A very strong arctic cold front moved into Northeast Montana in the early morning hours of Saturday December 13, 2008. The cold front brought snow, very strong winds, and extreme cold temperatures to the region. Blizzard conditions occurred throughout the day Saturday into Sunday with extreme wind chills experienced towards the end of the blizzard event.  Winds speed were generally stronger north of the Missouri River, but overall winds were 25 to 40 mph with continuous wind gusts up to 50 mph. Visibilities were below a quarter mile for the majority of the event. Snow totals ranged from 4 and 12 inches with drifts in some areas up to 3 feet.  Hinsdale had the most snow with 12 inches, and the highest wind gust was 54 mph at the Manning Corral site in southern Phillips County.  Roads were closed throughout the area during the height of the blizzard on the afternoon of the 13th through the morning of the 15th, including Montana Highway 191 north and south of Malta, US Highway 2 around Malta, Montana Highway 24 north of Glasgow and Montana Highway 5 from Opheim to the Daniels/Sheridan County line.

Blizzard in SHERIDAN, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 02:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of four to seven inches were reported in the county.  Winds were in the 20 to 30 mph range with frequent gusts over 40 mph, reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile through much of the event.

Blizzard in EASTERN ROOSEVELT, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 02:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Five to ten inches of new snowfall was reported with drifts of one to two feet. Sustained winds were from 25 to 435 mph with gusts to near 50 mph, reducing visibilities to less than a quarter mile through much of the event. Many area events were canceled.

Blizzard in RICHLAND, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 08:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Four to five inches of snowfall occurred.  Winds were 20 to 30 mph with gusts to around 40 mph.

Blizzard in DAWSON, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 08:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 02:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Three to eight inches of snowfall were reported.

Blizzard in WESTERN ROOSEVELT, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 02:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Two to nine inches of snowfall were reported.  Northwest winds of 25 to 40 mph and gusts to near 50 mph caused visibilities to be less than a quarter mile for many hours during the event.  Many events were canceled due to the weather.

Blizzard in MCCONE, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 07:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 02:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Four to eight inches of new snowfall was reported with snow drifts of over one foot. Northwest winds were 20 to 30 mph with gusts to near 45 mph throughout the event.

Blizzard in CENTRAL AND SE PHILLIPS, MONTANA
From 12-DEC-08 23:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totals were from five to eight inches of snow.  Drifts were reported to be up to 5 feet in some areas.

Blizzard in NORTHERN PHILLIPS, MONTANA
From 12-DEC-08 23:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Five to eight inches of new snow with visibilities of a quarter mile to a half mile through the day.

Blizzard in GARFIELD, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 03:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Four to six inches of snowfall were reported, with drifts of one to two feet. Northwest winds were from 25 to 40 mph throughout the county with gusts to around 45 mph through the event.

Blizzard in DANIELS, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 01:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Three to nine inches of snowfall were reported with drifts of one to three feet.  Visibilities were below a quarter mile through much of the event.

Blizzard in NORTHERN VALLEY, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 00:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Four to six inches of new snow were reported. Visibilities were reduced to a quarter mile for well over 12 hours during the event, and drifts were in the 2 to 3 foot range.

Blizzard in CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VALLEY, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 01:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totals from four to twelve inches were reported across the area, with snow drifts of one to three feet.  The most snow was twelve inches in the Larb Hills.  A wind gust of 50 mph was recorded at the King Coulee RAWS site. Blizzard conditions caused many event cancellations and travel was not advised.

Blizzard in PETROLEUM, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 03:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Four to six inches of snowfall was reported.  Drifts were one to two feet high.  The area had northwest winds of 25 to 30 mph with frequent gusts to around 45 mph.

Blizzard in LITTLE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 03:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Four to five inches of new snow occurred with sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph. The highest wind gust was 54 mph at the Manning Corral RAWS site.

Blizzard in WIBAUX, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 11:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 02:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Four to six inches of snowfall was reported.

Blizzard in PRAIRIE, MONTANA
From 13-DEC-08 10:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 02:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Two to nine inches of snowfall was reported.  Northwest winds were 25 to 35 mph with gusts to around 45 mph throughout the event.