This winter storm had a favorable combination of moisture and cold arctic air. An upper level low off the west coast extended a piece of energy into the region Friday through the weekend. This low provided ample pacific moisture and enhanced lift from an upper level warm front. Meanwhile, a cold front pushed from north to south and brought rapidly cooling temperatures along with strong��gusty��winds. The hardest hit area was north and west of a Helena��to Havre line,��where the presence of a barrier jet enabled��blizzard conditions to��develop. The end result was widespread snow for three days, with areas of blowing snow, and sub-zero temperatures once the snow ended.

Winter Storm in EASTERN GLACIER, MONTANA
From 12-MAR-20 23:00:00 to 14-MAR-20 07:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The Cut Bank Airport estimates a two day total of 12 inches of snow accumulation. Snow depth was only 4 inches due to blowing and drifting.

Heavy Snow in JUDITH BASIN, MONTANA
From 13-MAR-20 22:00:00 to 13-MAR-20 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public estimates 14 inches of snow accumulation at 5 SW Stanford.

Winter Storm in FERGUS, MONTANA
From 15-MAR-20 16:00:00 to 15-MAR-20 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A snow accumulation of 13 inches measured at the Grass range COOP.

Winter Storm in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 13-MAR-20 08:00:00 to 15-MAR-20 20:50:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The Great Falls Airport measured a storm total of 11.5 inches of snow accumulation.

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK, MONTANA
From 15-MAR-20 02:26:00 to 15-MAR-20 02:26:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter at 1 SW Helena measured 12 inches of snow accumulation.

Winter Storm in TOOLE, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-20 05:00:00 to 14-MAR-20 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A COOP observer at 12 E Ledger measured 12 inches of snow accumulation.

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-20 16:00:00 to 14-MAR-20 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A coop observer at 1 NW Choteau measured 13 inches of snow accumulation.

Blizzard in EASTERN TETON, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-20 06:00:00 to 14-MAR-20 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

AWOS site at 6 NNE Fairfield (Hotel K1HM) reports blizzard conditions from 6 am to 11 am MST. The blizzard conditions may have began earlier but there was a station outage during the overnight hours.

Blizzard in SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-20 06:00:00 to 14-MAR-20 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

An AWOS station at 9 NNE Augusta (Foxtrot (K1FM) reported blizzard conditions from 6 am to 12 pm. The blizzard conditions may have begun earlier but there was a station outage during the overnight hours.

Blizzard in EASTERN GLACIER, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-20 05:00:00 to 14-MAR-20 11:35:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard conditions were reported at the Cut Bank Airport from 5 am to 1135 am MST.

Winter Storm in BROADWATER, MONTANA
From 13-MAR-20 17:56:00 to 13-MAR-20 17:56:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Poor visibility and slippery road conditions may have contributed to a multi vehicle crash on US highway 12 near mile marker 58. There were two fatalities in this collision.

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-20 02:40:00 to 14-MAR-20 02:40:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Montana highway 200 was closed from mile marker 200 to the highway 279 junction due to severe winter driving conditions.

Blizzard in NORTH ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-20 05:00:00 to 14-MAR-20 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

The blizzard conditions observed in the Eastern Glacier and Southern Rocky Mountain Front zones will be used to verify blizzard conditions over the southern portion of the Northern Rocky Mountain Front zone due to similar synoptic setup and lack of reporting stations in that particular area.

Winter Storm in CASCADE, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-20 00:00:00 to 14-MAR-20 00:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Severe winter driving conditions reported on interstate 15 from mile marker 247 to 257.

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT, MONTANA
From 13-MAR-20 20:10:00 to 13-MAR-20 20:10:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Severe winter driving conditions were reported on US highway 89 from mile marker 31 to 62.

Winter Storm in EASTERN TETON, MONTANA
From 13-MAR-20 20:10:00 to 13-MAR-20 20:10:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Severe winter driving conditions were reported on US highway 89 from mile marker 23 to 31.

Blizzard in EASTERN PONDERA, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-20 05:00:00 to 14-MAR-20 11:35:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

The blizzard conditions observed in the Eastern Glacier zone will be used to verify blizzard conditions over the Eastern Pondera zone due to similar synoptic setup and lack of reporting stations in that particular area.

Winter Storm in HILL, MONTANA
From 13-MAR-20 08:00:00 to 15-MAR-20 20:52:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Storm total 8.2 inches of snow accumulation measured at the Havre Airport.

Heavy Snow in CHOUTEAU, MONTANA
From 13-MAR-20 08:00:00 to 15-MAR-20 06:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A storm total of 11.4 inches of snow accumulation measured at Loma.

Winter Storm in EASTERN TETON, MONTANA
From 15-MAR-20 06:00:00 to 15-MAR-20 06:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A storm total of 12 inches of snow accumulation was measured at 3 ENE Dutton.