Heavy Snow — Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains, Montana

2024-05-22 to 2024-05-23 · Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains, Montana

Event narrative

Snotel equipment at Sacajawea estimated 10 inches new snow. Start time estimated.

Wider weather episode

A complex pattern developed, with a shortwave within broader troughing dropping south across BC, SE into the Pac NW and finally NE from S ID through the region. An H7 low developed across the region as the upper level forcing moved through, aiding in the development of heavy snow in the mountains. This system was cold enough for snow levels to drop to valley floors across portions of Southwest Montana. The highest snow amounts fell across SW MT.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1179996. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.