Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Montana, January 2 to 4, 2025

The total snowfall from the storm included 8.3 inches in Kila, 6 to 7 inches in Marion, 5.5 inches in Eureka, and 4 inches in Libby. The Cabinet Mountains received 10 to 14 inches of snowfall from this event. On Friday afternoon, the 3rd, rain fell along US-2 west of Marion. After dark, black ice developed in some areas.

Winter driving conditions were reported across the region. The conditions worsened at night due to re-freezing roads. The arctic intrusion was not particularly strong along and west of the Divide. At MacDonald Pass, northeast winds reached up to 14 mph, but wind chills dropped to around 12 below zero. Total snowfall was approximately 4 inches in Anaconda, while the mountains generally received 6 to 10 inches.

Light snow fell intermittently until the morning of February 3, when it intensified in the Bitterroot Valley. A spotter on the west side of Stevensville reported 7 inches of total snowfall over 36 hours from the event. By late afternoon, a mixture of freezing rain, ice pellets, and snow was reported and continued into the evening. After dark, reports indicated that side roads had frozen over, with snow accumulating on top. Total snowfall from the event ranged from 4 to 7 inches.

Snow intensity became heavy at Lookout Pass by the afternoon but decreased by late evening. The combination of wet roads re-freezing at sunset, falling snow, and rain likely contributed to very slick conditions and a double fatality(indirect) on Evaro Hill. A semi-truck jackknifed, rotated into the oncoming lane, and slid down US-93, crashing into a truck and killing a 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old woman. Traffic was blocked for three hours, from 5 to 8 p.m. MST, on Friday evening. Snowfall totals included: 3 to 6 inches along Highway 200 west of Thompson Falls and around 10 inches at Lookout Pass.

Slick roads were reported via webcams and total snowfall amounts ranged from 4.5 inches in Turah, to 6.4 inches in Seeley Lake to 6.8 inches in Potomac.

Multiple reports of icy roads appeared on social media, including references to white-knuckle driving in the Mission Valley. One person mentioned that their truck began sliding, and they saw another truck in a ditch near Bigfork. Multiple slide-offs were also reported across the Flathead Valley. The icy roads developed after dark as sub-freezing air, with gusts up to 20 mph flowing out of the Glacier Region, solidified the wet roads. Snowfall totals ranged from 4 to 7 inches in the Flathead Valley and 6 to 8 inches in the Mission Valley.

Roads became slick by Friday evening, February 3, in the Swan Valley and along US-2 from Columbia Falls to West Glacier. The fresh snowfall of 4 to 8 inches, combined with strong winds gusting up to 35 mph, caused blowing and drifting snow, reducing visibility along the US-2 corridor especially east of West Glacier to Marias Pass. Wind chills dropped to the negative single digits Friday night. The surrounding mountains received 0.60 to 1.00 inches of snow water equivalent which could equate to 6 to 12 inches.