A colder than normal mid and upper level low moved from western Washington early on September 25th to southern Idaho before it split into two separate systems. One moved to the north and east into eastern Montana while the other sagged south into Utah by the 26th. On the northern periphery of this system in elevations above 5,000 feet, up to 18 inches of snow fell, creating travel impacts, power outages and vegetation damage.

Heavy Snow in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 25-SEP-13 07:49:00 to 26-SEP-13 07:49:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A person from the public that lives on the southeast side of Georgetown Lake at an elevation of 6,400 feet measured 10 inches of snow with trees down on the south side of the lake.

Heavy Snow in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 25-SEP-13 11:00:00 to 26-SEP-13 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Basin Creek SNOTEL located at 7,180 ft. reported 14 inches of snow with 1.70 of snow water equivalent. The temperatures ranged from freezing to the middle 30s at this station located about 14 miles south of Butte.

Heavy Snow in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 25-SEP-13 11:00:00 to 26-SEP-13 07:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A spotter located 7 miles south of Butte at 6,200 ft. estimated greater than 6 inches of heavy snow and measured 1.73 inches of precipitation during this event. They reported that the weight of the snow collapsed their carport and at least 6 aspen trees fell over. They were not home during the event, but at 6 am MDT on September 27th they measured 6 inches.  Using the Basin Creek 8:1 snow to liquid ratio for the event, this spotter could have potentially seen 10 to 14 inches total.

Heavy Snow in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 25-SEP-13 15:02:00 to 26-SEP-13 16:36:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The MacDonald Pass weather station reported moderate to heavy snow between 9 pm MDT on the 25th and 12 am MDT on the 26th.  Road temperatures cooled to freezing at 9 pm and didn't warm up until 9 am MDT on the 26th. Montana DOT reported that chains were required on towing units and also that a semi-truck jack-knifed between 2 and 2:30 am MDT on Highway 12 near MacDonald Pass mile-marker 30 westbound.

Heavy Snow in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 25-SEP-13 21:00:00 to 26-SEP-13 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Warm Springs SNOTEL located 8 miles east-southeast of Philipsburg at 7,800 ft, reported 9 inches of snow that fell in 14 hours. It also reported a snow water equivalent of 0.70.  The sheriff in Philipsburg only reported a trace of slush for this event.

Winter Weather in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 25-SEP-13 21:00:00 to 26-SEP-13 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter located 7.4 miles northwest of Anaconda at 6,000 ft. measured 1.2 of snow. They also reported 0.70 of precipitation that comprised of both rain and snow.

Heavy Snow in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 25-SEP-13 20:30:00 to 26-SEP-13 07:09:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A person from the public 3 miles southeast of the city of Butte estimated that 5 inches of wet snow fell overnight. The Bert Mooney airport reported snow with visibilities from one mile to three-quarter mile from 9:53 pm to 11:53 pm MDT on the 25th. There were several reports of trees and tree limbs down in the area due to the heavy weight of the snow. A few trees were reported to have fallen onto power lines causing power outages. The Montana DOT reported that chains were required over Homestake Pass on I-90 and the east-bound lane closed for four hours due to a jack knifed semi 16 miles east of the pass.

Winter Weather in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 25-SEP-13 20:00:00 to 26-SEP-13 07:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A person from the public estimated 3 inches of snow fell in Walkersville at 6,300 ft. just two miles north of Butte.

Heavy Snow in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 25-SEP-13 21:00:00 to 26-SEP-13 07:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A spotter located 10 miles south of Butte at 6,500 ft. measured 10 inches of very wet snow that caused several ponderosa pine and aspen trees to either fall down or break in half. Power was out from 3 am through 5:30 am MDT on the 26th.

Heavy Snow in BITTERROOT / SAPPHIRE MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 25-SEP-13 13:36:00 to 26-SEP-13 07:31:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Webcams from Lost Trail Pass (7,090 ft.) revealed snow-covered roads for much of the evening on the 25th through the morning hours of the 26th. The nearby Saddle Mountain SNOTEL located at 7,900 ft. measured 6 inches of snow with 0.90 of snow water equivalent. The pass had to be plowed often during the night which is a rare occurrence and quite possibly due to the unseasonable nature of this event.

Heavy Snow in WEST GLACIER REGION, MONTANA
From 25-SEP-13 13:00:00 to 26-SEP-13 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

A Glacier National Park service employee reported that the Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed from Big Bend up to Logan Pass from 11:28 am MDT on the 25th until 11:17 am MDT on the 26th. They reported that at least 3 inches fell at the pass and the road was very slick and icy.

Heavy Snow in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 25-SEP-13 09:00:00 to 26-SEP-13 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A person from the public located 6 miles south-southeast of Janney at an elevation around 7,100 feet, estimated that 18 inches fell with the storm.