Heavy Snow in Snowy and Judith Mountains, Montana

SNOTEL automated equipment at Crystal Lake estimated 12 inches of new snow for an event total. Station elevation was 6,213 feet. Elsewhere, a Co-Op observer located about 11 miles south of Lewistown reported an event snow total of 8 inches.

A long duration winter storm event occurred from roughly January 26 through January 28th as a powerful storm system affected much of the western United States. Periods of snow, heavy at times (especially across the mountains) occurred. Event total snow amounts of 5 to 10 inches across area valleys and the Plains were common with upwards of 2 feet of snow falling across portions of area mountains. The snow was followed by a seasonably strong arctic outbreak. Southwest Montana felt the brunt of the arctic airmass with several locations experiencing wind chill values of -40 F or colder (isolated areas having wind chill values of -50 F to -60 F), with isolated locations reaching actual air temperatures of -40 F.