A winter storm impacted northern parts of Wyoming, producing low elevation snow up to a foot and up to 2-3 feet in the mountains. Some freezing rain was also reported during this weather system.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 BYZ wrote it up.
A winter storm impacted northern parts of Wyoming, producing low elevation snow up to a foot and up to 2-3 feet in the mountains. Some freezing rain was also reported during this weather system.
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 Billings, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 2, 6:45 PM MST, 4 hours 15 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Billings MT
745 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Rain and isolated thunderstorms (20-30%) across the region this
afternoon and early evening.
- Winter storm setting up to impact the region tonight through
Friday. Periods of moderate to heavy snow over the mountains,
Bighorn foothills, and near the Dakota border.
- Widespread gusts 25 to 40 mph, with a few gusts over 50 mph over
the Bighorn foothills Thursday through Friday.
- Wet, cool, and windy conditions will be hazardous for young
livestock. Travel may be impacted by wintry conditions.
- Turning drier and warmer over the weekend.
&&
.UPDATE...
Showers and thunderstorms continue in the southeast this evening,
with a band of frontogenesis apparent over I-90 east of Billings
to Sheridan. Severe thunderstorms are not forecast, though the
strongest storms will produce lightning and graupel to small hail
(half-inch). Expect thunderstorm activity to diminish through the
early evening hours. West to northwest winds and wrapping around
the surface low over the west, with gusts into the 40s mph with a
band of moderate to heavy snow showers. This band has moved
through Livingston and Big Timber, snow rates as high as one inch
per hour are possible, along with quick reductions in visibility
below one mile at times. Prepare for hazardous driving conditions
along I-90 eastbound into northern Carbon County.
Have removed southwestern Yellowstone County from the Winter
Weather Advisory, due to the threat for impactful snowfall
decreasing below advisory criteria. Impacts in and around Billings
are expected to remain low. Total snow accumulations up to 2
inches remain possible, with the higher hills (including Arrow
Creek Hill) having the best chance. For the higher hills south of
town and closer to Pryor, up to 5 inches of snowfall remain
forecast.
Cooler air will spread across the area later this evening,
bringing a transition from rain to rain/snow and eventually all
snow. The rest of the forecast remains on track.
Matos
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Through Next Thursday...
Active weather is expected to impact the region today and Friday
as a 500 mb trough moves through the region. Rain and snow will
impact the region this afternoon and evening with some locations
seeing their first rumbles of thunder (20-30% chance). Model
soundings are indicating instability in the atmosphere of around
500 J/kg of CAPE leading to the potential for general
thunderstorms. Severe thunderstorms are not expected.
As the 500 mb wave and surface low move to the east, winds will
switch from being predominantly easterly to more northwestern.
Cold air and pressure rises will result changing precipitation to
snow and increasing wind speeds for western parts of the forecast
area. Locations over the western foothills are expected to see
precipitation change to snow this evening with the rest of the
region following overnight. By this evening, most locations west
of Rosebud County will be experiencing wind gusts in the 30s and
40s mph. Sheridan County Wyoming is expected to receive the
highest winds with a 40% chance of getting a wind gust over 50
mph. Falling snow and strong winds may create bowing snow
visibility reductions. Winds begin to decrease across the region
tomorrow morning and afternoon.
Precipitation amounts from this system are likely (>50%) to be
greater than 0.5 inches from Billings and locations to the east.
Snow totals will be low for precipitation totals this high. This
is due to the fact that not all of the precipitation will be snow.
Locations north of I-94 and I-90 west of Billings can expect 0-3
inches of snow with locations south of I-94 getting 2-6 inches.
The chance for getting greater than 8 inches is in the 0-20%
range. Many locations in the mountains can expect snow
accumulations in excess of 12 inches.
Near to above average temperatures and dry conditions return for
the weekend with potentially much above average temperatures by
Tuesday. The next chance for precipitation is Wednesday, though
little can be said about this system at this time. Torgerson
.AVIATION...
Isolated thunderstorms are expected through 03z or so this evening
from Billings southeast into Powder River county, including
KSHR/KBIL TAF sites. Small hail to 1/2inch (graupel), wind gusts
to 40 mph and brief heavy rain are possible near storms. For KSHR
HRRR runs have been showing wind gusts as high as 47kts early this
evening with convection, but this looks localized and haven't seen
any wind gusts this strong so far this afternoon. Still, something
to keep in mind if you are flying along the eastern Bighorn
foothills this evening.
A complex storm system over the forecast area tonight through the
day on Friday. Areas west of Billings will see periods of
rain/snow showers along with gusty northwest winds through
tomorrow morning, tapering off in the afternoon to some isolated
snow bands. MVFR to IFR conditions will prevail by 03-06z with
local LIFR conditions with heavier precipitation areas. Northwest
winds gusting 25 to 40 mph will be common overnight through Friday
morning in this area.
To the east of Billings more moderate to locally heavy snowfall
is expected late tonight through tomorrow, with LIFR conditions
becoming predominant by sunrise and lasting most of the day. In
addition to the snow and stratus, northwest winds gusting 30 to 40
mph will produce areas of significantly reduced visibility in
blowing snow at times. Improving conditions expected from
northwest to southeast late afternoon through Friday evening.
Heavy mountain snow is expected with this system tonight through
Friday night, especially in the Bighorn mountains where several
feet of snow are forecast. Expect mountain obscuration through
Friday night and possibly lingering into Saturday morning.
Chambers
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS...
Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
-----------------------------------------------------------
BIL 031/047 030/062 033/058 033/058 037/073 038/056 031/048
76/W 10/U 00/U 11/B 01/B 24/W 44/W
LVM 031/048 029/057 030/060 032/060 038/068 037/055 028/049
75/W 00/U 00/U 01/B 01/N 24/W 44/W
HDN 031/044 026/061 029/059 031/060 034/074 037/056 029/049
98/W 20/U 00/U 11/B 01/B 34/W 54/W
MLS 028/039 026/056 031/053 029/051 032/071 036/052 027/047
88/J 10/U 00/B 11/B 00/B 22/W 33/W
4BQ 029/036 026/055 031/055 030/053 033/071 038/055 029/047
78/W 40/U 00/U 11/B 00/B 22/W 43/W
BHK 024/035 024/049 027/050 024/044 024/062 033/052 024/046
79/J 40/B 00/B 01/B 00/N 11/N 33/J
SHR 027/037 023/052 026/055 027/057 032/069 034/055 026/048
89/J 30/U 00/U 01/B 01/B 24/W 55/W
&&
.BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 6 PM MDT Friday FOR
ZONES 30-31-57-173.
Winter Weather Advisory in effect until midnight MDT Friday
night FOR ZONE 32.
Winter Storm Warning in effect from midnight tonight to 6 AM
MDT Saturday FOR ZONES 33-36-37.
Winter Storm Warning in effect until midnight MDT Friday
night FOR ZONES 58-138-169.
Winter Weather Advisory in effect until noon MDT Friday FOR
ZONES 63-64.
Winter Storm Warning in effect until 6 PM MDT Friday FOR
ZONES 67-68-171.
WY...Winter Storm Warning in effect until midnight MDT Friday
night FOR ZONE 199.
Winter Storm Warning in effect until 6 PM MDT Friday FOR ZONE
198.
&&
weather.gov/billingsSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Billings MT
631 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026
MTZ034-042-066-068-141-170-172-030130-
Melville Foothills-Golden Valley-Beartooth Foothills-Northern
Carbon-Crazy Mountains-Northern Stillwater-Northern Sweet Grass-
631 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026
...A BAND OF MODERATE SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS...
At 624 PM MDT, a band of moderate snow with gusty winds was located
near Big Timber, moving east at 40 mph.
This band of moderate snow and gusty winds will track east along I-
90 through Sweet Grass, Stillwater, and into northern Carbon county
through 8 PM MDT.
The snow can accumulate at a rate of one inch per hour or more with
this snow. Wind gusts to 45 mph will create significant blowing
snow, reducing visibility below a mile at times.
Be prepared for hazardous driving conditions. Consider delaying
travel if you will be going through this band of snow. If you are
driving, slow down and be on alert for other motorists. Low
visibility shortens the amount of time you have to react to
situations.
Conditions can deteriorate rapidly in winter weather situations. Be
prepared for snow covered or slushy roads.
LAT...LON 4606 11027 4605 10892 4535 10884 4543 10929
4546 10921 4542 10948 4546 10991 4549 10992
4547 10985 4548 10981 4557 10983 4562 10996
4561 11008 4555 11006 4552 11013 4557 11017
4552 11022 4553 11022
TIME...MOT...LOC 0024Z 271DEG 42KT 4581 10965
ChambersSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Billings MT
646 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026
MTZ058-138-WYZ199-030130-
Southern Rosebud MT-Sheridan Foothills WY-Southern Big Horn MT-
646 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026
...AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN BIG HORN...SOUTHERN
ROSEBUD AND NORTHEASTERN SHERIDAN COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM MDT...
At 646 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking thunderstorms 25 miles
south of Busby, or 26 miles north of Sheridan, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Birney, Tongue River Reservoir, Birney Village, Rosebud Battlefield
Park, Kirby and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
If on or near Tongue River Reservoir, get out of the water and move
indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10
miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are
close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do
not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
this storm passes.
&&
LAT...LON 4500 10715 4539 10717 4563 10623 4535 10624
4535 10628 4518 10628 4518 10626 4499 10626
4499 10623 4486 10625 4488 10715
TIME...MOT...LOC 0043Z 249DEG 22KT 4517 10689
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
ChambersThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple snotels reported 15 to 30 inches of snow (1 to 2 inches of SWE).
Multiple reports of 5 to 12 inches of snow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, April 2026
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: 1329034, 1329035.