A strong trough dug south out of British Columbia, pulling modified arctic air across the Continental Divide. This brought periods of moderate to heavy snow to northwest Montana.
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 MSO wrote it up.
A strong trough dug south out of British Columbia, pulling modified arctic air across the Continental Divide. This brought periods of moderate to heavy snow to northwest Montana. Some locations received enough snow for slush to accumulate on roads, causing slick conditions during the day.
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 Missoula, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 15, 1:37 PM MST, 21 hours 23 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 strong wind, 1 winter storm, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour occurred during this event between Essex and Marias Pass along U.S. Highway 2. Marias Pass received 7 inches of snow, accompanied by northeast winds gusting to 25 mph. The COOP observer at Essex measured 5.1 inches of snow.
Showers formed along the cold front as it slowly shifted southwards, producing strong, gusty winds over 40 mph. Power outages were reported from near Happy's Inn eastward to Marion along U.S. Highway 2. Snow was reported at Olney and Crystal Creek, but didn't accumulate on the roads.
Georgetown Lake, MacDonald Pass, and Homestake Pass all experienced snow-covered conditions at times during the event. Strong winds up to 45 mph occurred along and west of the Continental Divide. A few power outages were reported in the Philipsburg and Butte areas.
The Heron COOP observer reported significant limb damage and one fallen tree. The utility company reported 259 customers without power during the early evening hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, April 2025
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: 1243853, 1243845, 1243862, 1243859.