Winter Weather in Beaverhead and Western Madison Below 6000ft, Montana

Snow squall. ASOS station KDLN Dillon Airport measured a 53 kt gust along a cold front, which resulted in a quick transition from rain to snow at the ASOS. The visibility sensor was inoperable at the time, but the sensor did estimate moderate snow as the strong winds moved through (ASOS needs visibility to be 1/2 SM to report this). Given this estimate of 1/2 SM visibility or less, it is deemed sufficient for SQW criteria.

A strengthening upper level trough across CA and vicinity sent an embedded wave northeastward toward the Northern Rockies Feb 17, which resulted in surface low pressure developing and moving across Southwest Montana. This resulted in a strong cold front progressing through the area, bringing brief snow squalls, synoptic high winds, localized impactful snow, and very cold wind chills to various portions of the region into Feb 18.