Blacktail Mountain SNOTEL, 9.6 30 miles south-southeast of Libby COOP, 6 Olney COOP, and 4.8 one mile northeast of Libby COOP.

The Lost Trail Ski Resort reported 6 of heavy snow by 10:23 am MST on Jan. 29. The MT DOT reported snow, blowing and drifting snow at Lost Trail during the afternoon and evening hours on Jan. 29. According to the Saddle Mountain SNOTEL located 1 mile west of Lost Trail Pass on US-93, 16 of total snow with 1.90 snow water equivalent fell between Jan. 29-30. The Lolo Pass SNOTEL recorded 20 of total snowfall with 2.30 of snow water equivalent between Jan. 28-30.

A trained spotter located 1.5 miles south of Condon reported heavy snow from 9 am to 1 pm MST on Jan. 29. When the arctic cold front moved through by 1 am MST Jan. 30, the MT DOT reported snow-covered, blowing and drifting snow on MT-200 from Greenough to Helmville. A person from the public located 1.5 miles south of Condon reported 18 of heavy snow 24 hours ending at 8:47 am Jan. 30. An injury occurred associated with an automobile accident in Bonner around 5:52 pm MST Jan. 30 and the MT DOT road reports at the time indicated moderate to heavy snow. Other three day snowfall totals include: 19.6 Seeley Lake Ranger Station COOP, 19 Snowbowl Ski Resort, 14 5 miles ESE Evaro and 10 Potomac.

A person from the public located 1 mile northwest of West Glacier reported 12 inches of snow that fell in 12 hours ending at 6:15 pm Jan. 29. They also reported whiteout conditions at times. An arctic cold front pushed west through Marias Pass between 7 and 8 pm MST Jan. 29 and then through Bad Rock Canyon by 11:30 pm MST. Between 6 and 12 inches of snow fell before the influx of much colder air, and this caused blowing and drifting of snow along portions of US-2 through the early morning hours of Jan. 30. Snowfall totals include: 9 Hungry Horse Dam COOP, 9 Essex, 6 Pike Creek SNOTEL located 1.6 miles SE of Marias Pass, and 5.6 West Glacier COOP.

Steady snow from the Pacific moisture influx continued through the afternoon of Jan. 29. A few places reported heavy snow including a weather spotter located 4 miles south-southeast of of Creston. This spotter measured 11 of snow through 8 pm MST on Jan. 29. Also a person from the public reported heavy snow in Whitefish between 5 to 8 pm an. 29. Once the arctic cold front made its way into the Flathead Valley around 11 pm MST, strong gusty winds to 36 mph caused blowing and drifting snow especially near Bad Rock Canyon. The MT DOT reported blowing and drifting snow on US-93 in the Mission Valley between 1 and 5 am MST Jan. 30 where 4 to 6 of transportable snow had fallen earlier. Total snowfall amounts include: 10 Bigfork, 10.5 13 miles south of Bigfork, 8.5 Kalispell, 8 Polson & Creston, 7 Somers, 5 Ronan and 4.3 at Kalispell International Airport. There were 11 automobile slide-offs and 16 crashes with several injuries reported between Jan. 29-30.

The MT DOT sensor reported moderate to heavy snow that fell with the arctic cold front just before midnight Jan. 30. Chains were required for towing units for both MacDonald and Homestake Passes during much of the morning on Jan. 30. MT DOT indicated blowing and drifting had occurred along I-90 from Drummond to Phosphate Junction and also at MacDonald Pass. Snowfall amounts included 8 6 miles southeast Philipsburg, 6.5 Elliston, 6 Drummond, 5 Anaconda and 3.5 3 miles west of Deer Lodge.

The MT DOT reported blowing and drifting snow on US-93 from Wye to Arlee during the morning hours of Jan 30. A person from the public reported 7.3 of heavy snow one mile north-northwest of Evaro at 5 am MST on Jan. 30. The MT DOT reported moderate to heavy snowfall on I-90 between St. Regis and Tarkio at 6:16 pm MST on Jan. 30. Consistent snow between 4 to 6 inches fell along Highway 200 near Noxon. An automobile accident with injuries occurred on I-90 1.5 miles east of Alberton, blocking an eastbound lane for 2.5 hours during the evening of Jan. 30. Conditions at the time of the accident were snow-covered and icy roads with light to moderate snowfall. Other total three day snowfall amounts from COOP observers include: 11.8 2 miles northwest of Heron, 10 one west of Haugan, 9 Thompson Falls PH, 7.3 Alberton and 6.6 at Superior.

A person from the public reported whiteout conditions due to blowing snow near Hellgate Canyon with estimated winds gusting near 40 mph around 6:23 am MST on Jan. 30. They also reported 6 snow drifts. The MT DOT reported blowing and drifting snow on I-90 between Frenchtown to US-93 interchange at 6:17 am MST. Heavy snow bands affected portions of the Bitterroot and Missoula Valleys between Jan. 30 to 31. A multiple vehicle accident occurred on I-90 between the Orange St. and Van Buren St. exits in Missoula around 10:47 am MST on Jan. 31. Moderate to heavy snow with slick roads were reported at the time of the accident. Three day total snowfall include: 7.5 South Hills of Missoula, 5.6 Missoula International Airport, and 1 Hamilton COOP.