Montana, 2022Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Montana, December 17 to 19, 2022
December 17 to 19, 2022 · NWS MSO · 4 events in 4 counties and zones
Pacific moisture collided with an arctic cold front in northwest Montana, bringing heavy snow across Lincoln and Flathead Counties. Snow, blowing snow, and dangerous wind chills impacted areas along the Divide.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
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.
Pacific moisture collided with an arctic cold front in northwest Montana, bringing heavy snow across Lincoln and Flathead Counties. Snow, blowing snow, and dangerous wind chills impacted areas along the Divide.
Winter Storm, West Glacier Region
- When
- December 17, 10:00 AM MST to December 19, 9:00 AM MST
- Where
- West Glacier Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 47.971, -114.069 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy snow, along with blowing and drifting snow caused very tough driving conditions across the area, particularly from Essex to Marias Pass on US Highway 2. Wind chills fell to 30 to 35 below zero between Essex and Marias Pass and reached as low as 55 below in the mountains of Glacier National Park. Snow totals include: 15 inches in West Glacier and 15.9 inches in Essex.
Winter Weather, Lower Clark Fork Region
- When
- December 18, 9:30 AM MST to December 19, 7:00 AM MST
- Where
- Lower Clark Fork Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 47.286, -114.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
MDT webcams highlighted winter driving conditions from snowfall along the I-90 and Highway 200 corridors near the Idaho and Montana border. 3 to 4 inches of snow was reported in the Trout Creek and Noxon areas, where school was delayed 2 hours on December 19th.
Winter Weather, Kootenai/Cabinet Region
- When
- December 18, 11:00 AM MST to December 19, 7:00 AM MST
- Where
- Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- CoCoRaHS
- Coordinates
- 48.171, -114.863 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Areas of snow and blowing snow impacted travel on US 93 between Eureka and Fortine. 4 to 6 inches of snowfall was widespread across valley areas.
Winter Weather, Flathead/Mission Valleys
- When
- December 18, 2:00 PM MST to December 19, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Flathead/Mission Valleys forecast zone
- Reported by
- CoCoRaHS
- Coordinates
- 47.872, -114.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Between 2 and 4 inches of snow caused slick road conditions across the US-93 corridor. Snow and blowing snow was observed across northeast portions of the Flathead Valley, where wind chills reached 10 below zero as the arctic front passed.
- 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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Winter Weather in Michigan, December 17 to 18, 20221 death · 1 injured · $35,000 · 3 events
- Freezing Fog in Idaho, December 17, 20221 death · 1 event
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, December 17 to 19, 20228 events
- Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, December 17, 20221 event
- Heavy Rain in American Samoa, December 17 to 18, 2022$10,000 · 1 event
- Heavy Snow in Idaho, December 17 to 21, 20221 event
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: 1063129, 1062975, 1064477, 1062976.