Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains storm history

Snow Squall. MDT station Spokane Creek camera showed a rapid reduction in visibility with a quick coating of snow on US 12/287.

A few sensors in this zone measured gusts of 58 mph or greater or sustaiend winds of 40 mph or greater averaged over at least an hour, including RAWS stations EKHM8 Elkhorn and GAAM8 Galena, and mesonet stations MTSPK Spokane Creek (MT DOT) and MTCLN Clancy (MT DOT). Public repor…

Snotel equipment well above pass level measured snow in excess of 9 inches, including Frohner Meadow (10 inches), and Rocker Peak (11 inches). Given impacts from this snow at and below pass level was minimal, no Winter Storm Warning was issued for this area for this event.

Snow squalls. Webcams at Butte and Homestake pass both showed rapid snow accumulation and poor visibility around 1030 am.

Snotel equipment at Tizer Basin estimated 17 inches of new snow. Criteria time was estimated.

Mesonet sensor MTELK Elk Park (MT DOT) measured a -35 F wind chill in Jefferson County.

Mesonet station MTELK Elk Park (MT DOT) measured a wind chill of -44F.

Mesonet station MTELK Elk Park (MT DOT) measured a temperature of -40F.

Mesonet station MTSPK Spokane Creek (MT DOT) measured a peak gust of 67 mph in addition to multiple gusts between 58 mph and 64 mph. The station also measured sustained winds, averaged over an hour, of 40 mph between 415 PM and 515 PM MST.

Snotel equipment at Rocker Peak estimated 11 inches new snow. Start and criteria time were estimated.

The Ratio Mountain Fire was a lightning start 15 miles NW of Whitehall. The fire started August 18 and burned 2,466 acres by the time operational objectives were completed. Fuels involved were largely snags.

The Sheep Creek Fire was a lightning start 5 miles southwest of Bernice on September 22. Fuels involved were timber with a layer of grass and litter. The fire grew to 778 acres as of the last update. Although operational objectives are only listed as 54% complete, the incident is…

Two gusts in excess of 58 mph were observed in this zone. The first at MTSPK Spokane Creek US-287 DOT sensor (63 mph), and the second at RAWS station EKHM8 Elkhorn, which measured a 60 mph gust.

The Sheep Creek fire was a lightning start (September 17) about 5 miles SW of Bernice, MT in the Boulder Mountains. The size of the fire is 778 acres as of writing, with 54% of operational objectives complete on the fire as of November 7, 2024. Fuels involved include live trees, …

The Ratio Mountain Fire 15 miles northwest of Whitehall was a lightning start (August 18) in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. As of writing, the size of the fires footprint was 2,466 acres, with operational objectives 92% complete (As of Nov 9, 2024). Fuels involved incl…

The Sheep fire was discovered September 22 about 5 miles southwest of Bernice in the Boulder Mountains and was a lightning start. As of mid-October, the fire is 667 acres and operational objectives are 40% complete. Very few critical resources are at risk from this fire.

The Ratio Mountain Fire began on August 18 and was the result of a lightning strike 15 miles NW of Whitehall. The fire has grown to 2,466 acres and is fully contained as of writing this in mid-October 2024. Fuels noted were a large concentration of standing dead trees.

The Ratio Mountain Fire began on August 18 and was the result of a lightning strike 15 miles NW of Whitehall. The fire has grown to 1,966 acres and is not fully contained as of writing this in late September, 2024. Fuels noted were a large concentration of standing dead trees.

Snotel equipment at Rocker peak estimated 9 inches new snow. Extreme driving conditions were reported by DOT employees for a stint around Elk park as well.

Trained spotter estimated 9 inches new snow overnight into the morning of the 8th.

RAWS station EKHM8 Elkhorn measured two gusts in excess of 58 mph, including a peak gust of 65 mph.

Snotel equipment at Rocker Peak estimated 9 inches storm total snow.

Estimated 12 inches of new snow in 48 hours via NOHRSC. Times estimated.

Mesonet station MTBOU Boulder Hill. Wind chill of -62F.

Snow Squall. Starting at 11:15 AM, the precipitation sensor was detected and live webcams showed precipitation increasing from the west. Road surface temperatures were recorded to be between 25 degrees at the start and 23 degrees by 12:30 PM. Wind gusts were between 10 mph and 23…

Many sources reported a combination of heavy snow and snow/ice damage, including law enforcement, trained spotters, Snotels, and the public. Multiple wrecks were reported on Homestake Pass by la enforcement the morning of 10/25. Many reports of 9 inches total were received from M…

Snotel equipment at Tizer Basin estimated 11 inches new snow over 12 hours.

Multiple snotels estimated storm total snow in excess of winter storm warning criteria. These include (Storm Total): Frohner Meadow (14 inches), Tizer Basin (14 inches), and Rocker Peak (13 inches). An additional trained spotter report was received stating 8 inches storm total sn…

Snotel site at Tizer Basin estimated a long duration event total of 22 inches. Snow began around 2pm Friday. 16 inches of heavy, wet snow from 5pm Friday through 5am Saturday. Additional 6 inches from Saturday late morning through Saturday night.

Mesonet stations MTELK Elk Park and MTBOU Boulder Hill both measured wind chills of -40 F or less. The minimum measured wind chill was -46 F at Boulder Hill.

Mesonet station MTELK Elk Park measured a wind chill of -42 F.

Snotel automated equipment at Rocker Peak estimated 7 inches of snow over 7 hours. Station elevation: 7857 ft.

A minimum wind chill of -61 F was measured by an official sensor located about 11 miles southwest of Basin.

SNOTEL automated equipment at Rocker Peak estimated 10 inches of snow over a 24-hour period. 6 inches of snow fell over an 8-hour period. Elevation of the station was 7,857 feet. SNOTEL automated equipment at Tizer Basin estimated 8 inches of snow over a 24-hour period. Elevation…

Multiple sensors measured wind chills of less than -40 F, including a DOT sensor on Boulder Hill (MTBOU) which measures a minimum wind chill of -58 F.

Frohner Meadow SNOTEL site reported 6 inches of new snow over an 8-hour period.

Snow Squall. Spotter located 1 mile north of Boulder reported visibility of 1/4 mile with estimated wind gusts of 40 mph. Resulted in 0.5 inches of snow.

Spotter reports 8.2 inches storm total snow. Additionally, a snotel in the zone, Rocker Peak, reported 14 inches of new snow.