A Pacific weather system arrived from the west and ushered in an unsettled weather pattern that persisted through mid-week. Strong wind occurred along the Rocky Mountain Front and portions of Central and Southwest Montana. Heavy snow also developed along the immediate eastern slopes of the Continental Divide and the southwestern mountains.

High Wind in JUDITH BASIN COUNTY AND JUDITH GAP, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 02:30:00 to 14-MAR-23 02:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station 4 WSW Geyser measured a peak gust of 68 mph.

High Wind in EASTERN GLACIER, WESTERN TOOLE, AND CENTRAL PONDERA, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 04:09:00 to 14-MAR-23 04:09:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Ambient weather station near LJ Johnson Farms measured 68 mph wind gust.

High Wind in EAST GLACIER PARK REGION, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 08:21:00 to 14-MAR-23 08:21:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station DCRM8 (Deep Creek Raws) measured 66 mph wind gust.

High Wind in SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 05:59:00 to 14-MAR-23 05:59:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station KMTFAIRF12 measured 62 mph wind gust.

High Wind in GALLATIN AND MADISON COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND CENTENNIAL MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 01:00:00 to 14-MAR-23 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet YCTIM (Yellowstone Club) measured 61 mph wind gust. 9399 ft elevation.

High Wind in CASCADE COUNTY BELOW 5000FT, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 03:46:00 to 14-MAR-23 03:46:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Reported by: NWS Employee

NWS employee via ambient weather station measured 61 mph wind gust near 6 W Sand Coulee.

High Wind in NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 06:40:00 to 14-MAR-23 06:40:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Mesonet station MTBWG (Browning) measured 59 mph wind gust.

Heavy Snow in BIG BELT, BRIDGER AND CASTLE MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 15-MAR-23 05:00:00 to 15-MAR-23 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: SNOTEL

Burst of heavy snow resulted in Sacajawea SNOTEL receiving an estimated an event total amount of 8 inches which occurred over only a few hours.

Heavy Snow in LITTLE BELT AND HIGHWOOD MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 15-MAR-23 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: SNOTEL

Onion Park and Spur Park SNOTEL sites both received 8 inches of snow for event totals. Elevation of sites are 7,640 and 8,097 feet, respectively.

Heavy Snow in HELENA VALLEY, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 17:00:00 to 15-MAR-23 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Helena Law Enforcement reported two school bus slide offs, a semi crash that took out a fire hydrant, and multiple two-vehicle crashes. CoCoRaHS station MT-LC-14 2 NNW Helena reported 6 inches of snowfall.

Heavy Snow in EASTERN TOOLE AND LIBERTY, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 18:00:00 to 15-MAR-23 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Two CoCoRaHS stations across northeast Liberty County reported event snow totals of 5 and 7.2 inches. Lesser amounts of snow occurred farther south and west.

Heavy Snow in UPPER BLACKFOOT AND MACDONALD PASS, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 22:00:00 to 15-MAR-23 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Spotter located about 11 miles west of Helena reported new snowfall of 6 inches over 12 hours.

Winter Storm in RUBY MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHERN BEAVERHEAD MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 17:00:00 to 15-MAR-23 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Sheriff's office reported a 72-car train hit a large snowdrift near the intersection of S Monida Rd and S Valley Rd. The lead engine derailed. Portions of I-15 were closed due to severe driving conditions.

Winter Storm in CASCADE COUNTY BELOW 5000FT, MONTANA
From 15-MAR-23 00:00:00 to 15-MAR-23 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Cascade County Sheriff's office reported several vehicle incidents and wrecks due to snow covered roadways.

Winter Storm in GALLATIN AND MADISON COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND CENTENNIAL MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 18:00:00 to 15-MAR-23 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous traffic wrecks across the area due to winter weather conditions. US 191 between Big Sky and Gallatin Gateway was completely shutdown at times due to accidents. 16 accidents occurred in the Big Sky area due to weather. One included six vehicles and one semi. No injuries were reported. SNOTEL sites received snow amounts ranging from 8 to 10 inches.

Heavy Snow in NORTHERN BLAINE COUNTY, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 16:00:00 to 15-MAR-23 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Observer about two miles southwest of Fort Belknap reported an event total of 6.4 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow in GATES OF THE MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 22:00:00 to 15-MAR-23 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Observer at Holter Dam reported an event total of 6 inches of snow, with a liquid equivalent of 0.45.

Heavy Snow in WESTERN AND CENTRAL CHOUTEAU COUNTY, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 22:00:00 to 15-MAR-23 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP observer located about 19 miles south of Rudyard reported an event total snow amount of 6 inches.

Heavy Snow in HILL COUNTY, MONTANA
From 14-MAR-23 22:00:00 to 15-MAR-23 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP observer located about 21 miles north of Rudyard reported an event total snow amount of 6 inches.