Montana, 2026

Blizzard in Montana, April 23, 2026

April 23, 2026 · NWS GGW · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A strong low pressure system became stationary over northeast Montana and introduced much colder air from the northeast. This combined with consistently gusty winds to produce white-out blizzard conditions for some locations.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
3

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 GGW wrote it up.

A strong low pressure system became stationary over northeast Montana and introduced much colder air from the northeast. This combined with consistently gusty winds to produce white-out blizzard conditions for some locations.

What forecasters said that 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 Glasgow, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 22, 11:46 PM MST, 2 hours 44 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • A strong cold front will bring much colder conditions today. General rain this morning will transition to snow for some and linger into Saturday.
  • High Wind Warning until 8pm across NE Montana for gusts up to 60 mph.
  • Winter Weather Advisory for northern Phillips county from 6 AM to 2 PM.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 22, 11:46 PM MST, 2 hours 44 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Glasgow MT
1246 AM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...
- A strong cold front will bring much colder conditions today.
  General rain this morning will transition to snow for some and
  linger into Saturday.

- High Wind Warning until 8pm across NE Montana for gusts up to
  60 mph.

- Winter Weather Advisory for northern Phillips county from 6 AM
  to 2 PM.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW:

As a strong low pressure system slowly exits east through NE
Montana widespread rain showers with embedded isolated
thunderstorms, mostly though the early hours of the morning on
Thursday. A strong cold front will sweep down from Saskatchewan
generating rain Thursday with wet snow at highest elevations such
as Opheim. Brief, heavy snow is also possible through mid morning
which could impact the morning commute and put significant strain
on newborn livestock. This prompted a Winter Weather Advisory for
northern Valley county through the morning. Gusty winds will also
persist through the day with northwest gusts 30-50 mph. A High
Wind Warning was raised Thursday until 8pm across the area for
occasional gusts to around 60 mph being likely and pockets of
40 mph sustained winds.

Much cooler weather looks to stick around through next week, with
lows to stay at or below freezing through the forecast cycle. An
additional shortwave passing through Friday presents a chance for
more widespread snow showers. Gusty winds continue through
Friday's system as well.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS:

Blended in 25% NBM90 for day 1 wind gusts. Used a blend of HiRes
models for PoPs through 3Z tomorrow. Added more widespread showers
through 18Z.

&&

.AVIATION...
UPDATED: 0530Z

FLIGHT CONDITION: MVFR - IFR

DISCUSSION: Rain showers will continue through 20Z, with isolated
thunderstorms possible tonight. MVFR to IFR ceilings move into the
region beginning 9Z as the low pushes east, and a transition to
rain snow mix beginning after 12Z with the exact timing/locations
remain uncertain. Strong northwest winds are expected through the
evening tomorrow, with gusts reaching up to 45 kts during the
afternoon between 15Z and 0Z.

WIND: Veering toward the NW through tonight with gusts up to 25
kts increasing to 20 to 30 kts gust 45 kts by the morning.

&&

.GGW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for Central and
Southeast Phillips-Central and Southern Valley-Garfield-Northern
Phillips-Northern Valley-Petroleum-Southwest Phillips.

High Wind Warning from 6 AM this morning to 8 PM MDT this
evening for Daniels-Dawson-Eastern Roosevelt-McCone-Prairie-
Richland-Sheridan-Western Roosevelt-Wibaux.

Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM this morning to 2 PM MDT this
afternoon for Northern Valley.

&&

weather.gov/glasgow

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 22, 9:36 PM MST, 4 hours 54 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Glasgow MT
1036 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0535 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     10 SSW Cohagen          46.91N 106.68W
04/22/2026  M55 MPH          Garfield           MT   Mesonet

            Montana Mesonet station HAGM8 (Cohange S).

0600 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 ESE Hoyt              46.91N 104.75W
04/22/2026  M56 MPH          Dawson             MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station MTM28 5.2 E Hoyt (MT-MESO).

0615 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     14 W Vida               47.80N 105.79W
04/22/2026  M58 MPH          McCone             MT   Mesonet

            Montana Mesonet station VDWM8 (Vida W).

0645 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 E Enid                47.70N 104.73W
04/22/2026  M58 MPH          Richland           MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station MTLBT Lambert Mt-200 Mp
            45.0.

0655 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 N Poplar              48.18N 105.22W
04/22/2026  M58 MPH          Roosevelt          MT   Mesonet

            Montana Mesonet Station PARM8 (Poplar N).

0830 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 S Comertown           48.81N 104.25W
04/22/2026  M58 MPH          Sheridan           MT   Mesonet

            Comertown Turn-Off MT-5 MP 13.4.

0900 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 NW Scobey             48.86N 105.50W
04/22/2026  M58 MPH          Daniels            MT   Mesonet

            Scobey NW.

0410 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     7 WSW Crow Rock         46.89N 106.21W
04/22/2026  E59 MPH          Garfield           MT   Mesonet

            Rock Springs N, MT (UMT - GGW) Elev: 2769.2
            ft; Lat/Lon: 46.88529/-106.21369.

0700 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     12 SSE Sprole           47.95N 104.94W
04/22/2026  M59 MPH          Richland           MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station FW2498 Badger Creek.

0715 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 SW Savage             47.43N 104.37W
04/22/2026  M59 MPH          Richland           MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station MTSVG Savage Mt-16 Mp 29.5.

0635 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     9 NE Vida               47.92N 105.35W
04/22/2026  M60 MPH          McCone             MT   Mesonet

            Corrects previous tstm wnd gst report from 9
            NE Vida. Montana Mesonet station VDNM8 (Vida
            NE).

0650 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 WNW Midway            47.53N 104.39W
04/22/2026  M60 MPH          Richland           MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station FW8536 Savage.

0830 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 N Navajo              48.81N 105.06W
04/22/2026  M60 MPH          Daniels            MT   Mesonet

            Navajo MT-5 16.7.

0650 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 W Crane               47.57N 104.32W
04/22/2026  M61 MPH          Richland           MT   Mesonet

            Montana Mesonet station CRBM8 (Crane W).

0630 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 7 W Carlyle             46.65N 104.23W
04/22/2026  M62 MPH          Wibaux             MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station MTASH Ash Creek Mt-7 Mp
            55.2.

0720 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 NNW Fort Kipp         48.22N 104.77W
04/22/2026  M62 MPH          Roosevelt          MT   Mesonet

            Montana Mesonet station FTKM8 (Fort Kipp
            NW).

0454 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 WNW Jordan            47.33N 106.95W
04/22/2026  M64 MPH          Garfield           MT   ASOS

            ASOS station KJDN Jordan.

0750 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     10 W Medicine Lake      48.52N 104.73W
04/22/2026  M64 MPH          Sheridan           MT   Mesonet

            Montana Mesonet station MEDM8 (Medicine Lake
            W).

0758 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 SE Medicine Lake      48.49N 104.48W
04/22/2026  M64 MPH          Sheridan           MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station MLKM8 Medicine Lake 1ESE.

0820 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 NNE Bredette          48.55N 105.26W
04/22/2026  M64 MPH          Roosevelt          MT   Mesonet

            Bredette NE, MT (UMT - GGW).

0600 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     13 E Haxby              47.74N 106.15W
04/22/2026  M66 MPH          McCone             MT   Mesonet

            Montana Mesonet station MTM87 (Fort Peck S).

0648 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 E Fort Peck           48.01N 106.40W
04/22/2026  M66 MPH          McCone             MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station GGWFP 2.4 E Fort Peck
            (GGWWFO).

0858 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 SE Medicine Lake      48.49N 104.48W
04/22/2026  M66 MPH          Sheridan           MT   Mesonet

            MEDICINE LAKE, MT.

0810 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     10 W Medicine Lake      48.52N 104.73W
04/22/2026  M71 MPH          Sheridan           MT   Mesonet

            54G71 Medicine Lake W, MT (UMT - GGW).

0835 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 ENE Plentywood        48.79N 104.52W
04/22/2026  M71 MPH          Sheridan           MT   Mesonet

            Sher-Wood Airport, MT.

&&
Local storm report, Apr 22, 10:00 PM MST, 4 hours 30 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Glasgow MT
1100 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1050 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 W Content             48.02N 107.58W
04/22/2026  M72 MPH          Phillips           MT   Mesonet

            Content, MT (UMT - GGW) Elev: 705.0 ft;
            Lat/Lon: 48.01769/-107.57919.

&&

GAH
Local storm report, Apr 23, 2:15 AM MST, 15 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Glasgow MT
315 AM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0148 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 E Fort Peck           48.01N 106.40W
04/23/2026  M74 MPH          McCone             MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station GGWFP 2.4 E Fort Peck
            (GGWWFO).

0232 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 ESE Zortman           47.91N 108.50W
04/23/2026  M66 MPH          Phillips           MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station ALDM8 Zortman 1E.

0245 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 11 ENE Zortman          47.96N 108.31W
04/23/2026  M62 MPH          Phillips           MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station MTMAL 11.3 SW Phillips (MT
            DOT).

0144 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 14 NNW Hell Creek Rec A 47.80N 107.02W
04/23/2026  M61 MPH          Valley             MT   Mesonet

            Mesonet station KIGM8 King Coulee.

&&

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Northern Valley

When
April 23, 2:30 AM MST to 11:00 AM MST
Where
Northern Valley forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Co-Op observer reported white-out blizzard conditions from 2:30 am to 11:00 am local time. Nearby wind speed sensor recorded sustained winds of 35-40 mph with gusts consistently at 45 to 50 mph. Snowfall total estimated at 6 inches. Even after snowfall ended, enough dry snow was present to sustain ground blizzard conditions until 11:00 am.

Blizzard, Central and Southern Valley

When
April 23, 6:30 AM MST to 9:30 AM MST
Where
Central and Southern Valley forecast zone
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Observations from the Glasgow Airport ASOS, DOT reports of severe driving conditions and an NWS Employee confirmed near-zero visibility in blowing snow. Additionally at 9:15 AM, DOT reported a semi-truck slide-off resulting in blocked lanes of traffic.

Blizzard, McCone

When
April 23, 9:30 AM MST to 12:34 PM MST
Where
McCone forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
47.645, -105.795 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Public reported white-out blizzard conditions at the location 20 miles W of Circle. Wind speeds were sustained at 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph.

What these are

Blizzard
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, April 2026

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1320707, 1320706, 1320708.