Winter Storm in Montana, November 9 to 10, 2014

Name: Winter Storm in Montana, November 9 to 10, 2014
Start: 2014-11-09T16:45
End: 2014-11-10T11:00
Location: Montana

November 9 to 10, 2014 · NWS MSO · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

An arctic air mass pushed southward in western Montana Sunday night into Monday(Nov. 10).

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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: $96,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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.

An arctic air mass pushed southward in western Montana Sunday night into Monday(Nov. 10). There was a period of rain on Sunday before the arctic air mass moved through setting up the stage for a flash freeze and snow combination by Sunday night. After the arctic cold front passed south through the Missoula Valley around midnight and entered the Bitterroot Valley, a period of heavy snow developed from Missoula south to Lolo and east to Clinton. Most roads were either snow-covered, or ice and snow-covered, which hampered travel during the Monday morning commute. These impacts were especially severe given near-record high temperatures earlier in the week.

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 Nov 9, 3:03 PM MST, 1 hour 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 9, 3:03 PM MST, 1 hour 42 minutes before

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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 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, West Glacier Region

When: November 9, 4:45 PM MST to November 10, 11:00 AM MST
Where: West Glacier Region forecast zone
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter estimated strong arctic winds gusting to 30 mph near Essex, MT. Glacier Park International Airport saw a peak gust of 48 mph when the arctic air began to spill into the Flathead Valley, and this wind likely topped 50 mph in the Bad Rock canyon region. Police dispatch reported wind knocking down multiple trees in West Glacier, MT. An additional hazard was rain, which fell before the arctic cold front. The flash-freezing of this water on roads contributed to very slick road conditions, as reported by spotters.

Winter Storm, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When: November 9, 6:20 PM MST to November 10, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Glacier Park International Airport saw a peak gust of 48 mph when the arctic air began to spill into the Flathead Valley. At the airport, sustained 32 mph winds with gusts to 40 mph were commonplace, and visibility down to 0.75 mi was reported at times. These winds caused multiple trees falling across roadways in Whitefish and Kalispell. Power outages and treacherous road conditions impacted many and were reported by weather spotters. ASOS reports of rain before the cold winds explained why a weather spotter in Columbia Falls tweeted that there was a solid sheet of ice beneath the snow.

Winter Storm, Butte / Blackfoot Region

When: November 9, 7:20 PM MST to November 10, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Butte DOT reported being extremely busy, with semi trucks stuck on Homestake Pass being a major impact for them. ASOS wind gusts at Butte's airport measured as high as 52mph. Farther north, a trained spotter reported 5 of snow in Deer Lodge, MT.

Winter Storm, Potomac / Seeley Lake Region

When: November 9, 9:00 PM MST to November 10, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Potomac / Seeley Lake Region forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 46.986, -113.597 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Accidents, slick roads, and whiteout conditions reported along I-90 by DOT partners and county sheriffs. The Kraft Creek SNOTEL at 4750 ft reported 7 of snow.

Winter Storm, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: November 10, 12:00 AM MST to 11:00 AM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Property damage: $60,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The MDT reported that the quick transition from warm to cold with the quick freezing of rain under snow presented crews with a difficult challenge in keeping roads navigable, and they had over 30 weather-related accidents. Slick roads and whiteout conditions reported by county sheriffs. Icy roads caused a very slow commute for NWS employees and workers across Missoula.

What these are

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, November 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 545176, 545177, 545186, 545181, 545183.