Montana, 2017Winter Storm and Avalanche in Montana, February 8 to 9, 2017
February 8 to 9, 2017 · NWS MSO · 5 events in 4 counties and zones
After the heavy snow event which left several feet of snow across portions of northwest Montana, emergency managers reported numerous roofs were exceeding load capacity and were in danger of collapse, especially in Libby, MT. Heavy, wet snow Wednesday evening and overnight transitioned to freezing rain on Feb.
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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- 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.
After the heavy snow event which left several feet of snow across portions of northwest Montana, emergency managers reported numerous roofs were exceeding load capacity and were in danger of collapse, especially in Libby, MT. Heavy, wet snow Wednesday evening and overnight transitioned to freezing rain on Feb. 9. Heavy snow and rain added weight to roofs that were already stressed. Snow along Highway 2 from Essex to Marias Pass lead to road closures due to avalanche danger.
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 Feb 8, 2:53 PM MST, 6 hours 7 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 8, 2:53 PM MST, 6 hours 7 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
253 PM MST Wed Feb 8 2017
...Winter storm to bring snow loading issues across NW Montana...
...Hazardous blowing and drifting snow expected for Marias Pass...
...Overland flooding concerns for some valleys...
.DISCUSSION...A very wet and mild Pacific system will continue to
bring snow to the region through tonight. Cold air in place will
eventually get scoured out by Thursday morning, but before then
expect slick travel across much of western Montana and portions of
north-central Idaho.
Snow Load impacts...
Due to a recent colossal snow storm that brought an
unprecedented 3 to 5 feet of snow to valley locations across
northwest Montana, snow loading will be and is an issue. The
Emergency Manager from Lincoln County has advised us that there
are several buildings in Libby that have too much snow on the
roofs. Expect anywhere from 1 to 2 inches of liquid (both snow and
rain) to fall through Thursday night.
Heavy snow to freezing rain to rain impacts...
A warm front will be pushing northwards tonight allowing for snow
to change to freezing rain in the valleys of western Montana.
Though air temperatures may shoot up to the middle 30s, cold
ground temperatures will allow for an icing up situation.
Thankfully there will be snow on the ground for most places and
the freezing rain could get soaked up. But for untreated surfaces
that have been cleared of snow and are receiving rain by Thursday
morning, it could get quite icy. Warming temperatures will help to
mitigate the wintry conditions during the day Thursday.
Possible severe blowing and drifting towards Marias Pass...
Considering that the Marias Pass area saw 53 inches of fresh snow
this past weekend, there will be a lot of snow that could move
around. Wind gusts will generally be between 25 and 35 mph, but
gusts to 50 mph are possible at the pass. There could be a point
in which US-2 may become impassable and a road closure may be
necessary.
Overland flooding concerns...
With temperatures soaring into the 40s to near 50 in the
Bitterroot Valley and across north-central Idaho, and frozen
drainages, standing water and flooding could be possible Thursday
into Friday. Be sure to check sump pumps and downspouts and
potentially sand bags may be needed to mitigate.
Showery weather will continue on Friday with seasonable
temperatures, which will allow for additional lowland
snowmelt/runoff. The most susceptible area will continue to be the
Bitterroot Valley, but other low land areas may see ponding of
water on roadways and property.
A cold low pressure trough will sweep through the region Friday
night into Saturday morning providing a focus for additional
snowfall as snow levels drop to valley floors. Winter driving
conditions are likely to develop over mountain passes and
potentially in the valleys, although valley snow accumulations
should remain light.
High pressure ridging will bring a drier pattern early next week,
although forecast models are wavering on the potential for weak
disturbances that could bring light precipitation. Overall it will
be much drier with seasonable to slightly above normal
temperatures.
&&
.AVIATION...Widespread moderate to occasionally heavy snow will
persist over north- central Idaho and western Montana into the
evening hours, impacting all terminal sites with lower ceilings
and reduced visibilities. Precipitation will transition to rain
and/or freezing rain by early Thursday morning with KGPI likely
being the last to change over to rain. In addition, winds aloft
will begin to increase significantly by Thursday morning, with
southwest winds of 50-70 kts at 700 mb possible.
&&
.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST Thursday Butte/Blackfoot
Region...Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.
Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST Thursday
Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains...Lower Clark Fork Region...
Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys.
Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST Thursday Flathead/Mission
Valleys.
Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to 8 PM MST Thursday
West Glacier Region.
Winter Storm Warning until 8 PM MST Thursday Kootenai/Cabinet
Region.
ID...Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST Thursday Eastern Lemhi
County...Western Lemhi County.
Winter Weather Advisory until 4 AM PST Thursday Lower Hells
Canyon/Salmon River Region...Orofino/Grangeville Region.
Winter Weather Advisory until 8 AM PST Thursday Northern
Clearwater Mountains...Southern Clearwater Mountains.
&&Winter Storm, Kootenai/Cabinet Region
- When
- February 8, 9:00 PM MST to February 9, 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Local Official
- Coordinates
- 48.171, -114.863 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Freezing rain prompted a local official in Eureka, MT to encourage all to stay at home during the evening of Feb. 8 unless there was an emergency. Public reports mentioned several cars in ditches along US-93 south of Eureka, MT. Fortine and Eureka schools were open on a 2 hour delay on Feb. 9. with no bus service. Plow crews reported being unable to keep up with sanding area highways given the large areal coverage of freezing rain. Trained spotters reported 8 inches of new snow in Bull Lake, MT, while other spotters reported 5 to 6 inches of snow in Libby, MT. Power went out in Bull Lake for 6 hours during the early morning hours of Feb. 9. The Bull Lake Fire Chief's basement was flooded with 6 of water due to the fact that the snow-pack was so deep and the falling rain had no where to go.
Winter Storm, Flathead/Mission Valleys
- When
- February 9, 2:00 AM MST to 1:00 PM MST
- Where
- Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Many reports of freezing rain came in during the morning hours of Feb. 9. A trained spotter in Bigfork, MT sent images of 0.13 of ice accretion on his vehicle. Another spotter in Columbia Falls, MT sent an image of completely glazed roads. Airport crews were unable to clear runways at Glacier Park International and the airport was temporary closed until late morning. The Montana Department of Transportation issued Severe Driving Conditions for portions of the Flathead and Mission Valley for 5 hours during the morning of Feb. 9. Highway patrol reported at least 15 slide-off accidents during this time-frame.
Winter Storm, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys
- When
- February 9, 4:00 AM MST to 9:00 AM MST
- Where
- Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Freezing rain lead to Severe Driving Conditions being issued for the Missoula and Bitterroot Valley during the morning hours. School buses were delayed by 2 hours.
Winter Storm, West Glacier Region
- When
- February 9, 9:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- West Glacier Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
US Hwy 2 from Essex to East Glacier, MT was closed during this event due to the threat of avalanches with 6 inches of new snow on top of the 30 to 50 inches of snow earlier in the week. An avalanche did occur between Essex and Devils Creek spilling over US-2 in the morning. The Montana Dep. of Transportation listed US-2 with Severe driving conditions during the day.
Avalanche, West Glacier Region
- When
- February 9, 9:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- West Glacier Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A 200 foot wide avalanche occurred between Essex and Devils Creek spilling over US-2 to a depth of 8 inches. This caused the Montana Dep. of Transportation to close to the road because of the avalanche danger.
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
- Avalanche
- A mass of snow sliding down a mountainside that caused a death, an injury or damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
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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: 681741, 681749, 681751, 681746, 682499.