A strong winter storm system moved across the area, bringing significant snowfall to the region from the morning of the 4th through the evening of the 5th. Snowfall amounts for most locations were generally 6 to 12 inches, with some areas in the southwest along the Musselshell River only receiving 2 to 4 inches.

Winter Storm in CENTRAL AND SE PHILLIPS, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 07:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 08:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Several inches of snow fell across central and southern Phillips County with this storm. Widespread snowfall amounts were 4 to 7 inches, with up to 12 inches reported at the Montana Department of Transportation site south of Malta on Highway 191. Montana road reports showed snow and blowing snow significantly impacting travel conditions as early as noon on the 4th. Highway 191 was closed due to the severe travel conditions from approximately 8:00 on the evening of March 4th and did not reopen until the early morning hours of March 6th.

Winter Storm in LITTLE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 09:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 08:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Montana road reports show blowing and drifting snow significantly impacting travel as early as noon on the 4th of March. By 8 AM on the 5th, there were multiple reports from the Zortman area of 12 to 15 inches of new snowfall with drifts over 4 feet deep.

Winter Storm in NORTHERN VALLEY, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 07:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Several inches of snow fell across northern Valley County with this storm. Snowfall amounts of up to 14 inches were reported with this storm, with 10 inches falling on the 4th alone at a cooperative observation site north of Opheim.

Winter Storm in DANIELS, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 05:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 18:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Very sparse snowfall reports came in from Daniels County for this storm. However, Montana DOT road reports showed severe driving conditions across Daniels County due to blowing and drifting snow beginning at 8:30 PM on the 4th, and lasting into the evening of the 5th.

Winter Storm in SHERIDAN, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 07:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Snow began falling in Sheridan County at around 7 AM on March 4th. Snowfall diminished overnight on the 4th, but returned with gusty winds the morning of the 5th. By 6:30 AM, blowing and drifting snow had reduced visibility to blizzard conditions, and these conditions persisted until around 6 PM on the 5th. Snow stopped falling at around 11 PM on the 5th. Four to six inches of snowfall was reported across Sheridan County from this storm.

Winter Storm in PETROLEUM, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 05:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 09:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Eight to twelve inches of snow were reported across Petroleum County, most of which fell on March 4th. Eight inches of snow was reported by a cooperative observer 6 miles NNE  of Winnett at 10PM on March 4th, and a trained spotter reported a storm total of 12 inches of snow in Winnett at 9 AM on March 5th.

Winter Storm in GARFIELD, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 05:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy snow fell across portions of Garfield County the evening of March 4th through much of March 5th. At 8:30 AM MST on the 5th, a trained spotter located 7 miles southwest of the Hell Creek Recreation Area reported an estimated 12 inches of snow with drifts six to seven feet deep and reduced visibility due to wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph. Additionally, at 5 PM MST on the 5th a cooperative observer 3 miles north of Brusett reported a 24 hour snowfall total of 12 inches.

Winter Storm in MCCONE, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 05:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall reports were very sparse across McCone County, but reports show that over 4 inches of snow fell across the area on March 4th and 5th. Blowing and drifting snow caused significantly reduced visibility and severe travel conditions, especially after 9:00 PM MST March 4th through most of the day on the 5th.

Winter Storm in RICHLAND, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 05:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Five to six inches of snow fell across Richland County on the 4th and 5th of the month. Gusty winds and the new snowfall created blizzard conditions from 6:45 AM MST on the 5th until just after 1:00 PM MST on the 5th.

Winter Storm in NORTHERN PHILLIPS, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 05:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 10:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Few snowfall reports were received from northern Phillips County. However, gusty winds, a much above normal snowpack, and fresh snow contributed to create severe driving conditions due to reduced visibility from blowing and drifting of snow across roadways. These conditions prevailed from the afternoon of March 4th through the morning of the 5th.

Winter Storm in DAWSON, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 05:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall reports were difficult to come by, with 4 to 6 inches of snow being reported across Dawson County. However, the snow and gusty winds created hazardous travel conditions due to snow blowing and drifting across roadways. Blizzard conditions were observed at Glendive through much of the early morning hours of March 5th. This was concurrent with winds gusting to 50 mph or greater. The hazardous travel conditions across Dawson County persisted from the early morning hours of March 4th through the morning hours of the 5th.

Winter Storm in EASTERN ROOSEVELT, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 05:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 18:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall amounts across eastern Roosevelt County were generally in the 6 to 10 inch range, with the cooperative observer in Culbertson reporting 8 inches of new snow on March 4th and 5th, with an additional 4 inches in the 24 hour period between 6 PM MST March 5-6. Additionally, gusty winds contributed to blowing and drifting snow across roadways throughout this period.

Blizzard in RICHLAND, MONTANA
From 05-MAR-18 06:45:00 to 05-MAR-18 13:15:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard conditions with visibility of a quarter mile or less due to blowing snow were observed by the Sidney airport AWOS. Wind gusts were 35 to 45 mph during this time. Additionally, by late morning the Richland County's Sheriff's office was advising emergency travel only due to blizzard conditions impacting travel.

Blizzard in DAWSON, MONTANA
From 05-MAR-18 05:30:00 to 05-MAR-18 17:05:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Snow and blowing snow impacted Dawson County, causing blizzard conditions through much of the 5th. The Glendive AWOS recorded sustained winds of 35 mph or greater starting at 5:30 AM and persisting into the early afternoon hours. This caused significantly reduced visibility, and visibility was below or near a quarter mile until shortly after 5 PM on the 5th.

Winter Storm in WESTERN ROOSEVELT, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 05:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Snow began falling early in the morning of March 4th. Gusty winds accompanying the snow on the 5th created blizzard conditions as visibility was consistently reduced to less than a quarter mile across the area from approximately 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM on the 5th, as recorded on the Wolf Point ASOS and the Poplar AWOS. Three to six inches of snow fell across western Roosevelt County from this storm. Snowfall diminished and ended on the evening of the 5th.

Winter Storm in WIBAUX, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 05:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Three to six inches of snow fell across Wibaux County from this storm, almost entirely between just after midnight on the morning of March 5th and 3:30 PM MST on the 5th. Of greater impact, however, were gusty winds contributing to blowing and drifting snow across roadways as early as 7:00 AM MST on March 4th. Blizzard conditions were observed much of the morning and early afternoon of the 5th, with visibility down to 50 yards or less during some of this time.

Blizzard in WIBAUX, MONTANA
From 05-MAR-18 12:58:00 to 05-MAR-18 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A cooperative observer located 9 miles northwest of Carlyle reported snow and blowing snow starting at around midnight. The majority of the snow fell after 10 AM on the 5th, and by about 8:45 PM, they reported visibility down to 50 yards due to the blowing snow.

Winter Storm in CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VALLEY, MONTANA
From 04-MAR-18 05:00:00 to 05-MAR-18 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Heavy snow fell across Valley County with this storm. Widespread snowfall amounts were over 6 inches, with the highest being 15 inches, which was measured at the Glasgow Weather Forecast Office.