Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Montana, April 19 to 21, 2023

Name: Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Montana, April 19 to 21, 2023
Start: 2023-04-19T01:50
End: 2023-04-21T07:35
Location: Montana

April 19 to 21, 2023 · NWS GGW · 8 events in 6 counties and zones

A late season winter storm brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions to areas of northeast Montana.

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 GGW wrote it up.

A late season winter storm brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions to areas of northeast Montana.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 heavy snow, 2 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Western Roosevelt

When: April 19, 1:50 AM MST to April 20, 12:25 PM MST
Where: Western Roosevelt forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.295, -105.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trained spotter reported 6.0 inches of snow at 15 ESE Bredette. Times are estimated.

Heavy Snow, Daniels

When: April 19, 1:50 AM MST to April 20, 10:53 AM MST
Where: Daniels forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.784, -105.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Across Daniels County, measured snowfall amounts ranged from 6.0 to 8.0 inches. The greatest amount of 8.0 inches was measured by a trained spotter at 1 E Peerless. Times are estimated.

Heavy Snow, Northern Valley

When: April 19, 3:20 AM MST to April 20, 10:20 AM MST
Where: Northern Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trained spotters reported 6.0 inches of snow at 6 ESE Port of Opheim, 1 N Baylor, and 5 SSE Opheim. Times are estimated.

Heavy Snow, Sheridan

When: April 19, 3:20 AM MST to April 20, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Sheridan forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.721, -104.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Across Sheridan County, measured snowfall amounts ranged from 5.5 to 10.0 inches. The greatest amount of 10.0 inches was measured by a trained spotter at 4 WSW Port of Raymond. Times are estimated.

Blizzard, Sheridan

When: April 19, 4:55 AM MST to 11:35 AM MST
Where: Sheridan forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 48.721, -104.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Intermittent blizzard conditions were reported on the morning of the 19th, at the Sher-Wood Airport (KPWD) AWOS.

Blizzard, Sheridan

When: April 19, 5:00 AM MST to April 20, 12:30 PM MST
Where: Sheridan forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.721, -104.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trained spotter reported blizzard conditions from the morning to early afternoon of the 19th at Medicine Lake.

Heavy Snow, Little Rocky Mountains

When: April 19, 7:30 AM MST to April 20, 9:00 AM MST
Where: Little Rocky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.259, -107.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Across the Little Rocky Mountains, measured snowfall amounts ranged from 3.5 to 8.0 inches. The greatest amount of 8.0 inches was measured by a trained spotter in Zortman. Times are estimated.

Heavy Snow, Richland

When: April 19, 5:20 PM MST to April 21, 7:35 AM MST
Where: Richland forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.788, -104.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Across Richland County, measured snowfall amounts ranged from 6.0 to 7.0 inches. The greatest amount of 7.0 inches was measured by a trained spotter at 13 S Sprole. Times are estimated.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Blizzard: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Montana in 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings in Montana, April 2023

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1088868, 1088875, 1088858, 1088862, 1088576, 1088865, 1088874, 1088872.