Heavy Snow — Meagher, Montana

2021-01-18 · Meagher, Montana

Event narrative

A trained spotter at 7 SSE Neihart reported a snowfall total of 24 inches, snowfall rates briefly reached up to 4 inches per hour between 4 and 5 am MST.

Wider weather episode

A shortwave trough moved southeast from British Columbia/Alberta into Montana on the afternoon of Sunday, January 17th, 2021. This ushered in a 24 period of moist and unsettled flow aloft. Most lower elevations remained dry but moderate to heavy snow fell over the Little Belt Mountains and some of the north/northwesterly upslope foothill areas of Judith Basin and Fergus Counties. Gusty surface winds reduced visibility and made travel difficult, especially for highway 89 from Monarch to King's Hill. Snow totals ranged from 2 to 6 inches over the foothill areas to 12 to 24 inches over the higher mountains.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 929496. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.