Blizzard in Montana
Every blizzard event the National Weather Service has filed in Montana, year by year, with the most significant episodes. 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.
The most significant on the map
The most significant blizzard episodes in Montana.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 642
- Deaths
- 3
- Injuries
- 15
- Damage
- $3.4 million
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, November 8 to 11, 2012A low pressure system from the Gulf of Alaska descended over the Rocky Mountain region, then moved northeast, emerging over the northern high plains.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, March 12 to 15, 2020This winter storm had a favorable combination of moisture and cold arctic air. An upper level low off the west coast extended a piece of energy into the region Friday through the weekend. This low provided ample pacific moisture and enhanced lift from an upper level warm front.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Montana, April 28, 2019A vigorous mid-level disturbance and attendant surface cold front moved through Montana in a northwest to southeast direction on Sunday April 28th.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, February 27 to 28, 2014A moist and warm air mass brought freezing levels up to between 6,000 and 7,000 feet MSL on Feb. 27 and brought freezing rain to western Montana.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, December 12 to 13, 2008A strong arctic front pushed through western Montana, bringing a quick burst of snow, strong winds, and reduced visibility due to blowing and drifting snow. Snowfall accumulations ranged from 6 to 12 inches in most valleys, with up to 15 inches over higher terrain.
- Blizzard and Flooding in Montana, May 6 to 8, 2024A closed upper level low lifted northeast across eastern Montana on May 6th through the 9th. This low merged with a shortwave streaming from the Pacific Northwest.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, February 15, 2001Strong winds and heavy snow lead to blizzard conditions when an arctic cold front moved into western Montana early on 02/15/01. Whiteout conditions were reported early in the morning near the continental divide and continued throughout the day, closing several highways at times.
- Blizzard in Montana, February 25 to 28, 1998A powerful winter storm brought blizzard conditions to eastern Montana. Up to a foot and a half of snow in combination with sustained winds 30 to 40 miles an hour and gusts to 50 mph reduced visibility to zero. Snow drifts ranged between 5 and 12 feet.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, March 28 to 30, 2009A second major snowstorm and blizzard within a weeks time brought heavy snow and strong winds to portions of Southern Montana and Northern Wyoming. This storm impacted areas that were hit hard by the March 23-24 storm.
- Blizzard in Montana, December 7, 2022Blizzard conditions were reported along the southern Rocky Mountain Front as a strong weather disturbance moved across the region.
- Blizzard and Flooding in Montana, May 9 to 15, 2016A very strong low pressure system from the pacific northwest stalled over southern Montana and northern Wyoming with plentiful moisture.
- Blizzard in Montana, April 9 to 10, 2005A strong and nearly stationary area of low pressure across extreme northeast Montana produced blizzard conditions in the Little Rockies and Big Sheep mountains, where up to 2 feet of wet snow was reported across the higher elevations.
- Blizzard and Extreme Cold in Montana, February 23 to 24, 2011A very moist Pacific weather system interacted with a cold Arctic air mass over western Montana to produce strong gusty winds, cold temperatures, very cold wind chill temperatures, blowing snow and local whiteout conditions.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Montana, March 11 to 15, 2026A complex, multi-day weather system moved across the region bringing rounds of wind, snow, and when combined, blizzard conditions. Strong winds aloft brought a round of high winds to the region beginning late on the 11th through the 12th.
- Blizzard in Montana, February 10 to 11, 2004A blizzard affected most of northeast Montana, beginning during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 10th. Strong low pressure dropped south out of Saskatchewan and into central North Dakota during the afternoon and evening.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, December 19 to 23, 2022Arctic air dropped south from Canada the week before Christmas bringing widespread frigid wind chills to the region. The arctic front reported in strong wind gusts and blizzard conditions in Southwest Montana.
- Blizzard in Montana, October 4 to 5, 2005An early season winter storm affected a portion of northeast Montana from late in the afternoon of October 4th through early afternoon on the 5th. An area of low pressure tracked from Colorado on the morning of the 4th to the eastern Dakotas by the morning of the 5th.
- Blizzard and Avalanche in Montana, February 21 to 23, 2021Winds began to increase over North-Central and Southwestern Montana early on Sunday February 21 as a strong upper level jet roared overhead.
- Blizzard in Montana, December 26 to 28, 2003A major winter storm, which affected all of northeast Montana, and produced blizzard conditions at times, began during the morning hours on December 26th and continued through the morning hours of the 28th.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Montana, January 9 to 11, 2013A low pressure system moving through the region brought heavy snow to the majority of Central Montana, starting in Northwest Montana and spreading south and east over time.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, December 1 to 3, 2013For the second time during the 2013/2014 winter season, a strong arctic cold front plowed south and west across western Montana. The initial push of arctic air undercut moist Pacific air causing heavy snow, blowing snow and poor visibility.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, December 29 to 30, 2010A pacific storm and an arctic cold front clashed over northeast Montana on December 29th to bring heavy snow to much of the area that continued into the night.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, November 7 to 9, 2020On November 7th, deep troughing over the western US kept Montana in an area of large scale ascent and upper level divergence, allowing H700 mb and surface low pressure systems to deepen over Eastern Idaho and move northeastward through Eastern Montana and the Dakotas.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Montana, November 8 to 10, 2012A strong Pacific storm system interacted with a cold arctic airmass to bring widespread heavy snow to the forecast area between November 8 and 10, 2012. Impacts from this storm included traffic accidents, road/school closures and aviation delays.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, December 13 to 14, 2008A major winter storm moved across South Central Montana on the 13th. The storm system brought in a period of heavy snow, blowing snow and bitterly cold temperatures.
More
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.