Winter Weather in Montana
Every winter weather event the National Weather Service has filed in Montana, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
The most significant on the map
The most significant winter weather 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
- 846
- Deaths
- 55
- Injuries
- 100
- Damage
- $545,000
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Montana, February 13 to 15, 2025Severe driving conditions were declared across western Montana due to snow and freezing roads, resulting in moderate impacts.
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Montana, February 6 to 7, 2025A surface low tracked across southern Idaho, bringing periods of moderate to heavy snow to Ravalli County and areas eastward to the Continental Divide.
- Winter Storm and Avalanche in Montana, February 22 to 24, 2014Heavy snow and blowing snow causes hazardous travel across western Montana. Around a foot of snow falls along the I-90 corridor.
- Winter Weather in Montana, February 14 to 15, 2026Following a period of unseasonably mild temperatures in early February, a pattern change introduced mixed precipitation to the Northern Rockies on February 14th and 15th.
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Montana, February 19 to 20, 2009An arctic cold front moved across the forecast area during the late evening hours of the 19th and early morning hours of the 20th. Upslope flow developed behind the front.
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Montana, February 15 to 18, 2025Multiple waves of subtropical moisture brought periods of moderate to heavy precipitation, primarily as snowfall across the Northern Rockies.
- Winter Weather in Montana, December 23, 2025Slick conditions contributed to several accidents across southwest Montana due to freezing rain.
- Avalanche and Winter Weather in Montana, January 6 to 8, 2012A warm southwest flow created unstable snow conditions at the higher elevations and some freezing drizzle in the valleys.
- Winter Weather in Montana, December 26 to 27, 2021Several traffic accidents occurred over a 2-day period. Two incidents resulted in two fatalities but it is unknown if these were directly weather related. Dense fog occurred during the morning of the 26th and periods of snow fell on the 26th through the 27th.
- Winter Weather in Montana, December 19 to 20, 2018Slippery road conditions from black ice contributed to a multi-vehicle accident that resulted in two fatalities and three injuries near Superior.
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Montana, January 2 to 4, 2025An anomalously moist Pacific system interacted with an arctic air mass that gradually moved west across the Continental Divide. The higher impact area with the combination of precipitation and cold air ended up being across northwest Montana due to icy roads.
- Winter Weather in Montana, January 30, 2020Two people died after a crash involving a school bus and a car on U.S. Highway 212 between Lame Deer and Ashland. The crash occurred about 6:46 a.m. on U.S. Highway 212 at about mile marker 51.
- Winter Weather and Cold in Montana, November 6 to 7, 2022A moist, mid-level occluded front interacted with arctic air entrenched across western Montana and brought periods of heavy snow, gusty winds and sub-zero wind chills.
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Montana, October 3 to 4, 2013A potent mid-level cut-off low moved from southwest Idaho to southern Lemhi county, Idaho by 6 am MDT Thursday October 3rd and then tracked southeast into southeast Idaho by Thursday night.
- Winter Weather in Montana, February 1, 2016Two people died in a fiery wreck involving a pickup and a semi on February 1st. The crash occurred on Interstate 90 near mile marker 430 just east of Park City, Montana about 945 pm.
- 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.
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Montana, December 1 to 4, 2023A northwest flow event set up across the Northern Rockies with a series of disturbances that moved in. This brought periods of heavy snow to area mountains and light to moderate snow for many valleys.
- Winter Storm and High Wind in Montana, March 11 to 14, 2026An impressive, long-duration atmospheric river brought copious snowfall and high winds to western Montana. Some high-elevation areas received a few feet of snow. Impacts from this storm included power outages and impacts to travel.
- Winter Weather in Montana, December 9 to 11, 2013Two relatively mild and moist upper level waves dropped out of Canada, and brought snow and slick roads to western Montana. When the snow started, temperatures ranged from sub-zero single digits, to above zero single digits Fahrenheit.
- Winter Weather in Montana, January 7, 2004Freezing rain turned to moderate snow over Flathead County causing numerous car accidents throughout the county from very slick roads. One fatality and six injuries were reported from automobile accidents to due icy roads.
- Winter Weather in Montana, December 4 to 5, 2014Mild and moist Pacific air moved over an arctic air mass located across western Montana and caused a myriad of precipitation types including freezing rain, sleet and snow.
- 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.
- High Wind and Winter Weather in Montana, November 21 to 23, 2023Gusty winds developed overnight as an upper level system approached the area, which brought areas of snow and wind to the region ahead of Thanksgiving.
- Winter Weather in Montana, October 25, 2023An early Fall Winter Storm impacted much of the Billings Forecast Area. The coldest air of the season invaded southern and southeastern Montana and northern Wyoming. At the same time, a strong upper low moved off the Pacific coast and across Idaho.
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.