A 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. The storm intensified even more as it ingested Gulf of Mexico moisture over Wyoming, allowing for wrap-around moisture to make it as far north as Butte, MT Thursday night. The storm brought snow, blowing snow and slick road conditions to portions of southwest Montana in the higher elevations.

Heavy Snow in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 03-OCT-13 03:00:00 to 04-OCT-13 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A person from the public located 19 miles south-southeast of Butte at 6,600 ft., reported 17 inches of snow (estimated). A weather spotter located one mile to the north reported that power was out for several hours on Thursday morning October 3rd. They also confirmed the report of 17 inches of snow from this event.

Winter Weather in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 03-OCT-13 02:00:00 to 04-OCT-13 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The ASOS weather sensor at the Bert Mooney Airport (5,545 ft.), located 6 miles south-southeast of Butte, Montana reported rain that changed to snow during the early morning hours of Oct. 3rd. It reported moderate snow from 9 am to 12 pm MDT on the 3rd with winds gusting out of the northerly direction between 17 and 31 mph. One to two inches of total snow fell at the airport and in the city of Butte. The Montana DOT reported snow and slush at Homestake Pass on I-90. A 60-year-old woman and her 37-year-old-son from Washington State were killed in a roll-over accident on I-90 west of Butte (west of the Ramsay exit) at 6:45 am MDT on Friday Oct. 4th. A Montana Highway Patrol trooper reported the driver was going too fast for the slick road conditions.

Heavy Snow in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 03-OCT-13 02:00:00 to 04-OCT-13 03:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Basin Creek SNOTEL located at 7,180 ft. or 23 miles south of Butte reported 21 inches in 25 hours. It reported heavy snow from 7 am to 11 am MDT and from 8 pm to 11 pm MDT on Oct. 3rd.

Winter Weather in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 03-OCT-13 02:00:00 to 04-OCT-13 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A Butte news broadcast video showed blowing snow with limited visibilities on I-15 south of Butte specifically near the Feeley exit at mile marker 112 at 10:30 am MDT on Oct. 3rd. The roads appeared to be icy and slick as well. They said that traffic was only moving at 40 mph.

Winter Weather in BITTERROOT / SAPPHIRE MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 03-OCT-13 00:00:00 to 03-OCT-13 15:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A ranch near Painted Rocks Lake on the West Fork Rd., 21 miles southwest of Conner at 4,847 ft. estimated 6 inches of snow during this event. The snow covered the road, but melted within a few days. The Skalhaho Summit SNOTEL at 7,250 ft., located 36 miles west of Georgetown Lake in the Sapphire Range reported 5 inches of snow that ended at 8 pm MDT on Oct. 3rd.

Winter Weather in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 03-OCT-13 01:17:00 to 03-OCT-13 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter on the south end of Georgetown Lake at 6,386 ft. reported a storm total snowfall of 8 with temperatures near 29 degrees F. The Peterson Meadows SNOTEL located at 7,200 ft. or about 6 miles southwest of Georgetown Lake reported a storm total of 13 inches from 2 am to 4 pm MDT on Oct. 3rd. The Barker Lakes SNOTEL at 8,250 ft. or 15 miles west-southwest of Anaconda reported a storm total snow accumulation of 10 inches from 3 am to 1 pm MDT on Oct 3rd. The Warm Springs SNOTEL located 12 miles southeast of Philipsburg at 7,800 ft. reported 6 inches of snow from 5 to 10 am MDT.