Ample moisture ahead of and behind a Canadian cold front resulted in heavy snow, mainly in the mountains, but in the Gallatin Valley as well. Snow squalls were forecast to be possible, but none were observed.
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.
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 TFX wrote it up.
Ample moisture ahead of and behind a Canadian cold front resulted in heavy snow, mainly in the mountains, but in the Gallatin Valley as well. Snow squalls were forecast to be possible, but none were observed.
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 Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 24, 1:55 PM MST, 16 hours 5 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 winter storm, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Snotel equipment at Flattop Mountain estimated 10 inches new snow over 24 hours. Snotel equipment at Badger Pass estimated 11 inches new snow over the same timeframe. Additionally, an ambient wind sensor measured a gust of 68 mph.
Snotel equipment at Mount Lockhart estimated 16 inches of new snow over 24 hours. Additionally, a personal weather station along the Southern Rocky Mountain Front measured a wind gust of 60 mph, suggesting blowing snow was also an impact.
Snotel equipment at both Shower Falls and Carrot Basin estimated double digit new snow. Shower Falls estimated 11 inches new snow, while Carrot Basin estimated 10 inches new snow. Additionally, Big Sky Resort reported 9 inches new snow at Bavaria.
Multiple trained spotters reported snow in excess of 6 inches over 6 hours. The greatest snow total was 8 inches near Church Hill. In addition to snow amounts, reduced visibility at the Bozeman Airport resulted in double digit commercial aviation diversions to nearby airports.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, February 2024
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: 1153765, 1153767, 1153769, 1153768.