Winter Weather — Blackfoot Region, Montana

2005-01-17 to 2005-01-18 · Blackfoot Region, Montana

Wider weather episode

The combination of cold arctic air trapped in the valleys of western Montana and warm pacific air over riding the dome of cold air, caused very hazardous winter and ice storm conditions throughout northwest and west central Montana. Freezing rain started in the Lower Clark Fork Region during the afternoon hours of January 17 and lasted until midnight. Montana Department of Transportation declared many roads in Sanders and Mineral Counties emergency travel only during the evening hours due to icy conditions from freezing rain. Freezing rain also began to fall in the Missoula and northern Bitterroot Valleys and lasted into the morning hours of January 18, creating very icy conditions. Power outages were reported in the Florence area from accumulating ice, with schools closed for the day. Schools and buses were closed down in Missoula County and in the Stevensville area for two hours due to icy roads. In the Kootenai/Cabinet Region, 2 to 5 inches of snow fell over the area during the day of January 17 before changing over to freezing rain during the evening hours. Widespread emergency travel only was declared on numerous roads in northwest Montana by the Department of Transportation from the evening of January 17 through the morning hours of January 18. 7 inches of snow fell in the West Glacier Region before changing over to freezing rain overnight. Libby, Kalispell and West Glacier received .25 inches of freezing rain by the early morning of January 18, with up to a tenth of an inch of freezing rain reported throughout west central Montana counties. Schools were closed for the entire day of January 18 in Flathead and Lincoln counties with partial closures in Lake County. The Glacier International Airport closed its runways from the eveningof January 17 through mid morning of January 18 due to icy conditions, cancelling several flights.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5437065. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.