A vigorous mid-level disturbance and attendant surface cold front moved through Montana  in a northwest to southeast direction on Sunday April 28th. This brought a several hour period of strong gusty northerly winds and moderate to heavy snow, which combined to produce blizzard conditions across much of North-central Montana. During the peak of the storm, wind gusts as high as 70 mph were reported, causing isolated power outages, motor vehicle accidents and weather related closures on area roadways, and a boating incident possibly attributed to gusty winds. The timing of the cold front passage possibly enhanced the impact of this storm because most of the event occurred before daytime heating was able to warm roadway surface temperatures above freezing.

High Wind in EASTERN TETON, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 03:00:00 to 28-APR-19 03:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Non-thunderstorm wind damage. Fairfield Sun Times reported a roof ripped off of a mobile home and trees down in the Fairfield area.

High Wind in SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 05:42:00 to 28-APR-19 05:42:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

AWOS station K1FM 8 NNE Augusta reported a non-thunderstorm wind gust of 54 kt/62 mph.

High Wind in SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 09:44:00 to 28-APR-19 09:44:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

MDOT station MTSBM Sieben Flats reported a non-thunderstorm wind gust of 50 kt/58 mph.

High Wind in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 03:00:00 to 28-APR-19 03:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Power outage reported in Sun Prairie due to high winds. Estimated 52 kt/60 mph wind gusts.

High Wind in JUDITH BASIN, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 09:22:00 to 28-APR-19 09:22:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

AWOS station K1CM 2 NW Windham reported a non-thunderstorm wind gust of 54 kt/62 mph.

High Wind in FERGUS, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 15:36:00 to 28-APR-19 15:36:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

AWOS station K1LM Lima reported a non-thunderstorm wind gust of 55 kt/64 mph.

High Wind in TOOLE, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 05:29:00 to 28-APR-19 05:29:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station DW0975 Kevin reported a non-thunderstorm wind gust of 54 kt/62 mph.

High Wind in NORTH ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 00:24:00 to 28-APR-19 00:24:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

MDOT station MTBWG Browning reported a non-thunderstorm wind gust of 53 kt/61 mph.

Heavy Snow in HILL, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 13:15:00 to 28-APR-19 13:15:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported 10 inches of snow accumulation at 7 SE Rocky Boy.

Heavy Snow in CHOUTEAU, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 16:00:00 to 28-APR-19 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A coop observer at station SHSM8 11 ESE Highwood reported 29 inches of snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 13:00:00 to 28-APR-19 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter located at 4 SSE Monarch reported 18 inches of snow accumulation.

Blizzard in BLAINE, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 18:20:00 to 28-APR-19 18:20:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Blizzard conditions reported by the public at 20 N Zortman.

Blizzard in EASTERN GLACIER, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 03:45:00 to 28-APR-19 07:15:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard conditions reported at Cut Bank Airport International Airport ASOS. Visibility was a quarter mile or less, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph and gusts near 55 mph.

Blizzard in HILL, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 08:00:00 to 28-APR-19 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard conditions reported at Havre Airport ASOS. Visibility was a quarter mile or less, with sustained winds averaging 30 mph and gusts near 45 mph.

Blizzard in CHOUTEAU, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 03:00:00 to 28-APR-19 07:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard conditions reported at Carter. Visibility was a quarter mile or less, 2 inches of snow on the ground, with drifts up to 6 inches.

Blizzard in JUDITH BASIN, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 03:45:00 to 28-APR-19 15:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard conditions reported at Moccasin. Visibility was a quarter mile or less, winds averaging 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph.

Blizzard in FERGUS, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 07:45:00 to 28-APR-19 19:45:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard conditions reported at Lewistown Airport ASOS. Visibility was a quarter mile or less, with sustained winds averaging 30 mph and gusts near 45 mph.

Blizzard in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 06:12:00 to 28-APR-19 11:53:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard conditions reported at Great Falls International Airport ASOS. Visibility was a quarter mile or less, with sustained winds of 30 to 35 mph and gusts 43 to 48 mph.

Blizzard in EASTERN PONDERA, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 04:30:00 to 28-APR-19 07:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard conditions reported at Brady. Visibility was a quarter mile or less, with wind gusts 50 to 70 mph.

Blizzard in SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 05:38:00 to 28-APR-19 05:38:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard conditions reported at 4 SSE Bynum for at least three hours. Visibility was a quarter mile or less, with wind gusts from 40 to 50 mph.

Blizzard in TOOLE, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 03:09:00 to 28-APR-19 07:49:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Blizzard conditions reported at the MDOT Sunburst Sensor. Visibility was a quarter mile or less, with sustained winds above 40 mph and gusts up to 60 mph. Severe driving conditions were also reported in the area.

Blizzard in NORTH ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 00:22:00 to 28-APR-19 03:07:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Blizzard conditions reported at MDT Two Medicine Bridge Sensor. Visibility was a quarter mile or less, with sustained winds 28-39 mph and gusts 40 to 50 mph. Note that the sensor went offline at 307 AM MST while blizzard conditions were ongoing.

Blizzard in LIBERTY, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 05:01:00 to 28-APR-19 09:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Severe driving conditions reported by Montana  DOT along highway 2 at 710 AM MST from Chester to the Hill County line. The Chester CWOP station reported sustained winds of 27 to 37 mph, with gusts 39 to 53 mph.

Blizzard in EASTERN TETON, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 03:58:00 to 28-APR-19 10:58:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Blizzard conditions reported at the Hotel/Fairfield AWOS. Visibility was a quarter mile or less, with winds gusts of 47-52 mph.

Blizzard in JUDITH BASIN, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 10:34:00 to 28-APR-19 10:34:00 (MST-7)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Belt Rural Volunteer Fire Department relayed the following message via Facebook : Belt Rural and Belt Ambulance responded mutual aid to MM 15 on US Highway 87 in Judith Basin County for a MVA. The accident involved a semi and passenger car and was dispatched as extrication required. Visibility was greatly reduced and the road was icy and snow covered. Extrication was completed by JB County units prior to our arrival. 5 patients were transported to the hospital.

Winter Weather in SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 09:00:00 to 28-APR-19 09:00:00 (MST-7)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

The Montana Standard Reported the following - Late Sunday morning April 28th, two fishing boats capsized on Upper Holter Lake in Southern Lewis and Clark County. The accident resulted in one fatality and sent five others to the hospital. Winter weather conditions may have played a role in the crash.
Snow with gusty winds over 30 mph were reported in the area that morning.

High Wind in TOOLE, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 04:21:00 to 28-APR-19 04:21:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Non-thunderstorm wind gust of 56 kt/ 64 mph was reported the MDOT Sweetgrass sensor.

High Wind in EASTERN TETON, MONTANA
From 28-APR-19 09:47:00 to 28-APR-19 09:47:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

AWOS station K1JM reported a non-thunderstorm wind gust of 53 kt/61 mph.