Montana, 2024Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Montana, May 22 to 23, 2024
May 22 to 23, 2024 · NWS TFX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones
A complex pattern developed, with a shortwave within broader troughing dropping south across BC, SE into the Pac NW and finally NE from S ID through the region. An H7 low developed across the region as the upper level forcing moved through, aiding in the development of heavy snow in the mountains.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 5
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.
A complex pattern developed, with a shortwave within broader troughing dropping south across BC, SE into the Pac NW and finally NE from S ID through the region. An H7 low developed across the region as the upper level forcing moved through, aiding in the development of heavy snow in the mountains. This system was cold enough for snow levels to drop to valley floors across portions of Southwest Montana. The highest snow amounts fell across SW MT.
Heavy Snow, Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains
- When
- May 22, 8:00 PM MST to May 23, 8:56 AM MST
- Where
- Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 46.398, -111.485 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snotel equipment at Sacajawea estimated 10 inches new snow. Start time estimated.
Heavy Snow, Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains
- When
- May 22, 8:00 PM MST to May 23, 9:27 AM MST
- Where
- Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 45.325, -111.996 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snotel equipment at Carrot Basin estimated 9 inches new snow. Start time estimated.
Winter Weather, Gallatin Valley
- When
- May 22, 8:00 PM MST to May 23, 10:00 AM MST
- Where
- Gallatin Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 45.541, -111.170 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Many reports of snow were reported in the Gallatin valley. The vast majority were below 6 inches in total, but one report of 6 inches was submitted at the extreme southern end of the zone.
Heavy Snow, Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains
- When
- May 22, 8:00 PM MST to May 23, 9:45 AM MST
- Where
- Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 46.241, -111.794 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snotel equipment at Rocker peak estimated 9 inches new snow. Extreme driving conditions were reported by DOT employees for a stint around Elk park as well.
Heavy Snow, Ruby Mountains and Southern Beaverhead Mountains
- When
- May 22, 10:12 PM MST to May 23, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Ruby Mountains and Southern Beaverhead Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 45.217, -112.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snotel equipment at JL Meadow estimated 9 inches new snow. Start, end, and verification time all estimated.
- Heavy Snow
- Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
- 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.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Oklahoma, May 22 to 23, 2024$340,000 · EF2 · 62 events
- Flash Flood and Hail in Ohio, May 22, 20241 death · $51,000 · 1.25 in hail · 18 events
- Flash Flood and Hail in Tennessee, May 22, 2024$487,000 · 52 kt wind · 18 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, May 22, 2024$90,000 · EF1 · 10 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in New York, May 22, 2024$70,000 · 1 in hail · 23 events
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Arkansas, May 22, 2024$72,000 · 1.75 in hail · 17 events
- Flood and Damaging Winds in Kentucky, May 22, 2024$60,000 · 78 kt wind · 15 events
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Virginia, May 22, 2024$65,000 · 8 events
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Louisiana, May 22, 2024$10,000 · EF1 · 19 events
- Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, May 22, 2024$46,000 · 52 kt wind · 8 events
- Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in Arkansas, May 22, 2024$50,000 · 52 kt wind · 2 events
- Flood and Damaging Winds in New York, May 22, 2024$21,000 · 51 kt wind · 17 events
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: 1179996, 1179997, 1179998, 1179999, 1179995.