Winter Storm — Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys, Montana

2025-02-16 to 2025-02-18 · Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys, Montana

Event narrative

Severe driving conditions were reported by Montana Department of Transportation due to slick roads on the morning of February 16. Very slick conditions were reported again during the next two nights with fresh snow falling. An accident during the early morning hours of February 18 occurred near Frenchtown on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90, resulting in three fatalities.

Wider weather episode

Multiple waves of subtropical moisture brought periods of moderate to heavy precipitation, primarily as snowfall across the Northern Rockies. Nightly bouts of black ice, often covered by fresh snow, created extremely slick travel conditions.

Arctic air remained stalled along and just west of the Divide, occasionally pushing westward. These surges intensified snowfall, produced below-zero wind chills, and brought gusty winds.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1237608. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.