On the night of January 8th, a storm system put down several inches of snow along the Rocky Mountain Front. In the city of Browning, 8 inches was reported by the Glacier County DES coordinator.
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 TFX wrote it up.
On the night of January 8th, a storm system put down several inches of snow along the Rocky Mountain Front. In the city of Browning, 8 inches was reported by the Glacier County DES coordinator. A few days later, on January 12th, the wind increased to 60 mph in Browning creating blizzard conditions with significant blowing and drifting of snow. Significant impacts to travel were felt in the city of Browning and along the Rocky Mountain Front, including HWY 2 and HWY 89 being closed through the area.
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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 12, 4:38 PM MST, 4 hours 46 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Great Falls MT 438 PM MST Thu Jan 12 2017 Updated Aviation Discussion .DISCUSSION... Tonight through Saturday...A relatively dry northwest flow aloft will keep the forecast area mostly clear through Saturday, but westerly winds will be gusty at times, mainly over the plains of North Central and Central Montana. Winds have been gusty between 40 and 60 mph already along the Rocky Mountain Front, causing widespread visibility-reducing blowing snow. As the surface trough to the lee of the Rockies spreads east overnight, gusty westerly winds will overspread the plains as well. Although gusts there will not be quite as strong (mostly 35 to 45 mph), loose relatively freshly-fallen snow will be easy to lift. Have therefore expanded the Advisory for blowing snow east across the Hi-Line to the Sweetgrass Hills, south along the plains adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Front, and east from Great Falls to Lewistown. Have also kept the expiration time the same (8 am Friday). Will see how the winds react to the current snowpack before deciding on whether or not to expand this Advisory farther east. Late Friday morning through the overnight hours, winds will generally decrease. A weak disturbance in the flow aloft may bring gusty westerly winds back to the plains on Saturday. The temperature forecast will be somewhat tricky over the next couple of days, as the gusty winds could cause rapid warmups, but lingering snowpack could hinder such warmups. Have kept temperatures cooler than model guidance in the more wind-protected Southwest Montana valleys, which could cause very cold overnight temperatures due to the clearing skies. Warmer temperatures are expected closer to the east slopes of the mountains. Overall, though, temperatures will remain cooler than normal. Coulston Saturday night through Thursday...A generally dry and breezy pattern to transition into more active...but warm...weather. Saturday night will start with a weak shortwave traversing across the CWA...however...limited moisture will allow for mainly dry conditions with a few clouds. Sunday through Monday we then find ourselves in northwest flow with limited moisture and weak disturbances at times. Little sticks out as a potential weather maker so continued dry condtions...with only a few isolated snow showers across the western mountains. Each weak disturbance Sunday through Monday does bring an increased gradient at times...providing for some breezy winds. Nothing looks high wind at this point...but if a loose snowpack continues...blowing and drifting snow will be possible. Tuesday through the rest of the work week we then see a potential development of an atmospheric river similar to the previous weeks active weather...with breezy winds at times. The main difference with this new feature is the amount of warm air associated with the mentioned feature. 700 mb temps hover around the -6 to -10 C range during the event...with breezy downsloping air bringing the 800 mb temps above 0 at times. The result of all this warm air could be a messy mix of rain...freezing rain...and perhaps some snow at times...across the lower elevations as multiple disturbances and increased moisture push through the area next week. Used model soundings and 800 mb temps to try and include mention of this wintry mix...however...confidence remains low on timing and locations at this point...except across the south where mainly snow is expected. With all this warm air...high and low temperatures will be on the rise throughout the long term period. Models indicating highs in the low to mid 40s possible by mid next week...with lows in the 20s to even 30s. It will be interesting to see if the warm air can overcome the recent snowfall. For now bumped down temps slightly to account for snowcover. If we can get prolonged periods above freezing...and combine that with the potential for rain showers...there is a chance localized flooding is possible next week due to quickly melting snow and perhaps ice jams. Be sure to check back on the latest forecasts. Anglin && .AVIATION... Updated 2338Z. Area remains under a dry NW flow aloft through Friday with surface high pressure centered over western and SW MT and in the Dakotas while a surface trough develops along the east slopes of the Rockies. Clear skies and light winds will prevail across SW MT terminals, though some patchy fog cannot be ruled out for a period tonight. To the north, breezy SW surface winds will expand eastward across the plains tonight. Strongest winds will be concentrated along and adjacent to the Rocky Mtn Front where blowing snow may reduce surface visibility at times as far east as the KCTB terminal. Hoenisch && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GTF 10 28 11 30 / 0 0 0 0 CTB 6 26 5 28 / 0 0 0 0 HLN -5 16 1 24 / 0 0 0 0 BZN -5 17 -3 24 / 0 0 0 0 WEY -11 17 -14 21 / 0 0 0 10 DLN -5 18 0 26 / 0 0 0 0 HVR -7 18 -3 22 / 0 0 0 0 LWT 10 28 8 31 / 0 0 0 0 && .TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 8 AM MST Friday Cascade...Eastern Glacier...Eastern Pondera...Eastern Teton...Fergus...Judith Basin...Liberty...Toole. Winter Weather Advisory until 8 AM MST Friday Northern Rocky Mountain Front...Southern Rocky Mountain Front. && weather.gov/greatfalls
3 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
DOT closes US-89 from Two Medicine Bridge to Browning and HWY 2 from Browning to East Glacier due to whiteout conditions and zero visibility in blowing and drifting snow.
Wind gusts in the area reached 50-65 mph at times in several locations across western Glacier County. Local DES coordinator reports significant impacts in the Browning area.
Two Medicine Bridge DOT sensor reported sustained wind speeds of greater than or equal to 35 mph for nearly 5 hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, January 2017
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: 669349, 669351, 669352.