A strong Colorado Low tracking northeast across the Great Plains brought areas of heavy snow to eastern Montana. As the storm departed the area, blizzard conditions occurred as strong winds developed causing blowing snow and low visibility.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 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 GGW wrote it up.
A strong Colorado Low tracking northeast across the Great Plains brought areas of heavy snow to eastern Montana. As the storm departed the area, blizzard conditions occurred as strong winds developed causing blowing snow and low visibility.
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 Dec 12, 9:16 PM MST, 3 hours 44 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Glasgow MT 916 PM MST Mon Dec 12 2022 .DISCUSSION... EVENING UPDATE: Scaled back POPs a little bit in the immediate 24 hours to reflect radar trends along with updated model guidance. Otherwise, no major changes to report. -thor AFTERNOON DISCUSSION: Colorado Low has taken shape over Denver and is rapidly strengthening. At this time the path of this Low is taking a more northeasterly than northerly track which means the start time for this event will be a few hours later than originally thought. Have adjusted the start of the Advisory and Warning times to line up with this and lowered POPs to reflect this. The greatest effects from this system will be felt from Tuesday night into Thursday morning. Wrap around moisture will combine with a shot of energy coming down from Canada on Wednesday and this feature may be responsible for most of our snowfall totals in the western zones while enhancing totals over our eastern zones. Winds overall will be strong enough to cause blowing snow but still not quite strong enough for Blizzard conditions. Travel will still remain difficult so anybody planning to travel should monitor the forecast closely before making plans. After this system leaves Friday there's a brief break Saturday before another system drops down from Canada on Sunday. Confidence is low on precipitation amounts but high that this system will bring a prolonged Arctic outbreak with it which will lead to the coldest temperatures so far this winter. -Bernhart && .AVIATION... UPDATED: 0400Z FLIGHT CATEGORY: MVFR-LIFR WIND: N-NW 15-20kts, gusts to 30kts. DISCUSSION: Freezing Fog will continue to be a concern over the area, especially over the Yellowstone River Terminals. Light snow will move into areas south of the Missouri River tonight and overspread the area east of a Jordan to Glasgow to Plentywood line tomorrow. Heaviest snow will be along the Yellowstone River terminals with patchy blowing snow also possible. -Bernhart/thor && .GLASGOW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM Tuesday to 5 AM MST Thursday for Central and Southern Valley...Daniels...Garfield...Northern Valley...Sheridan. Winter Storm Warning from 6 AM Tuesday to 5 AM MST Thursday for Dawson...Eastern Roosevelt...McCone...Prairie...Richland... Western Roosevelt...Wibaux. && weather.gov/glasgow
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 heavy snow, 5 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Across Prairie County, measured snowfall amounts ranged from 8.5 to 20.0 inches. The greatest amount of 20.0 inches was reported by a trained spotter at 14 NNE Ismay.
Across Dawson County, measured snowfall amounts ranged from 6.0 to 12.0 inches. The greatest amount of 12.0 inches was reported by the public, via Facebook, at 16 SE Circle, and a trained spotter at 13 E Glendive.
Across Wibaux County, measured snowfall amounts ranged from 11.0 to 17.0 inches with drifts of up to 6 feet. The greatest amount of 17.0 inches was reported by a trained spotter at 8 SSW St. Phillip.
Across Richland County, measured snowfall amounts ranged from 5.0 to 12.0 inches. The greatest amount of 12.0 inches was reported by a trained spotter at Fairview.
Across McCone County, measured snowfall amounts ranged from 2.0 to 12.0 inches. The greatest amounts of 12.0 inches was reported by trained spotters at 10 SE Circle and 4N Circle.
Across Eastern Roosevelt, measured snowfall amounts ranged from 7.0 to 12.0 inches. The greatest amount of 12.0 inches was reported by a Co-op Observer in Culbertson.
Across Western Roosevelt County, measured snowfall amounts ranged from 2.0 to 6.0 inches. The greatest amount of 6.0 inches was reported by the public at 12 E Bredette.
The Coalridge Highway (MT Highway 517) and the N. Dagmar Road (MT Highway 516) were closed due to the weather. Times are estimated.
A semi truck driver traveling on MT Highway 13 reported reduced visibility between Circle and Wolf Point, with visibility dropping to whiteout/blizzard conditions near Vida. MT Highway 13 was eventually closed between MT Highway 200 and US Highway 2 near Wolf Point. Times are estimated.
Interstate 94 was closed from Glendive to the Montana and North Dakota border and beyond due to the weather. MT Highway 7 was closed between Interstate 94 and Baker due to the weather. Times are estimated.
Interstate 94 between Glendive and the Montana and North Dakota border and beyond was closed due to the weather. MT Highway 254 was closed between MT Highway 200 and MT Highway 16 due to the weather. Times are estimated.
Public reported blizzard and whiteout conditions on US Highway 2 between Brockton and Fort Kipp. Times are estimated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, December 2022
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: 1066733, 1066730, 1066557, 1066742, 1066728, 1066578, 1066568, 1066786, 1066771, 1066790, 1066789, 1066758.