Heavy Snow — Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine, Montana

2025-12-12 to 2025-12-13 · Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine, Montana

Event narrative

Trained spotter 9 SW Chinook reported 8 inches new snow during the day on the 12th, ending at the report time. Start and criteria time are estimated.

Wider weather episode

An initial Canadian cold front brought a much colder airmass southward through North-central Montana to nearly the I-90 corridor on the 11th. As a mid level warm front overran this airmass, instances of heavy snow were observed from the 12th into the 13th. Cold air near the surface and warm nose aloft between the Helena area and Townsend area resulted in significant icing the morning of the 12th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1300724. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.