Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Montana, December 1 to 2, 2022

Name: Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Montana, December 1 to 2, 2022
Start: 2022-12-01T00:00
End: 2022-12-02T00:00
Location: Montana

December 1 to 2, 2022 · NWS MSO · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

An anomalous moisture plume and arctic airmass brought several feet of snow to northwest Montana. Elsewhere, moderate snow brought slick travel along the Interstate 90 and US-93 corridors.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MSO wrote it up.

An anomalous moisture plume and arctic airmass brought several feet of snow to northwest Montana. Elsewhere, moderate snow brought slick travel along the Interstate 90 and US-93 corridors.

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 Nov 30, 5:06 PM MST, 6 hours 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 30, 5:06 PM MST, 6 hours 54 minutes before

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In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 30, 8:30 PM MST, 3 hours 30 minutes before

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Local storm report, Nov 30, 8:32 PM MST, 3 hours 28 minutes before

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Local storm report, Nov 30, 8:37 PM MST, 3 hours 23 minutes before

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Local storm report, Nov 30, 9:20 PM MST, 2 hours 40 minutes before

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Local storm report, Nov 30, 10:56 PM MST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

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Local storm report, Nov 30, 11:58 PM MST, 2 minutes before

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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 winter weather, 2 winter storm, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Kootenai/Cabinet Region

When: December 1, 12:00 AM MST to 11:00 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)

Heavy snow, blowing and drifting snow caused very tough driving conditions across the area. Total snowfall amounts include: 22 inches Bull Lake, 12 to 18 inches Libby and Eureka, 7 to 10 inches in both Yaak and Trout Creek. Snow bands brought periods of moderate to heavy snow to US-93 between Olney and Whitefish during the evening of Dec. 1.

Winter Storm, West Glacier Region

When: December 1, 12:00 AM MST to December 2, 12:00 AM MST
Where: West Glacier Region forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A moist Pacific front, then arctic front passage initiated very heavy snow rates between 1 to 2 inches per hour, gusty winds to 25 mph with blowing and drifting snow, and very low visibility along US-2 between Hungry Horse and Marias Pass. Heavy snow showers enhanced by the existing arctic airmass caused more accumulation during the later period through early Dec. 2. Total snowfall included: 30 inches Pinnacle, 29.9 inches Essex, 17 inches West Glacier, 16 inches Coram and over 12 inches at Marias Pass.

Winter Weather, Flathead/Mission Valleys

When: December 1, 12:00 AM MST to 7:00 AM MST
Where: Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate snowfall brought snow-covered roads to the Flathead and Mission Valleys. Snowfall amounts include: 6.8 inches east of Pablo, 6 inches Creston, 5.5 inches Glacier Park International, and 3.3 inches in Ronan.

Heavy Snow, Lower Clark Fork Region

When: December 1, 12:00 AM MST to 1:25 PM 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)

Heavy snow fell with total amounts up to 18 inches in Heron, 10 inches in Superior, 8 to 10 inches between Dixon and Trout Creek and 5.6 inches in Alberton. Severe driving conditions were hoisted during the early morning hours of Dec. 1 on I-90 from Lookout Pass to milepost 33. Schools in the region were either delayed or closed because of the snow. Black ice with snow showers caused slick conditions and several semi rollovers during the evening of Dec. 1.

Winter Weather, Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys

When: December 1, 12:00 AM MST to 5:00 PM MST
Where: Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 46.560, -114.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow brought black ice and slick conditions both evenings of the 30th and Dec. 1. A weak arctic front from the north caused gusty north winds to 26 mph and falling temperatures which caused the wet roads to ice up during the late afternoon and evening of Dec. 1 in the Missoula Valley. Multiple vehicle accidents were reported via social media. Total snowfall includes: 4.7 inches four miles west of Missoula, 3.8 inches at the Missoula International Airport, and 1 inch east of Florence.

Winter Weather, Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains

When: December 1, 12:00 AM MST to 3:00 PM MST
Where: Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 46.508, -113.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Periods of moderate to heavy snow fell in the mountains. Total snow from the two day event included 12 inches at Lolo Pass and 9 inches at Lost Trail Pass.

Winter Weather, Potomac / Seeley Lake Region

When: December 1, 12:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where: Potomac / Seeley Lake Region forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 46.986, -113.597 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Periods of moderate to heavy snow through Dec. 1 brought up to 10 inches of snow four miles north of Seeley Lake, and 6 inches in both Clinton and Condon.

Winter Weather, Butte / Blackfoot Region

When: December 1, 3:30 PM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where: Butte / Blackfoot Region forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.306, -113.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow Squall Heavy snow with strong winds gusting to 30 mph produced widespread blowing snow and whiteout conditions and a dramatic drop in temperatures and icy roads across both Deer Lodge and Silver Bow counties. A weather spotter located seven miles south-southwest of Butte measured 2.5 inches of snow in 1.2 hours. They also recorded a total snowfall of 4.5 inches.

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, December 2022

Sources

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1062556, 1062560, 1062573, 1062575, 1062577, 1062791, 1062797, 1062799.