Winter Weather — Lower Clark Fork Region, Montana

2025-01-03 to 2025-01-04 · Lower Clark Fork Region, Montana

Event narrative

Snow intensity became heavy at Lookout Pass by the afternoon but decreased by late evening. The combination of wet roads re-freezing at sunset, falling snow, and rain likely contributed to very slick conditions and a double fatality(indirect) on Evaro Hill. A semi-truck jackknifed, rotated into the oncoming lane, and slid down US-93, crashing into a truck and killing a 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old woman. Traffic was blocked for three hours, from 5 to 8 p.m. MST, on Friday evening. Snowfall totals included: 3 to 6 inches along Highway 200 west of Thompson Falls and around 10 inches at Lookout Pass.

Wider weather episode

An anomalously moist Pacific system interacted with an arctic air mass that gradually moved west across the Continental Divide. The higher impact area with the combination of precipitation and cold air ended up being across northwest Montana due to icy roads. The Glacier Region experienced freezing rain, snow, low visibility and blowing and drifting snow.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1226791. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.