Winter Storm in Carter, Montana

A very strong spring storm system brought significant precipitation to southeast Montana and portions of south central Montana during the first two days of the month. The heaviest precipitation occurred over the higher terrain of southeast Montana. Enough cold air was generated by the storm system that heavy snow developed. In addition, deep surface low pressure that was situated over western South Dakota resulted in strong northwest surface winds. These strong winds that combined with the snow resulted in blizzard conditions and whiteout conditions at times. Total losses for this storm are not known except for Carter County where upwards of $3 million of losses were reported.

The following is a comprehensive list of snow reports: 12 inches 24SE Ekalaka, Ridgeway, 9 ESE Webster, and in Alzada, 7 inches (2.85 of liquid) in Belltower, 6 inches 12S Plevna, and 10SE Roundup, 6 inches in Volborg with strong winds and wet snow on power poles and power lines causing three power poles to break, 8 inches in Melstone and 1S Red Lodge, 26 inches in Ekalaka (100 power poles down with 90% of the county without power. Highway 7 was closed.), 11 inches 3 ENE Mill Iron and 3E Lame Deer, 24 inches 8S Ekalaka, 9 inches in Rock Springs, 10 inches 1N Volborg(lost calf to snow), Angela, Lame Deer, 15W Biddle(lost calf to snow), and in Sonnette, and 6 inches 10N Decker.