Flooding occurred across many areas of south central and southeast Montana during the latter portions of the month. A considerable snow cover existed through the month.
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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.
Flooding occurred across many areas of south central and southeast Montana during the latter portions of the month. A considerable snow cover existed through the month. Surface and sub-surface ground temperatures remained frozen through the last week of March. Warming temperatures resulted in this snow to quickly melt. Widespread flooding occurred due to the snow melt not being able to soak into the ground. In addition, the warm temperatures allowed river ice to break loose resulting in ice jams along a few rivers. Many creeks and ditches filled with water with some roads being washed out. Although some outbuildings and a house were flooded, most of the flooding occurred over open ranch land.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding due to an ice jam was reported on the Yellowstone River east of Amelia Island just north of Hysham. Low-land flooding along the river and adjacent farm fields was reported. One home experience some flooding. Otherwise, no major impacts were reported with this ice jam.
Significant impacts occurred across portions of Big Horn County due to a deep snow cover melting on frozen ground, as well as an ice jam on the Little Big Horn River. Due to the ground being frozen, the water from the melting snow could not soak into the ground. This resulted in many areas flooding. Although most of the flooding occurred across open range land, some flooding did impact roads, some homes, and commerce. |Impacts occurred mainly from the ice jam on the Little Big Horn River and its tributaries which resulted in stranding some people in their homes. In addition, flooding from the Little Big Horn River inundated Interstate 90 at exit 510 at Crow Agency across both the east and west bound lanes. The interstate was closed from Hardin to the Wyoming line for several days. Highway 212 had water over it as well. These closures resulted in significant impacts to commerce. The Crow Tribe Executive Branch declared a State of Emergency. The Red Cross set up a shelter in Hardin for those affected by the Little Big Horn River flooding.
Many roads along the foothills were washed out or severely damaged due to rain and snowmelt on top of ground that remained frozen. Approximately 12 roads were damaged, 9 of which had to be closed. The county applied for a disaster declaration due to the extent of the damage. Damage amounts totaled $804,387.00.
Widespread flooding occurred across the eastern and southern portions of Powder River County. Many rural areas flooded with rivers and creeks flooding some homes. The Powder River and Little Powder River had water out of their banks. Barns and sheds in low-lying areas flooded. Many gravel and back roads flooded and were washed out, resulting in many people not being able to leave their homes.
Flooding occurred across much of the southeastern portion of the county. Granary, Pained Robe, Custer-Gultch, and Rothemay and Williams roads were washed out in many areas. Culverts were also washed out.
Many areas across the eastern half of the county experienced flooding. County Department of Emergency Services reported that two major tributaries flowing into Box Elder Creek and the Little Missouri River resulted in both of these waterways to flow out of their banks near Albion and Ekalaka. In addition, Highway 323 near Bell Tower was closed due to flood waters crossing the highway.
Many roads were either washed out or had 10 foot ruts in them. A temporary bridge on Convict Grade Road was washed away.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, March 2019
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 813273, 814217, 814911, 813304, 814000, 814699, 814909.