A storm system across the Dakotas brought heavy snow, along with blowing and drifting snow, to the eastern half of Carter County.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 BYZ wrote it up.
A storm system across the Dakotas brought heavy snow, along with blowing and drifting snow, to the eastern half of Carter County.
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 Billings, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 17, 7:40 PM MST, 3 hours 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Billings MT
840 PM MDT Sat Mar 17 2018
.UPDATE...
Light rain and snow showers were ongoing across portions of the
area this evening as some weak energy and a jet max were moving
over the area. Expect isolated to scattered showers to continue
into the overnight, but any snow accumulations will generally be
minimal. Areas of fog and stratus will expand across the region
again tonight with ample moisture in the lower levels. Have gone
ahead and updated pops, sky cover, and winds to current trends.
The rest of the forecast remains on track and the previous
forecast discussion and an updated aviation discussion are below. STP
&&
.SHORT TERM...valid for Sun and Mon...
Patchy fog and low stratus persists across much of the region
today. Areas of fog are expected to return overnight tonight, with
cool and moist conditions still prevalent across much of the
region.
A piece of energy from a large upper level trof will move push into
western Montana through late this evening, bringing a round of
snow to our mountains and areas north and west of Livingston and
Roundup through the weekend. Isolated snow showers are also
possible across much of the rest of the region. Accumulations will
be light for showers across the plains. Any showers should clear
overnight as stronger energy digs south.
This system lifts north toward eastern zones on Sunday evening,
impacting the east, while main trof axis shifts into the west.
This should bring another round of snow across much of the region
Sunday evening/night through the day Monday. Best chances appear
to be across easternmost zones, with a couple inches of new snow
possible. The main trof axis finally kicks showers out of Montana
into the Dakotas on Monday evening/night.
As for temperatures not expecting much change in temperatures over
the weekend. Expecting temperature to range from the low 40s along
the mountain foothills to the mid 30s in eastern Montana through
into early next week. AAG
.LONG TERM...valid for Tue...Wed...Thu...Fri...Sat...
Not many changes in the extended, as models still have some
significant uncertainty. The flow remains unsettled through the
early part of the week and into Wednesday. Continue to have scattered
showers mainly over the mountains. As another trough moves into
the PacNW, more energy will begin to work into the area Thursday.
The models have continued to be disorganized with the precip
associated with this energy. Given the uncertainty, did not make
much of a chance from the chance PoPs. There is not a good handel
in the guidance on the timing or placement. Will continue to
monitor this system could have some impacts towards the latter
part of the week. Reimer
&&
.AVIATION...
Expect conditions to deteriorate to IFR to VLIFR over much of the
area overnight. Poor conditions will continue Sunday morning, then
gradually improve Sunday afternoon. There will be areas of mountain
obscuration through Sunday. Arthur
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
-----------------------------------------------------------
BIL 024/038 023/041 026/046 027/049 030/052 031/047 028/043
21/B 22/O 21/B 10/U 11/B 23/O 32/O
LVM 024/044 023/044 026/048 027/053 030/056 031/048 026/043
32/R 32/O 22/W 11/B 13/R 33/O 32/O
HDN 023/039 022/041 021/045 021/048 024/051 026/046 023/043
31/B 22/S 21/B 00/U 11/B 23/O 22/O
MLS 022/034 023/034 020/037 019/042 023/042 026/039 023/038
22/S 32/S 21/B 00/U 01/B 33/O 31/E
4BQ 024/036 023/037 021/042 021/046 024/049 028/045 024/042
23/O 43/S 21/B 00/U 01/B 23/O 42/O
BHK 021/032 022/032 017/035 017/039 021/040 024/039 021/037
24/S 63/S 22/J 00/U 01/B 33/O 42/S
SHR 024/040 022/040 021/045 022/049 026/054 030/049 025/043
22/R 22/S 31/B 10/U 11/B 23/O 32/O
&&
.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...None.
WY...None.
&&
weather.gov/billingsThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Snow amounts up to 10 inches were reported near the Dakota border.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, March 2018
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: 743926.