Montana, 2016Winter Storm in Montana, January 13, 2016
January 13, 2016 · NWS MSO · 1 event in 1 county or zone
Freezing rain was a concern with cold valley temperatures and a warm southwesterly flow moving over the region. A Winter Weather Advisory was issued at 2:16 PM with mention of freezing rain.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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.
Freezing rain was a concern with cold valley temperatures and a warm southwesterly flow moving over the region. A Winter Weather Advisory was issued at 2:16 PM with mention of freezing rain. The advisory was upgraded with more detail upon notification of road conditions becoming severe. Schools in Superior and Alberton were on 2 hour delays in the morning due to black ice on roadways.
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 Jan 13, 3:52 AM MST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 13, 3:52 AM MST, 1 hour 5 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
352 AM MST WED JAN 13 2016
...Periods of wintry mix and snow for western Montana and central
Idaho rest of the week...
.DISCUSSION...Rain and snow are spreading through the region under
a moist southwesterly flow weather pattern. Majority of the
precipitation has been falling in Idaho and into northwest Montana
especially near the ID/MT border. High resolution model guidance
show precipitation in these areas to be fairly continuous through
around noon today with showery precipitation for the afternoon.
Much of the high terrain north of Highway 12 and Interstate 90 is
forecast to accumulate around 6-10 inches of snow by this
afternoon, while lower elevations are going to have a wintry mix
of snow, rain, and freezing rain.
The main trough with this weather system will pass over the
region tonight with lower snow levels expected and additional
snow. Valleys that have been missed from the precipitation, like
Missoula, will have much higher chances for snow by tonight with
the change in the flow pattern. There are locations that have been
trending higher for snow amounts, which are the Seeley/Swan, and
Glacier Region, where snow is likely to fall through both today
and Thursday. Additional Winter Weather Advisories have been
issued for these locations for snow today and again tonight and
Thursday.
The continuous train of weather disturbances will continue for
the rest of the week, through the weekend. After a very brief
break in the Action Thursday night, another moderately strong
shortwave trough will move into the Northern Rockies Friday
morning. Central Idaho will be impacted first, with the potential
for several inches of snow to fall for elevations above 4000 feet
by Saturday morning. The main shield of precipitation will move
southwest to northeast into western Montana by Friday afternoon
impacting the mountains and mountain passes along the MT/ID
border. Some valleys in western Montana could miss out of the bulk
of the snow, until the flow pattern switches to the northwest
Friday night and Saturday morning, where a widespread couple
inches of snow for the valleys will be possible.
Yet another, and possibly more potent system will move into the
region Saturday night and Sunday. Higher valleys of central Idaho
and the mountain passes could once again see several inches of
snow in this time period. The type of flow pattern with this
weather system will be more conducive for the valleys of western
Montana to see more snow than the one at the end of this week.
If you are planning to be traveling anywhere in western Montana
and north-central Idaho this weekend, expect to experience
widespread travel impacts. Plan accordingly if you expect to spend
any amount of time in the elements.
Models continue to indicate that this active weather pattern will
remain over the Northern Rockies at least into mid week next week.
&&
.AVIATION...The moist southwesterly flow throughout the region is
bringing moderate snow to mountains and passes and a wintry mix to
lower elevations. Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for much
of the region into Thursday. Snow levels will continue to rise
through this morning with warmer air moving into north central
Idaho and western Montana. Rising snow levels will keep a threat
for icing conditions into the afternoon. Increased southwesterly
winds are also being observed in the high terrain, and in wind
prone area such a Grangeville, ID, which are forecast to remain
through today. The trough will pass over the region tonight with
lowering snow levels expected and heavier snow rates overnight.
Widespread obscured terrain and lowered ceilings can be expected
through today and Thursday with the trough over the region.
&&
.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT... Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM MST Thursday Lower Clark
Fork Region.
Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM MST Thursday Potomac/Seeley
Lake Region...West Glacier Region.
Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM MST this morning
Kootenai/Cabinet Region.
Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM MST Thursday
Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains.
ID...Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM PST Thursday ABOVE 2500 FEET
for the Northern Clearwater Mountains...Southern Clearwater
Mountains.
Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM MST Thursday Eastern Lemhi
County...Western Lemhi County.
&&Winter Storm, Lower Clark Fork Region
- When
- January 13, 4:57 AM MST to 10:00 AM MST
- Where
- Lower Clark Fork Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 47.286, -114.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
MDT reported multiple slide-offs and jackknifed semis. Interstate 90 was categorized as Severe Driving Conditions by MDT at 4:57 AM between Tarkio and Alberton. Much of the rest of the zone had roads reported as either ice/black ice or snow covered. Due to the slick roadways, nearby schools were delayed for 2 hours in the morning.
- 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.
- High Wind and Strong Wind in Massachusetts, January 13, 2016$53,000 · 50 kt wind · 6 events
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, January 13, 20164 events
- Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, January 13, 20163 events
- High Wind in Wyoming, January 13 to 14, 201680 kt wind · 2 events
- Dense Fog in Colorado, January 13, 20161 event
- Dense Fog in Utah, January 13, 20161 event
- Strong Wind in Connecticut, January 13, 2016$5,000 · 1 event
- Strong Wind in Nevada, January 13, 2016$1,000 · 1 event
- Marine High Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, January 13, 201652 kt wind · 1 event
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: 614276.