Montana, 2017Heavy Rain in Montana, February 9, 2017
February 9, 2017 · NWS MSO · 3 events in 3 counties and zones
A warm and moist southwest flow pattern set up over the Northern Rockies during the second week of February. Significant rain and warming temperatures combined with the abundant low elevation snow to cause widespread ponding and flooding in fields and on roadways.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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.
A warm and moist southwest flow pattern set up over the Northern Rockies during the second week of February. Significant rain and warming temperatures combined with the abundant low elevation snow to cause widespread ponding and flooding in fields and on roadways. The Bitterroot Valley near Corvallis, MT saw the most widespread areal flooding. Interstate 90 was also impacted for several hours as water ponded to a depth of 3 feet in a low spot on the roadway near Saltese, MT.
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 9, 3:29 AM MST, 1 hour 31 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 9, 3:29 AM MST, 1 hour 31 minutes before
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</html>Heavy Rain, Mineral
- When
- February 9, 5:00 AM MST to 4:00 PM MST
- Where
- Mineral County, St Regis to Lookout
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 47.300, -115.100
Ponding water up to 3 feet deep near Saltese, MT on I-90 lead the Montana Dept. of Transportation to close the roadway for much of the day. Antecedent heavy low-elevation snow allowed for this event, as water was unable to drain off the sides of the road. After plows cut breaks in the snow berms, ponding decreased. Roads were reopened during the evening.
Heavy Rain, Missoula
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM MST to 4:00 PM MST
- Where
- Missoula County, 5.7 mi NE of Lolo Hot Spgs to 0.68 mi N of Lolo Hot Spgs
- Reported by
- NWS Employee
- Coordinates
- 46.777, -114.431
An NWS employee reported water ponding on Hwy 12 leading up to Lolo Pass. Snow berms along the road from previous snow events caused a 3-inch deep flow of rainwater on the road surface.
Heavy Rain, Ravalli
- When
- February 9, 12:00 PM MST to 4:00 PM MST
- Where
- Ravalli County, 1.54 mi WNW of Florence to 3.01 mi ESE of Corvallis
- Reported by
- NWS Employee
- Coordinates
- 46.636, -114.111
An NWS Employee reported extensive ponding in fields and near property in Corvallis, MT. The exceptionally high amount of valley snow-pack allowed for periods of moderate rain combined with relatively warm temperatures to cause unusually extensive areal flooding on Feb. 9 & 10.
- Heavy Rain
- Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Heavy Rain in Washington, February 9, 2017$33 million · 1 event
- Avalanche in Idaho, February 9, 20171 death · 1 event
- Tornadoes in Georgia, February 9, 20177 injured · EF2 · 2 events
- Flooding in Wyoming, February 9 to 11, 2017$120,000 · 4 events
- High Wind in Colorado, February 9 to 10, 2017$100,000 · 90 kt wind · 3 events
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, February 9 to 10, 2017$50,000 · 3 events
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in California, February 9, 201750 kt wind · 31 events
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in New York, February 9, 201724 events
- Winter Storm in Massachusetts, February 9, 201721 events
- Winter Storm and High Wind in New Jersey, February 9, 201752 kt wind · 19 events
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New York, February 9, 201718 events
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Connecticut, February 9, 201715 events
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: 682529, 682536, 682531.