Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Montana, March 2 to 3, 2014

Name: Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Montana, March 2 to 3, 2014
Start: 2014-03-02T00:00
End: 2014-03-03T14:00
Location: Montana

March 2 to 3, 2014 · NWS MSO · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A very impressive arctic air mass set up over the region by the end of February. A very mild and moist system brought moderate to heavy snow to northwest Montana.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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 very impressive arctic air mass set up over the region by the end of February. A very mild and moist system brought moderate to heavy snow to northwest Montana. Places like Eureka that typically experience a rain/snow shadow from the moist westerly events were able to receive more snow because the arctic air mass was so deep. The moisture content of the weather system, as measured by weather balloons upstream, came in at 181% of normal. This system helped to erode the cold air already in place in the valleys of west-central Montana, caused very slick roads due to freezing rain which led to school closures on March 3rd. This was one of the biggest snow events for the season across northwest Montana and caused a few avalanches in a few places but did not threaten anyone.

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 Mar 1, 2:36 PM MST, 9 hours 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 1, 2:36 PM MST, 9 hours 24 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
236 PM MST Sat Mar 1 2014

...DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS ACROSS NORTHWEST MONTANA TONIGHT...

.DISCUSSION...Snowfall has decreased across the area, however, the
strong east winds and cold temperatures remain. Wind Chill Warnings
have been issued across much of northwestern Montana through
tonight, as wind chills are currently 10 to 20 degrees below zero
in many locations, and are only expected to get colder tonight
with many locations reaching the 20 to 30 below zero range. While
the wind chills are the most dangerous impact, there will be other
impacts tonight as well. Some drifting of snow will continue,
especially in wind prone areas, and in far northwest Montana very
light snow will start again overnight as the next system moves
into the area.

Sunday through Monday Night...A westerly flow will continue to
pump Pacific moisture in the Northern Rockies region through this
period. Snow will continue to fall over the mountains with travel
over the passes impacted by snow-covered roads. On the other hand,
valleys will see a mixed bag of wintry precipitation as cold air
in the lower atmosphere gradually warms up above the freezing mark.
Initially, valleys will see a continuation of snow through much of
Sunday. However, temperatures will be warming across Idaho and
Clearwater counties late Sunday and Sunday night with snow
changing to a rain/snow/freezing rain mix. By Monday and Monday
night, this transition to a wintry mix will spread into western
Montana. Arctic air trapped in western Montana valley bottoms will
be slow to retreat and modify, but temperatures will show a warming
trend nonetheless. Precipitation across northwest Montana stands
the best chance of staying as all snow since not enough warm air
is expected to reach that far north.

For Tuesday through Saturday...Strong westerly flow aloft will
bring a series of moist weather systems across the area.
Temperatures will slowly moderate, along with periods of
precipitation. Occasional heavy snow will continue for higher
elevations, while lower elevations will have a complex mix of snow,
freezing rain and rain at times. Lower elevation flooding may
begin to be a concern for areas with deep snow from the recent
storms.

&&

.AVIATION...While ceiling and visibility are improving this
afternoon, strong east winds will continue to cause drifting snow,
especially at KMSO and KBTM. East winds will slowly decrease
overnight as light snow moves back into northwest Montana, mainly
affecting KMSO and KGPI. Expect increasing mountain obscuration
again tonight.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 5 AM Sunday to 5 PM MST Monday
     ABOVE 3000 FEET FOR THE Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains.

     WIND CHILL WARNING until 8 AM MST Sunday Missoula/Bitterroot
     Valleys...Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.

     WIND CHILL WARNING until 8 AM MST Sunday Kootenai/Cabinet
     Region...Lower Clark Fork Region.

     WIND CHILL WARNING until 8 AM MST Sunday Flathead/Mission
     Valleys...West Glacier Region.

     WINTER STORM WARNING until 3 PM MST this afternoon
     Butte/Blackfoot Region.

     WIND CHILL WARNING until 8 AM MST Sunday Butte/Blackfoot Region.

ID...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 4 AM Sunday to 4 PM PST Monday
     ABOVE 3000 FEET FOR THE Northern Clearwater Mountains...
     Southern Clearwater Mountains.

&&

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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

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

Heavy Snow, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When: March 2, 12:00 AM MST to March 3, 5:00 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 reported a storm total snowfall of 10 with 0.47 of precipitation. Other snowfall totals include: 7.5 Whitefish, 7 Columbia Falls 1 NW, 6.3 Bigfork 13 S, 8 Polson Kerr Dam and 6.5 Polson. A weather spotter located in Columbia Falls reported snow-covered roads and were pretty bad during the afternoon of Mar. 2. An above normal amount of vehicle slide-offs and accidents were reported during this event from the Flathead to the Mission Valleys; 20 were crashes, 22 were slide-offs and 2 were stranded vehicles.

Heavy Snow, Potomac / Seeley Lake Region

When: March 2, 12:00 AM MST to March 3, 9:00 AM MST
Where: Potomac / Seeley Lake Region forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.986, -113.597 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The COOP Seeley Lake Ranger Station reported a storm total snow of 11.6 with 0.84 of precipitation. A trained spotter located one mile south of Condon estimated 11 of snow 24 hours ending at 9 am on Mar. 3.

Heavy Snow, Lower Clark Fork Region

When: March 2, 9:00 AM MST to March 3, 9:00 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)

The Lookout Pass Ski resort reported 17 of heavy snow in 24 hours. Montana DOT required chains for towing units over Lookout Pass and labeled the I-90 stretch from St. Regis to Lookout Pass severe driving conditions due to heavy snow, poor visibility and icy roadways. Six snow slide-offs were reported between mile-markers 10 and 33 on I-90 by the afternoon of Mar. 3 which closed the westbound lanes from 3 to 5 pm MST. All east and westbound lanes were closed due to avalanche danger at 5:47 pm and traffic was re-routed to Hwy-200 until 4 pm MST on Mar. 4. Thirty vehicle incidents were reported by the MT DOJ in the two day period; 9 were crashes, 13 were slide-offs and 8 were stranded vehicles. Other snowfall amounts include: 18 Haugan 1 W, 10.7 Heron 2 NW, 10 Thompson Falls and 5 Alberton.

Winter Storm, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: March 2, 3:00 PM MST to March 3, 9:00 AM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A CoCoRaHS observer located 4 miles east-northeast of Corvallis reported freezing rain with a temperature of 16 F at 3:42 pm MST on Mar. 2. A weather spotter located one mile north of Florence reported 6 of snowfall at 5:30 pm MST on Mar. 2. Freezing rain caused a glaze up to a 0.10 in thickness to develop across portions of the Bitterroot Valley. Missoula, Corvallis and Hamilton public schools closed due to the icy conditions on Mar. 4. Fifteen slide-offs, 4 crashes, and 3 stranded vehicles were reported by the MT DOJ.

Heavy Snow, West Glacier Region

When: March 2, 7:00 PM MST to March 3, 2:00 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)

An avalanche forecaster located in Essex reported a storm total snowfall of 16 with just over an inch of snow water equivalent. The West Glacier COOP measured a storm total snowfall of 13 with 1.01 of precipitation. A person from the public located 6 miles southwest of Marias Pass reported an estimated 2 per hour snowfall rates at 9:11 pm MST on Mar. 2. Montana DOT reported severe driving conditions from Blacktail to Marias Pass for a period due to the heavy snow. Wind chills in the beginning of the event were ranging between -30 to -40 F through the US-2 corridor as temperatures were below zero with winds gusting to 30 mph out of the easterly direction. Because of the heavy snow and strong winds, an avalanche was released one mile north of Blacktail covering the BNSF train tracks. Because of the elevated avalanche threat, train service was shut down for period.

Heavy Snow, Kootenai/Cabinet Region

When: March 2, 9:00 PM MST to March 3, 7:00 AM MST
Where: Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 48.171, -114.863 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Montana DOT reported heavy snow overnight between Mar. 2-3 and estimated that 8 to 12 inches had fallen along Highway 2 south of Libby. They remarked that this was the heaviest snow event for the season. Montana DOT plow drivers in Troy estimated 12 fell there as well. Other snow amounts include: 12 Rexford 7 NNE, 8 Olney, 8.5 Yaak 9 NNE and 6.3 1 E Eureka.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
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, March 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: 505223, 505225, 505224, 505226, 505222, 505219.