Montana, 2018Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, February 3 to 4, 2018
February 3 to 4, 2018 · NWS MSO · 2 events in 2 counties and zones
After a relatively mild January and first few days of February, an arctic air mass came over the Continental Divide into Northwest Montana during the morning of February 3 bringing strong winds, heavy snow, and localized freezing rain.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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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- Floods
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- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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 a relatively mild January and first few days of February, an arctic air mass came over the Continental Divide into Northwest Montana during the morning of February 3 bringing strong winds, heavy snow, and localized freezing rain.
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 3, 4:03 AM MST, 6 hours 57 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 3, 4:03 AM MST, 6 hours 57 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
403 AM MST Sat Feb 3 2018
...Arctic Cold Front Will Affect Parts of Western Montana
Tonight...
.DISCUSSION...A subtle disturbance is making its way through the
Northern Rockies this morning, causing scattered showers
throughout the region. Snow accumulations will be fairly light,
but road conditions could change quickly. Yesterday's
precipitation has caused the low levels to become moist enough to
create patchy fog. The fog will diminish by early afternoon.
The arctic airmass is still on track to make its way into western
Montana late this afternoon and overnight. Concern still lies on
how far west the cold air will intrude. The current thinking has
the cold air infiltrating into the valleys along the Continental
Divide and Flathead/Mission valleys. Questions still remain if the
cold air will make it into the Missoula and Bitterroot valleys.
This artic air will cause a multitude of issues, the first of
which will be enhancement of snow as the air makes its way into
the region. The second issue will be the threat of light freezing
rain right along the leading edge of the cold air. The third will
be a flash freezing of roadways, since temperatures could drop
into the teens and low 20s in just a short period of time. The
final area of concern will be localized blowing snow, especially
in the narrowing of valleys where air is best funneled. The Winter
Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning for the
Glacier Park region due to high confidence of all the
aforementioned impacts. A Winter Storm Watch is still in effect
for the Flathead/Mission valleys and the Seeley/Swan region, due
to lower confidence on how many impacts those areas will
experience.
The cold air will retreat back to the east on Sunday as a feature
makes its way in from the west. This second feature will enhance
the precipitation area-wide, along with rising snow levels. Most
valleys will be experiencing rain by Sunday afternoon, though the
bulk of precipitation appears to impact the region Sunday evening.
Idaho and Clearwater counties are still anticipated to receive
the heaviest rainfall totals, which will be around 1.00 to
2.00 inches by Monday morning. This precipitation could create
hydrological concerns, such as rock/mud slides and rapid rises on
area creeks and streams.
A second reinforcement of cold arctic air is expected to cross
the Divide into northwest Montana during the day Monday. Moisture
that aligns itself along this arctic boundary will produce
moderate snowfall and additional accumulations down to valley
floors through Monday evening. The areas expected to receive new
snow accumulations will range from roughly Polson south though
Stevensville, Montana, as well as across Clearwater county in
Idaho. For now, this seems to be the bullseye for best snowfall
production.
Light snow will persist henceforth in the high terrain along the
ID/MT as well as along the Divide Tuesday through Wednesday under
unsettled northwesterly flow. The next timeframe for organized
precipitation looks to come Thursday afternoon and evening as
another disturbance brings more snow to the mountains and valleys
of western Montana and north central Idaho.
&&
.AVIATION...A subtle disturbance is making its way through the
Northern Rockies early this morning and causing scattered
showers. Yesterday's precipitation also moistened the lower levels
enough to cause patchy fog, especially around KMSO this morning.
The fog is anticipated to diminish around 03/18z. An arctic
airmass is still anticipated to move into the Northern Rockies
late this afternoon and overnight. KGPI will be the first to be impacted
by the arctic air with winds becoming easterly around 04/01z. As
the arctic air makes its way into KGPI, the precipitation should
change over from rain to snow. KMSO and KBTM appear to be impacted
by the arctic between 03/06z to 03/09z.
&&
.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Storm Watch from this evening through Sunday morning
Flathead/Mission Valleys.
Winter Storm Warning from 2 PM this afternoon to noon MST Sunday
West Glacier Region.
Winter Storm Watch from 2 PM MST this afternoon through Sunday
morning Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.
ID...None.
&&Blizzard, West Glacier Region
- When
- February 3, 11:00 AM MST to February 4, 3:00 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)
An arctic airmass rushed over the Continental Divide the morning of the 3rd, reaching Essex around 11 am and followed the U.S. Highway 2 corridor into West Glacier by 2 pm. Blizzard conditions were observed as falling snow combined with wind gusts of 45 to 55 miles per hour. A peak wind gust of 57 mph was observed at Essex with gusts over 40 mph for 9 consecutive hours, resulting in an extended period of severe driving conditions. An avalanche official reported these were the worst conditions he had seen in his 13 years in the Essex area.
Winter Storm, Butte / Blackfoot Region
- When
- February 3, 8:00 PM MST to February 4, 12:00 PM MST
- Where
- Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
An arctic air-mass moved over the Continental Divide into West-Central Montana during the evening of the 3rd, leading to snow, blowing snow, and icy roads. Wind gusts of 35 to 45 miles per hour combined with falling snow led to low visibility and drifting snow. Widespread snow amounts of 3 to 6 inches were measured with isolated totals to 12 inches.
- Blizzard
- Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Winter Weather in Wisconsin, February 3 to 4, 20185 deaths · 20 events
- Winter Weather in Iowa, February 3, 20182 deaths · 4 injured · $4,000 · 1 event
- Winter Weather in Minnesota, February 3, 20182 deaths · 1 injured · 1 event
- Winter Weather in Wisconsin, February 3, 20181 death · 1 injured · $20,000 · 1 event
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Montana, February 3 to 5, 20181 death · 14 events
- Winter Storm and High Wind in Wyoming, February 3 to 5, 2018$15,000 · 67 kt wind · 9 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in West Virginia, February 3 to 7, 201810 events
- Winter Weather in Nebraska, February 3 to 4, 20187 events
- Winter Weather in Michigan, February 3 to 4, 20186 events
- Cold in South Dakota, February 3 to 4, 20186 events
- Dense Fog in California, February 3, 20182 events
- Winter Storm in Wyoming, February 3 to 5, 20182 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: 732635, 732636.