A vigorous low pressure system moved southeast from Alberta into MT, bringing widespread precipitation to Central/North Central MT. Snow levels fell as cool air moved in behind the system and significant accumulating snowfall was seen, mostly at higher elevations.
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.
The episode as NWS TFX wrote it up.
A vigorous low pressure system moved southeast from Alberta into MT, bringing widespread precipitation to Central/North Central MT. Snow levels fell as cool air moved in behind the system and significant accumulating snowfall was seen, mostly at higher elevations.
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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 9, 7:41 AM MST, 49 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT 841 AM MDT Tue Sep 9 2014 .UPDATE... The initial push of cooler air from the north has spread though most of the forecast area with a deeper/colder airmass in place over north-central MT and still deeper cold air upstream in southern Alberta, poised to move south into north central MT Tonight through Wednesday. Low level northerly upslope flow will maintain low clouds and some very light sprinkles/flurries/drizzle over much of north-central MT, however measurable/persistent precipitation will be most likely from Glacier Park east along the Hi-line. Snow levels are already down to around 4000 feet over the north central MT plains and should remain in this vicinity through today. Current forecast has this handled well, with stronger surge of moisture arriving late tonight along the front range and across the remainder of north central and Central Mt on Wednesday. Hoenisch && .AVIATION... UPDATED 1200Z. For the plains expect widespread MVFR/IFR ceilings through the period. There is a lot of uncertainty with respect to details on timing of precipitation during the period and what associated visibilities and ceilings will be. There will be a tendency for MVFR ceilings this afternoon and IFR ceilings tonight and there will be a tendency for VFR visibilities with precipitation this afternoon and MVFR visibilities with precipitation tonight. For southwest Montana expect VFR conditions this afternoon. There will be MVFR ceilings at KHLN this morning and also possibly as far south as KBZN. Expect any showers today to be isolated. Showers will become scattered tonight with the possibility of MVFR ceilings with them. Blank && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 600 AM MDT Tue Sep 9 2014/ Today through Thursday...Cold front has made it's way through central MT bringing much cooler air and scattered precipitation to portions of the area during the overnight hours. Focus for the next 48 hours or so will be the likelihood of the first significant snowfall of the season for higher elevations along the northern Rocky Mountain Front as well as in the Little Belt Mountains. Initial shortwave trough will continue to move across the area today. Best combination of moisture and forcing aloft will reside along the northern portions of the forecast area from Glacier National Park to Blaine County. Northeasterly surface flow will continue to provide upslope conditions along the Rocky Mountain Front. Ongoing Winter Weather Advisory covers the expected hazards well through tonight. Stronger mid/upper shortwave trough begins to impact the region by Wednesday morning. Latest model guidance continues to depict ample moisture along with an environment favorable for impactful snowfall over the higher terrain of the northern Rocky Mountain Front and potentially the Little Belt mountains as well. Expected precipitation amounts have increased since yesterday morning's computer model runs yielding higher confidence in Winter Storm Warning criteria being met Wednesday and Wednesday night. Have upgraded the Winter Weather Advisory to a Winter Storm Warning for locations above 5000 feet in the northern Rockies. Have also issued a Winter Storm Watch for portions of the Little Belt Mountains including Kings Hill pass. Also likely to see light snowfall at lower elevations, especially Wednesday night into Thursday morning. No significant impacts are expected with generally an inch or less of accumulations, primarily on grassy surfaces. Daytime temperatures through the next several days will remain 25 to 30 degrees below normal over north-central MT. The SW MT valleys will remain seasonably warm until the colder airmass finally makes it's way there on Thursday. A few locations could reach record lows Wednesday morning and again Thursday morning. Foltz Thursday night through Tuesday...There will be northwest flow aloft through the weekend. Expect embedded weak weather disturbances in this flow. Models differ on their timing but agree there will not be much moisture with them so will continue the dry forecast. An upper ridge will move over Montana early next week. Models indicate that a weather disturbance aloft will move through the ridge by Tuesday. There is some uncertainty with whether there will be a few showers or not so until there is better agreement will go dry. Temperatures will be cool Friday and Saturday but not as cool as Thursday. As the upper ridge moves in looks for warmer temperatures Sunday and Monday with further warming possible Tuesday. Blank && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 48 36 45 32 / 60 50 60 70 CTB 42 33 38 27 / 90 50 70 80 HLN 59 39 52 37 / 20 40 50 50 BZN 64 38 56 33 / 10 40 30 50 WEY 64 29 56 27 / 40 20 20 30 DLN 69 39 61 33 / 10 20 20 20 HVR 48 37 46 31 / 80 60 60 20 LWT 50 36 43 30 / 60 60 60 50 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until 6 AM MDT Wednesday FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5000 FEET FOR Northern Rocky Mountain Front...Southern Rocky Mountain Front. WINTER STORM WARNING from 6 AM Wednesday to Noon MDT Thursday FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5000 FEET FOR Northern Rocky Mountain Front...Southern Rocky Mountain Front. WINTER STORM WATCH from Wednesday morning through Thursday morning Cascade...Judith Basin...Meagher. && weather.gov/greatfalls www.twitter.com/NWSGreatFalls www.facebook.com/NWSGreatFalls
3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow, measuring 8.0 inches in 12 hours, was reported at the Dupuyer Creek SNOTEL; elevation 5750 feet.
Heavy snow, measuring 8.0 inches in 12 hours, was reported at the Pike Creek SNOTEL; elevation 5928 feet.
Heavy snow, measuring 8.0 inches in 12 hours, was reported in Heart Butte, MT.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, September 2014
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: 544360, 544358, 544359.