A deep arctic air mass combined with overrunning moisture made for a high impact event for much of western Montana with heavy snow, blowing and drifting snow, wind damage, mixed precipitation, and slick roads.

Blizzard in POTOMAC / SEELEY LAKE REGION, MONTANA
From 03-FEB-19 12:00:00 to 03-FEB-19 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

During the height of the winter storm, wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph with visibilities near zero occurred due to snow and blowing snow.  According to the Montana Department of Transportation travel was severely impacted especially on Interstate 90.

Blizzard in MISSOULA / BITTERROOT VALLEYS, MONTANA
From 03-FEB-19 09:00:00 to 03-FEB-19 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

During the height of the winter storm, winds gusted to 50 mph in the Missoula Valley, particularly in East Missoula, with visibilities of less than a quarter mile due to snow and blowing snow.  Minor power outages occurred and a few signs were damaged around Missoula. Travel was also severely impacted with numerous accidents.

Winter Storm in POTOMAC / SEELEY LAKE REGION, MONTANA
From 03-FEB-19 04:00:00 to 04-FEB-19 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Icy conditions were common on area roads as freezing rain proceeded an arctic blast. Once gusty winds arrived, falling and blowing snow combined to produce near zero visibility at times on Interstate 90, making travel nearly impossible.  Snowfall amounts of up to 12 inches were observed.

Winter Storm in MISSOULA / BITTERROOT VALLEYS, MONTANA
From 03-FEB-19 08:00:00 to 04-FEB-19 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Light freezing rain proceeded the blast of arctic air and accompanying snowfall.  Winds gusting from 40 to 50 mph were common in the Missoula Valley, accompanied by moderate to heavy snowfall. General snowfall amounts were 2 to 5 inches with higher amounts to 7 inches in the southern Bitterroot Valley. Minor power outages also occurred because of the high winds.

Winter Storm in FLATHEAD/MISSION VALLEYS, MONTANA
From 02-FEB-19 00:30:00 to 04-FEB-19 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Similar to other areas, freezing rain caused slick travel in the Flathead and Mission Valleys overnight  before the arctic cold front blasted through the area. Winds with the front peaked at 54 mph at the Glacier Park International airport. Besides temperatures  falling into the teens, the strong winds contributed to multiple downed large trees, and severe blowing and drifting snow.  The drifting prompted the Flathead County Sheriff to close Hodgson Road later Sunday. Six foot snow drifts were reported outside of Ronan in the Mud Lake area.  Many schools from Polson to Arlee were preemptively delayed or closed for Monday classes.

Winter Storm in WEST GLACIER REGION, MONTANA
From 02-FEB-19 22:00:00 to 04-FEB-19 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The event started out with freezing rain along US-2 between West Glacier and Marias Pass Saturday night. Strong winds, estimated to 50 mph by an NWS employee vacationing near Essex, ushered in sub-zero temperatures and wind chills between 20 and 40 below zero.  A local ski resort had to close three of their chairs and cancel an outdoor event because of the high winds and cold. This region saw anywhere from 1 to 4 inches of snowfall on top of the freezing rain.

Winter Storm in KOOTENAI/CABINET REGION, MONTANA
From 02-FEB-19 23:00:00 to 04-FEB-19 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Before the bitterly cold arctic winds and snow began, temperatures rose into the 40s and 50s.  The arctic air rushed westward causing temperatures to drop and moisture to freeze on roadways, particularly impacting US-93. The strong winds caused blowing and drifting snow especially north of Whitefish on US-93 on the 3rd. Snow amounts ranged from 3 inches in Libby up to 8 inches along Highway 56 near Bull Lake.

Winter Storm in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 03-FEB-19 01:00:00 to 03-FEB-19 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Easterly winds came over the Divide ushering in sub-zero temperatures and wind chills between 25 and 40 below zero. The highest wind gust observed was 63 miles per hour at Helmville.  This combined with falling and blowing snow to produce visibilities below a quarter mile at times and treacherous travel conditions. General snowfall across the region ranged between 4 to 8 inches.

Winter Storm in LOWER CLARK FORK REGION, MONTANA
From 02-FEB-19 08:30:00 to 04-FEB-19 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Precipitation began as freezing rain ahead of cold arctic winds and heavy snow. Easterly winds gusted to 50 mph at Thompson Falls as temperatures plummeted turning roads to ice. High winds also led to a few downed trees and brief power outages. Heavy snowfall of 6 to 12 inches accumulated by the end of the event.

Winter Storm in BITTERROOT / SAPPHIRE MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 03-FEB-19 09:00:00 to 04-FEB-19 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Roads froze up with ice as freezing rain proceeded arctic air and snowfall. Although snowfall amounts only ranged from 3 to 7 inches, the icy road conditions followed by snowfall made for treacherous travel over the mountain passes.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in WEST GLACIER REGION, MONTANA
From 03-FEB-19 11:00:00 to 04-FEB-19 12:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

Sub-zero temperatures and 10 to 20 mph winds combined to produce wind chill values of -30 to -40 for lower elevations on US Highway 2. Extreme values to -63 were observed at the Snow Slip observing site, located near 7000 feet.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in BUTTE / BLACKFOOT REGION, MONTANA
From 03-FEB-19 14:00:00 to 04-FEB-19 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

Sub-zero temperatures and 10 to 20 mph winds combined to produce wind chill values of -25 to -35 for lower elevations. Extreme values to -49 were observed at the MacDonald Pass observing site, located near 6300 feet.