Montana, 2025

Winter Storm in Montana, February 16 to 17, 2025

February 16 to 17, 2025 · NWS BYZ · 13 events in 13 counties and zones

An atmospheric river moved onto the west coast and across the northern Rockies. This moisture overran an arctic airmass at the surface which resulted in heavy snow across the Billings Forecast area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 13 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
13

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 BYZ wrote it up.

An atmospheric river moved onto the west coast and across the northern Rockies. This moisture overran an arctic airmass at the surface which resulted in heavy snow across the Billings Forecast area.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Southwestern Yellowstone

When
February 16, 12:00 AM MST to February 17, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Southwestern Yellowstone forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.937, -108.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Billings NWS Office reported 9 inches of snow.

Winter Storm, Northern Big Horn

When
February 16, 12:00 AM MST to February 17, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Northern Big Horn forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.424, -107.490 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall of 6 to 10 inches was reported across the area.

Winter Storm, Southern Big Horn

When
February 16, 12:00 AM MST to February 17, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Southern Big Horn forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.424, -107.490 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall of 6 to 9 inches was reported across the area.

Winter Storm, Bighorn Canyon

When
February 16, 12:00 AM MST to February 17, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Bighorn Canyon forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.326, -108.259 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Fort Smith reported 8 inches of snow.

Winter Storm, Livingston Area

When
February 16, 1:00 AM MST to February 17, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Livingston Area forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.488, -110.526 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall of 7 to 9 inches was reported across the area.

Winter Storm, Crazy Mountains

When
February 16, 1:00 AM MST to February 17, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Crazy Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
SNOTEL
Coordinates
45.923, -110.104 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The mountains received around 28 inches of snow.

Winter Storm, Absaroka / Beartooth Mountains

When
February 16, 1:00 AM MST to February 17, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Absaroka / Beartooth Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
SNOTEL
Coordinates
45.550, -109.722 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The mountains received around 1 to 2 feet of snow.

Winter Storm, Northern Stillwater

When
February 16, 1:00 AM MST to February 17, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Northern Stillwater forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.669, -109.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall around 7 inches occurred across the area.

Winter Storm, Judith Gap

When
February 16, 2:00 AM MST to February 17, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Judith Gap forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.424, -109.509 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall of 6 inches was reported across the area.

Winter Storm, Southern Wheatland

When
February 16, 2:00 AM MST to February 17, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Southern Wheatland forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.466, -109.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall of 6 inches was reported across the area.

Winter Storm, Melville Foothills

When
February 16, 2:00 AM MST to February 17, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Melville Foothills forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.140, -109.892 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall of 5 to 6 inches was reported across the area.

Winter Storm, Northern Sweet Grass

When
February 16, 2:00 AM MST to February 17, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Northern Sweet Grass forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.814, -109.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall around 7 inches was reported across the area.

Winter Storm, Golden Valley

When
February 16, 3:00 AM MST to February 17, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Golden Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.381, -109.175 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall of 6 to 7 inches was reported across the area.

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, February 2025

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1236144, 1236145, 1236146, 1236147, 1236088, 1236089, 1236091, 1236141, 1236093, 1236104, 1236128, 1236134, 1236138.