An upper level low dropped out of British Columbia on Sunday, October 27th and sank south to Nevada by the morning of the 28th. This allowed an arctic air-mass to spill over the Continental Divide causing strong down-slope winds to occur on the west side of the Mission Mountains. As a result, multiple reports of trees were reported on the east and southeastern side of Flathead Lake. Near blizzard conditions across Silver Bow County caused numerous automobile accidents.

High Wind in FLATHEAD/MISSION VALLEYS, MONTANA
From 27-OCT-13 13:00:00 to 27-OCT-13 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A person from the public in Columbia Falls reported a wind gust to 62 mph at 5:35 pm MDT on Oct. 27th according to their personal weather station. The Flathead Electric Cooperative reported nearly 800 power outages from the storm in the Columbia Falls and Marion areas.  They reported approximately 5,000 co-op members lost power, most through the night, as trees or limbs hit power lines. The ASOS weather sensor at the Glacier Park International Airport measured a wind gust to 48 mph from the northeast at 4:44 pm MDT on Oct 27th.

Heavy Snow in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 28-OCT-13 05:00:00 to 28-OCT-13 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The Montana Highway Patrol and Butte-Silver Bow County police responded to a combined total of almost 40 accidents Monday with most of them occurring on the morning of the 28th. The trained spotter at the Bert Mooney airport estimated 6 inches of snowfall.

Winter Weather in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 27-OCT-13 22:00:00 to 28-OCT-13 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

MacDonald Pass experienced snow with gusty winds between 20 and 33 mph which caused periods of blowing snow and visibilities less than one half mile at times.

Heavy Snow in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 28-OCT-13 05:00:00 to 28-OCT-13 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A person located at Montana Tech in Butte reported heavy snow that brought limited visibilities and impeded traffic.

Strong Wind in FLATHEAD/MISSION VALLEYS, MONTANA
From 27-OCT-13 16:00:00 to 28-OCT-13 08:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 47.00 MG
Property damage: 1.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter 8 miles south of Woods Bay reported several fallen trees, one of which totaled their carport and another broke a utility light. A neighbor reported a fallen tree that damaged the metal roof of a tractor barn. The wind gust was recorded by a Heath anemometer and the spotter's location does have some tree coverage.

Winter Weather in WEST GLACIER REGION, MONTANA
From 27-OCT-13 16:00:00 to 28-OCT-13 08:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The Montana road report for Marias Pass overnight showed snow, blowing and drifting snow. The DOT road crew estimated 3 to 4 inches at Marias Pass, although probably difficult to discern due to blowing snow. The nearby Pike Creek Snotel reported a total of 11 of snowfall with 0.30 of precipitation. The Marias Pass HADS sensor had reported 0.28 of precipitation. The Fielding RAWS station between Essex and Marias Pass reported easterly wind gusts between 20 and 33 mph.

High Wind in FLATHEAD/MISSION VALLEYS, MONTANA
From 27-OCT-13 16:00:00 to 28-OCT-13 06:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Buoy

The Flathead Lake Biological Station(FLBS) Mid-Lake buoy, located 8 miles east-southeast of Rollins, reported a peak wind of 65 mph from an easterly direction. A spokesperson from the FLBS reported that between 15 to 20 trees, consisting of both Tamarack & Fir, had fallen due to the winds. One of the trees fell onto a garage causing minor damage. The winds continued to gust over 50 mph through 7 am MDT on Oct. 28th. The FLBS Narrows buoy reported a peak wind gust to 50 mph at 7:33 pm MDT on Oct 27th from the northeast. According to the Mission Valley Power Company, more than 500 residences lost electrical service mostly along the eastern shore of Flathead Lake, with 350 of them located on Finley Point.  A 300-year-old ponderosa pine and root system crashed through electrical lines on the east side of North Finley Point Road at 7 pm MDT on Oct. 27th. A resident on the west side of Skidoo Bay reported 6 foot waves due to the persistent 40+ mph easterly winds. They also reported that they lost electricity for 14 hours.