Lee-side troughing continued across south central Montana on the 19th and 20th. After blizzard conditions the previous days, no significant impacts occurred as a result of these winds as the snow composition was such that significant blowing and drifting was not a factor.
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.
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 BYZ wrote it up.
Lee-side troughing continued across south central Montana on the 19th and 20th. After blizzard conditions the previous days, no significant impacts occurred as a result of these winds as the snow composition was such that significant blowing and drifting was not a factor.
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 Billings, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 19, 3:47 AM MST, 1 hour 58 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Billings MT
347 AM MST Mon Dec 19 2016
.SHORT TERM...valid for Tdy and Tue...
A significant impact event continues in our western zones as
blizzard conditions (or near blizzard conditions) have closed
down a long stretch of I-90 from Livingston to Park City. Gusts
overnight at Livingston have reached 74 mph with sustained winds
occasionally hitting 60 mph. Blowing and drifting snow is also
affecting most other areas within the Winter Weather Advisories.
We have reports of rural roads being impassable without heavy
equipment.
Highlights for this event are set and we will not make any
adjustments with this package. Winds may back off a bit at Big
Timber this morning, but increase at Nye and Livingston as the
pressure gradient begins to have a slightly more southerly
component. The one big looming question is when will blizzard
conditions let up? Model data suggests high winds at Livingston
will continue until evening before backing off some. So we will
have to rely on temperatures warming to at least around freezing
to diminish the available loose snow grains. While guidance
numbers indicate we should reach freezing (32F) this afternoon in
our western zones, we are not confident of this given the depth of
snow cover and increasing cloud cover. However, we do feel at some
point late today or through the evening temperatures will be able
to shift the balance as arctic air retreats. Thus, the High Wind
Warning replacing the Blizzard Warning at noon is reasonable as we
will see the primary threats begin to switch from whiteout
conditions/large drifts to mainly severe crosswinds on icy roads.
Future shifts may also need to downgrade the High Wind Warning to
just a wind advisory and extend it into Tuesday. Bottom line is we
will have to wait and see as a couple of degrees one way or the
other can make a big difference for our highlights going forward.
Wind never really ends so we will likely just need warmer
temperatures to end the blowing snow threat, and we anticipate
this will slowly happen by afternoon or at least the evening.
For Tuesday...strong westerly flow at 850mb will precede another
Pacific disturbance crossing the area. This will bring warmer air
into the area with 850 temps above freezing. Blowing snow issues
should be completely resolved except for minor local nuisance
drifting by this point. Increased winds across the central and
east tomorrow with gusts in the 35 to 45 mph range (strongest in
the higher hills). Will keep an eye on potential for stronger
gusts that could put a blowing snow threat into eastern half of
forecast area, but current thinking is that potential is isolated
to mainly higher hilltops. Certainly going to see some melting
tomorrow and roads may get slushy and difficult to drive on during
the afternoon. Will also see some re- freeze issues on roadways
the next few nights.
As for precipitation...a nice little clipper system moves through
the region Tuesday evening. Between some warm air advection ahead
of this system and an increase in forcing Tuesday night the
mountains may see a few to several inches of snowfall by Wednesday
morning. There could also be some light snow accumulation from
Rosebud county west on Tuesday as any lift gets further away from
substantial downslope flow off the mountains. Temperatures
Tuesday should hold in the 30s, maybe a few lower 40s where snow
cover is minimal. BT
.LONG TERM...valid for Wed...Thu...Fri...Sat...Sun...
Several changes to the extended forecast period...primarily to
latter portions...where model agreement has greatly improved.
Alternatively...early portions remain mostly unchanged.
Alberta Clipper system exits the region Wednesday. Models have
come in a bit cooler with this system...so did trend temps down a
bit for Wednesday and Thursday. That said...downslope Northwest
winds should not allow too much of a drop from Tuesday. Upper
level ridging builds in overnight and into Thursday for dry
conditions and more seasonal temps. Another Pacific system moves
into the area Friday...with some colder Canadian air. This system
looks like it should bring colder temps and chances for snow
across the region through Christmas weekend. As mentioned...models
have come into much better agreement with this system. Trended
temps down significantly...based on prog of -20C air at 850mb on
Sunday. Also raised pops significantly...in part due to model
agreement...but also on holiday travel concerns. AAG
&&
.AVIATION...
Periods of LIFR/IFR visibilities due to blowing snow will last
until at least 18z today at KLVM. Wind gusts will be around 50 to
60 knots through the period. Farther east at KBIL, VFR/MVFR along
with blowing snow and 30 to 40 kt westerly gusts are possible.
KMLS and KSHR will see VFR and west/northwest wind gusts around 20
to 30 kts tomorrow afternoon. Strong and gusty winds will continue
through the evening...but should taper off some after midnight.
AAG
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...
Tdy Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
-------------------------------------------------------
BIL 028 023/034 027/032 017/034 022/032 010/019 004/011
0/Q 03/J 21/N 00/N 23/J 33/S 42/S
LVM 030 028/037 027/031 017/035 022/030 008/020 004/011
1/Q 24/W 42/J 01/N 33/J 24/S 52/S
HDN 033 017/038 025/033 011/034 018/032 008/020 005/011
0/N 14/J 21/N 00/B 23/J 33/S 42/S
MLS 034 021/037 028/032 015/035 017/030 009/020 003/010
0/E 12/W 52/J 00/U 13/J 23/S 42/S
4BQ 034 020/038 026/033 013/036 018/033 012/021 005/013
0/B 11/E 32/J 00/U 12/J 33/S 42/S
BHK 032 019/035 025/030 014/033 016/027 007/016 001/008
0/Q 11/E 54/J 00/N 12/J 23/S 42/S
SHR 032 020/037 024/031 012/035 016/030 010/020 005/014
0/B 11/E 22/J 00/U 13/J 33/S 32/S
&&
.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory in effect until noon MST today FOR
ZONES 28>30-34-35-38-39-42-57-63-64.
Blizzard Warning in effect until noon MST today FOR ZONES
40-41-65-66.
High Wind Warning in effect from noon today to 6 AM MST
Tuesday FOR ZONES 41-65-66.
WY...None.
&&
weather.gov/billingsThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Winds gusted 60 to 83 mph at the Livingston Airport.
Winds gusted to 60 mph across the area.
Winds gusted to 72 mph in Big Timber.
Winds gusted to 58 mph across the area.
Winds gusted to 60 mph across the area.
Winds gusted to 60 mph across the area.
A gust of 60 mph was recorded at the Billings Airport, as well as in Molt.
A wind gust of 59 mph was recorded 6 miles southeast of Columbus.
A wind gust of 59 mph was recorded at the Bull Mountain DOT site.
A wind gust of 58 mph was recorded 13 miles northeast of Baker.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, December 2016
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: 664779, 664778, 664780, 664777, 664776, 664775, 664797, 664800, 664799, 664798.