Montana, 2017Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Montana, March 8 to 10, 2017
March 8 to 10, 2017 · NWS MSO · 6 events in 6 counties and zones
A plume of moisture moved over central Idaho and western Montana causing heavy precipitation. Periods of moderate to heavy snow combined with slushy conditions to cause ice and very slick conditions on the morning of the 9th.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 1
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 6
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 plume of moisture moved over central Idaho and western Montana causing heavy precipitation. Periods of moderate to heavy snow combined with slushy conditions to cause ice and very slick conditions on the morning of the 9th. A second push of moisture brought snow to northwest Montana with up to a foot and a half of snow received.
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 Mar 8, 2:46 PM MST, 5 hours 14 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 8, 2:46 PM MST, 5 hours 14 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
246 PM MST Wed Mar 8 2017
.DISCUSSION...A plume of moisture continues to stream over north
central Idaho and west central Montana. The snow associated with
this moisture will increase in intensity later this evening and
cause significant snow fall in the higher terrain and some
impactful snow in the valleys of western Montana. Winter weather
advisories have been issued. Lookout, Lolo and Lost Trail will
experience the heaviest snowfall tonight with these locations
potentially getting up to a foot of new snow by mid morning.
The moisture feed shifts to northwest Montana on Thursday
afternoon and lingers there through Friday. This moisture will
interact with an arctic airmass coming over the divide. The
combination of arctic air with the moisture plume should cause
hefty snow amounts across northwest Montana. Locations north and
east of a line from Libby to Seeley Lake should receive 6 to 12
inches by Friday afternoon. Areas around Glacier Park could get
up to 18 inches with Marias pass potentially receiving 2 feet of
new snow. Uncertainty lies on how far into western Montana will
the arctic air intrude. The remainder of the Northern Rockies
appear to receive a rain/snow mix as the area will be in the warm
sector of this disturbance. The higher terrain north central Idaho
and west central Montana should still receive an impactful amount
of snow by Friday. Winter Storm Watches have been issued for the
areas that have the best chance of being impacted by this storm.
Saturday will be a very nice day in comparison to the past week
with plenty of sun early on with normal temperatures all the way
into the mid and upper 40s. This will be short lived as yet
another wet weather disturbances enters the region.
Under a northwest flow and supported by a strong jet stream plenty
of moisture will move through the region, especially in north
central Idaho and much of western Montana. Probably the biggest
difference with this system is it will be a tad bit higher with
snow levels around 4000-5000 feet south of the I-90 corridor and
3000-4000 feet north of I-90. The fast moving system will limit
snow amounts. 1-2" of snow is likely in the valleys of the
Flathead Valley northward and into the Glacier NP region including
Essex and Columbia Falls. Otherwise valley precipitation will be
mostly rain in the lower valleys. Lookout and Marias pass can
expect 2-5" of snow
Sunday and Monday: Unstable and continued moist air will produce
scattered rain and mountain snow showers each day.
A ridge builds over the region by early to mid week bringing
warmer temperatures and mainly dry conditions to the region.
Temperatures might actually reach the 50 degree mark in some
valley locations. There will be some scattered light showers in
the mountains. Northwest Montana valleys may experience some
local flooding issue with the melting snow especially as
temperatures may stay above freezing.
&&
.AVIATION...Rain/snow showers will continue to impact area
terminal KMSO and KBTM through Thursday morning. Snow levels will
lower slightly tonight and will allow for the showers to
transition to all snow. KGPI and KSMN will see mainly breezy
conditions through this afternoon with chances of snow increasing
at around 09/0600Z. Main impacts with the snow tonight will be
reduced visibilities and lowered ceilings. Showers will be on the
decrease Thursday morning, but another weather system will bring
in more precipitation Thursday afternoon and evening.
&&
.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 10 AM MST
Thursday Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains...Lower Clark Fork
Region.
Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 9 AM MST
Thursday Butte/Blackfoot Region...Potomac/Seeley Lake
Region.
Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 9 AM MST
Thursday Flathead/Mission Valleys...Missoula/Bitterroot
Valleys.
Winter Storm Watch from Thursday afternoon through Friday
morning Flathead/Mission Valleys...West Glacier Region.
Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 9 AM MST
Thursday Kootenai/Cabinet Region...West Glacier Region.
Winter Storm Watch from Thursday afternoon through Friday
morning Kootenai/Cabinet Region.
ID...Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM MST /5 PM PST/ this evening to
10 AM MST /9 AM PST/ Thursday Eastern Lemhi County...
Northern Clearwater Mountains...Southern Clearwater
Mountains...Western Lemhi County.
&&Event by event
3 winter weather, 2 winter storm, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Winter Storm, Butte / Blackfoot Region
- When
- March 8, 8:00 PM MST to March 9, 10:00 AM MST
- Where
- Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- 911 Call Center
- Coordinates
- 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Very slick conditions were reported across southwest Montana while 4 to 9 inches of snow fell during the event. Multiple vehicle slide-offs, jack-knifes and crashes were reported by the Department of Justice between 7 and 10 am on the 10th from east of Drummond to Homestake Pass on Interstate 90.
Winter Weather, Lower Clark Fork Region
- When
- March 8, 8:00 PM MST to March 9, 9:00 AM MST
- Where
- Lower Clark Fork Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.286, -114.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snow amounts ranged from 4 inches in Huson to 6.5 inches in Alberton to 8 inches at Lookout Pass. Conditions were reported to be slick but compared with the other areas there were no school delays and accident reports were low.
Heavy Snow, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys
- When
- March 9, 5:00 AM MST to 10:00 AM MST
- Where
- Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
- Deaths
- 0 direct, 1 indirect
- Injuries
- 0 direct, 1 indirect
- Reported by
- NWS Employee
- Coordinates
- 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Very slick conditions were reported in the Bitterroot Valley which caused vehicles to have a hard time stopping. The slush caused by mild road conditions overnight solidified with new snow falling causing the icy conditions. Most schools in the Bitterroot Valley were delayed due to the conditions. Snow amounts include: 4.3 inches at the Missoula International Airport, 6 inches at Frenchtown, 6 inches south of Missoula, and 8 inches east of Stevensville.
Winter Weather, Flathead/Mission Valleys
- When
- March 9, 6:00 PM MST to March 10, 10:00 AM 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)
Snowfall amounts ranged from 3 inches in Polson to 9 inches in Columbia Falls before changing to freezing rain before daybreak. The freezing rain became absorbed in the fallen snow therefore lessening the impact.
Winter Weather, Kootenai/Cabinet Region
- When
- March 9, 8:00 PM MST to March 10, 10:00 AM MST
- Where
- Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 48.171, -114.863 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snow and freezing rain fell across northwest Montana with snow totals ranging from 3 inches in Troy, Libby, and Eureka to 6 inches in Stryker. A person from the public reported on Facebook that snow, ice, and slush made Highway 37 terribly slippery on the morning of the 10th.
Winter Storm, West Glacier Region
- When
- March 9, 8:00 PM MST to March 10, 10:00 AM 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)
Blowing and drifting snow was reported between West Glacier and Marias Pass during the night-time hours. Snowfall amounts include: 18 inches at Marias Pass, 15 inches in Polebridge, and 8 to 10 inches at the Devil's Creek area located east of Essex.
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
- Winter Weather
- Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
- Heavy Snow
- Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
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: 678351, 678352, 678350, 678349, 678346, 678348.