Heavy Snow — Snowy and Judith Mountains, Montana

2024-04-05 to 2024-04-06 · Snowy and Judith Mountains, Montana

Event narrative

SNOTEL equipment at Crystal Lake estimated 14 inches new snow over the 10 hours prior to verification time. The SNOTEL estimated 18 inches storm total snow. Additionally, a Co-Op observer measured 13.5 inches new snow over 24 hours ending 7 AM MDT April 7.

Wider weather episode

A negatively tilted longwave trough with an associated closed low lifted NE from ID toward the northern US. Gulf moisture was drawn northwestward across eastern portions of the plains thanks to a developing surface low across the Great Plains. Isentropic ascent and favorable upper level dynamics related in a band of snow, impacting Fergus county the greatest. mid level northwesterly flow resulted in a single wind gust in excess of 58 mph in eastern Fergus county, where snow was less impactful.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1162253. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.