Montana, 2017

Dense Fog in Montana, February 19 to 20, 2017

February 19 to 20, 2017 · NWS GGW · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

With near calm or light easterly winds, plentiful surface moisture easily formed into a large area of dense fog across portions of northeast Montana.

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.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
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 GGW wrote it up.

With near calm or light easterly winds, plentiful surface moisture easily formed into a large area of dense fog across portions of northeast Montana.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 dense fog. Local standard time, as filed.

Dense Fog, Central and Southern Valley

When
February 19, 5:42 PM MST to 8:53 PM MST
Where
Central and Southern Valley forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Visibility dropped to a quarter of a mile or less during the evening hours of the 19th across portions of central and southern Valley County.

Dense Fog, Western Roosevelt

When
February 19, 7:30 PM MST to February 20, 4:30 AM MST
Where
Western Roosevelt forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
48.295, -105.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Visibility dropped to a quarter of a mile or less from the evening of the 19th to the early morning of the 20th, especially near Poplar.

Dense Fog, Daniels

When
February 19, 8:00 PM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where
Daniels forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
48.784, -105.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Visibility dropped to a quarter of a mile or less during the late evening of the 19th across portions of Daniels County.

Dense Fog, Eastern Roosevelt

When
February 19, 8:30 PM MST to February 20, 10:00 AM MST
Where
Eastern Roosevelt forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
48.295, -105.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surrounding surface reports and MDT road reports showed dense fog across eastern Roosevelt County through the Missouri River valley. Due to lack of visibility sensor in the area, times are estimated.

Dense Fog, Sheridan

When
February 20, 12:15 AM MST to 3:15 AM MST
Where
Sheridan forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
48.721, -104.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Visibility dropped to a quarter of a mile or less during the early morning hours of the 20th across portions of Sheridan County.

What these are

Dense Fog
Fog reducing visibility to a quarter mile or less, filed where it caused accidents or disruption.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, February 2017

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: 674557, 674552, 674556, 676116, 674555.