Montana, 2018Winter Storm in Montana, March 23, 2018
March 23, 2018 · NWS GGW · 1 event in 1 county or zone
A winter storm impacted much of northeast Montana, bringing strong winds and a few inches of snow to the area. Northeast Montana received approximately two to six inches of snow, with the greatest amounts falling across Daniels and Sheridan counties.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 winter storm impacted much of northeast Montana, bringing strong winds and a few inches of snow to the area. Northeast Montana received approximately two to six inches of snow, with the greatest amounts falling across Daniels and Sheridan counties.
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 Glasgow, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 23, 2:38 AM MST, 2 hours 22 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 23, 2:38 AM MST, 2 hours 22 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Glasgow MT
338 AM MDT Fri Mar 23 2018
.DISCUSSION...
Radar returns nicely show an area of precipitation presently
tracking across northeast Montana early this morning. Thermal
profiles support mainly snow near the Canadian border and
especially into Sheridan County. This is where 2 to 4 inches of
snow are expected, and a Winter Storm Warning exists for Sheridan
County for up to 7 or 8 inches of snow. Strong winds will also
allow for significant blowing and drifting of the snow.
Closer to Highway 2 and locations south, thermal profiles are
warmer and precipitation has thus far been mainly rain and/or a
wintry mix. From about Malta to Glasgow to Sidney, as a reference,
SREF probability product indicates a change to mainly snow by
about 15Z just as steadiest precipitation lifts to the northeast.
Thus, will maintain 1 to 2 inches of slushy, wet accumulation at
the end of the event for these locations for now. However, should
more precipitation fall as rain/wintry mix as precipitation ends
later today, little snowfall would then be expected here. This
will remain a challenge over the next few hours, but will leave
headlines alone due to uncertainty. If anything, even with mainly
rain, with surface temperatures near freezing there may still be
some slick spots out there.
Latest 00z models have the Pacific trough maintaining southwest
flow aloft extending into the CWA through the weekend. As embedded
shortwaves track out ahead of the main trough, additional shower
activity may occur at times, though amounts look to be on the
lighter side. As the trough axis translates east, a bit of
northern stream energy may approach northeast Montana for the next
precipitation chances, mainly Tuesday or Tuesday night.
For the midweek and beyond, the forecast was mainly trended to
capture latest 00z model consensus guidance which captures nearly
seasonable temperatures along with occasional showers at times
when shortwaves track through the area. Details and timing are
hard to point out precisely at larger time scales, but confidence
should improve in the coming days for this period. Maliawco
&&
.AVIATION...
IFR or lower CIGS will continue this morning along with MVFR VSBYS
at times while a wintry mix continues over the area. Even as
precipitation clears late today, low ceilings may remain in place.
East winds of 15 to 30 kts with occasional higher gusts will
gradually decrease after 15Z. Winds will eventually become
northwest at 5 to 10 kts after 00Z this evening. Maliawco
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
A Flood Watch remains in effect along the Yellowstone River for
Prairie and Dawson Counties and the Musselshell River between
Petroleum and Garfield Counties, both of which are in effect due
to the possibility of continued ice jam flooding. The watch
remains in effect through noon on Monday.
In addition, a Flood Warning remains in effect through this
evening for the Musselshell River from the Garfield and Petroleum
county lines north to Crooked Creek Recreation Area. Ice jamming
is occurring at the outlets of multiple tributaries along the
length of the Musselshell between Petroleum and Garfield Counties
and could lead to continued flooding issues along the River.
A Flood Warning is also in effect through much of Friday for the
Yellowstone River in Dawson County. Ice jamming is occurring from
the confluence of the Powder and Yellowstone rivers west, which is
slowly moving downstream.
Continued daily high temperatures around or above freezing will
lead to further rotting and breaking up of ice along the rivers.
Adding precipitation overnight tonight will increase the water
loading on the river and also add to the ice jam flooding
potential.
To monitor river stage readings, go to our Advanced Hydrologic
Prediction Service (AHPS) page at www.weather.gov/glasgow then
click on "Rivers and Lakes" then "River Observations". Data for
this page are provided by the USGS.
&&
.GLASGOW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM MDT this evening for Central
and Southern Valley...Daniels...Eastern Roosevelt...Northern
Phillips...Northern Valley...Richland...Western Roosevelt.
Flood Watch through Monday morning for Dawson...Garfield...
Petroleum...Prairie.
Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM MDT this evening for Sheridan.
&&
weather.gov/glasgow
Winter Storm, Sheridan
- When
- March 23, 5:00 AM MST to 3:00 PM MST
- Where
- Sheridan forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 48.721, -104.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snow and blowing snow reduced visibility significantly to around a quarter of a mile by 8:45 on the morning of the 23rd, as observed by the mesonet site at Plentywood. Visibility was reduced to a quarter of a mile through the rest of the morning, but significant travel impacts were reported throughout the afternoon.
- 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.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, March 23, 2018$150,000 · 1.75 in hail · 6 events
- Heavy Snow in Illinois, March 23 to 24, 2018$60,000 · 8 events
- Winter Storm in Iowa, March 23 to 24, 201824 events
- Heavy Snow in North Dakota, March 23, 201813 events
- Heavy Snow in Iowa, March 23 to 24, 201813 events
- Winter Storm in Minnesota, March 23 to 24, 201813 events
- Heavy Snow in Washington, March 23 to 24, 201813 events
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Kansas, March 23, 20181.75 in hail · 12 events
- Wildfire in Texas, March 23 to 24, 20181 injured · 1 event
- Wildfire in Texas, March 23, 20181 injured · 1 event
- Heavy Snow in Illinois, March 23 to 24, 20187 events
- Heavy Snow in South Dakota, March 23 to 24, 20186 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: 745856.