Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains storm history
Storm events recorded in Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains, Montana between 1950 and 2025.
97
Total events
0
Tornadoes
0
Hail
0
Floods
0
Deaths
$150K
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
High Wind High Wind
Multiple sensors in this zone measured strong winds and gusts at lower elevations (Not at the high peaks), including MTBSK Big Sky Road (MT DOT), RAWS stations RRDM8 Red Rock and BTKM8 Burnt Creek, and NW Energy sensors Cornucopia Rd near Virginia City. The peak observed gust was…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Multiple SNOTEL sites estimated snowfall of 9 inches or greater, including Beaver Creek (9 inches), Black Bear (10 inches), Clover Meadow (9 inches), Shower Falls (13 inches), and Lone Mountain (9 inches).
High Wind High Wind
Ahead of the front NW Energy sensor at Cornucopia road near Virginia City measured a 65 mph gust. Behind the front RAWS station RRDM8 Red Rock measured a 58 mph gust.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Cloudrest fire was a lightning start 15 miles NW of Virginia City that began on August 14. The fire burned 3,174 acres of timber and mixed conifer forest before being declared 100% contained October 20th. The area where this fire burned was remote, hence no damages to structu…
Wildfire Wildfire
No final update was given for the Bivens Creek Fire, with estimated containment by October 15. Overall, it was estimated that 3,174 acres burned from this fire on the SE side of the Tobacco Root Mountains.
Wildfire Wildfire
The West Fork fire started on 8/19 23 miles north of West Yellowstone in the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The fire has been ongoing throughout the whole month of September. As of 9/1, the fire burned 963 acres of timber (grass and litter understory) and brush, and was 80% con…
Wildfire Wildfire
The Cloudrest fire started on 8/14 15 miles northwest of Virginia City, MT, and has been ongoing throughout the month of September. As of September 1st, the fire has burned through 3,135 acres of timber (grass and understory) and a mixed conifer forest. As of 9/31, the fire has b…
Wildfire Wildfire
The West Fork Fire in the far southern end of the Madison Range (23 miles NW of West Yellowstone) started August 19, with cause remaining unknown. So far the fire has burned 963 acres of timber and brush and as of late September (83% Containment). No damage to structures were rep…
Wildfire Wildfire
The Cloudrest fire was a lightning start in the western Tobacco Roots (15 miles NW of Virginia City). As of writing this entry the fire had burned 3,174 acres of timber and mixed conifer forest and remained uncontained. No damage to structures were reported.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Horn Fire was a lightning start fire that emerged the afternoon of August 13. The fire was just north of Raynolds Pass and burned approximately 2,800 acres of grass and brush before being declared contained on August 25. No damage to structures were reported.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Bivens Creek Fire was a lightning start fire in the southern Tobacco Roots (15 miles N of Virginia City) on August 13. 2,126 acres of timber and mixed conifer forest were burned before the fire was declared contained September 16. No damage to structures were reported.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snotel equipment at Albro Lake estimated 12 inches new snow. Criteria time is estimated.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Public report of 10 inches new snow on the NE slope of the Tobacco Roots. Criteria time is estimated.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snotel equipment at Black Bear estimated 9 inches new snow by 4 AM April 1.
High Wind High Wind
Mesonet station MTM17 BLM - Virginia City measured a 60 mph wind gust.
High Wind High Wind
Mesonet station MTM17 BLM - Virginia City City measured sustained winds of 45 mph, averaged over an hour. The sensor also measured a 67 mph gust.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Black Bear Snotel estimated 15 inches new snow over 24 hours. This was an isolated instance of heavy snow and was not representative of the entire zone.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
RAWS sensor YLWM8 Yellow Mule RAWS measured a wind chill of -35F near the Big Sky area.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snotel equipment at Black Bear estimated 9 inches new snow.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snotel equipment at Shower Falls estimated 9 inches new snow over a 24 hour period ending 3 PM January 11.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snotel equipment at Black Bear estimated 10 inches new snow.
High Wind High Wind
Mesonet station MTM17 BLM Virginia City measured multiple gust of 58 mph or greater, including a peak gust of 67 mph.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Big Sky Ski resort reported 11 inches new snow between the evening of November 4 and early morning November 6. Start, end and criteria time were all estimated due to poor radar coverage and limited report details. Additionally, severe driving conditions were reported in the West …
Wildfire Wildfire
The Meridian fire was an undetermined start wildfire that started 40 miles south of Ennis. The primary fuel involved with the fire was timber with a grass and litter understory. The fire grew to 3,900 acres before operational objectives were declared 100% complete in early Novemb…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snotel equipment at Shower Falls estimated 9 inches new snow.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Meridian Fire started October 8th 40 miles south of Ennis in the Meridian Creek drainage, with cause being undetermined. The fire grew to 3,900 acres in total before operational objectives were completed early November. Fuels involved included live trees, dead lodgepole pines…
Wildfire Wildfire
The Pedro Mine Fire was a lightning start fire (September 4th) in the southern Tobacco Root Mountains, 9 miles east of Sheridan. The fire grew to 150 acres before operational objectives were complete on the fire on October 24. The fire burned in steep, rocky terrain with little t…
Wildfire Wildfire
The Pedro Mine fire was discovered September 4 in the southern portion of the Tobacco Root Mountains, 9 miles east of Sheridan and was a lightning start. The fire totaled 150 acres burned by the time operational objectives were declared 100% complete. Fuels involved included lots…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snotel equipment at Clover Meadow estimated 14 inches new snow over 10 hours. Additionally, snotel equipment at Short Creek estimated 5 inches new snow over a similar timeframe. A trained spotter reported 8 inches new snow accumulation on an elevated surface near Big Sky around t…
High Wind High Wind
AWOS station KWYS West Yellowstone measured a 58 mph gust. Additionally, there was a report of a tree blown over onto US-191 just north of the Hebgen Lake Rd intersection around 3 PM on the 15th.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snotel equipment at Carrot Basin estimated 9 inches new snow. Start time estimated.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Three snotel sites estimated 9 inches or more of new snow. Lick Creek (14 in), Lone Mountain (13 in), and Clover Meadow (10 in) were the sites that saw the heavy snow. Lighter snow was observed at Albro Lake snotel (8 in).
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Big Sky reported 14 inches new snow at Liberty Bowl.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Two Snotels (Lone Mountain and Shower Falls) estimated new snow in excess of a foot, including a peak estimate of 15 inches (Shower Falls). Additionally, Big Sky Resort reported several observations of greater than 9 inches, including a 14 inch report at Lookout Ridge.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snotel equipment at Carrot Basin estimated 9 inches new snowfall. Start time was estimated.
High Wind High Wind
Mesonet station MTRAY Raynolds Pass measured a gust of 58 mph.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A public report was received from Big Sky Resort of 10 inches new snow by 8 AM 3/1, with 2 inch per hour rates for several hours. Additionally, several snotels, including Black Bear, Madison Plateau, Whiskey Creek, and Shower Falls estimated 9 inches of new snow or greater. The h…
High Wind High Wind
Mesonet station GNFHY 10.7 W Emigrant measured multiple gusts in excess of 58 mph, including a 62 mph gust.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snotel equipment at both Shower Falls and Carrot Basin estimated double digit new snow. Shower Falls estimated 11 inches new snow, while Carrot Basin estimated 10 inches new snow. Additionally, Big Sky Resort reported 9 inches new snow at Bavaria.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snotel equipment at Carrot Basin estimated 15 inches event total snow.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Two reports of 9 inches new snow were received. The first was a social media report at the base of the tobacco roots on the eastern side of the Ruby valley, the second was a snotel report from Albro Lake. A Winter Storm Warning was not issued for this zone given winter storm impa…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snotel equipment at Black Bear south of West Yellowstone estimated 10 inches new snow over the duration of the event.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snotel equipment at Carrot Basin estimated 9 inches new snow over 24 hours. Times estimated.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Mesonet station at Red Rock RAWS. Wind chill of -48 F.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snotels Carrot Basin, Black Bear, Madison Plateau, and Lower Twin all reported 9 inches of snow or more, with the highest total from Black Bear along the Idaho border (17 inches total).
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snotel equipment at Shower Falls estimated 13 inches of new snowfall over a touch less than 36 hours. Given this site is at 8,450 feet elevation, the only impacts were to recreation.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snotel equipment at Albro Lake estimated 9 inches new snow over 11 hours.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Multiple Snotel sites in the zone estimated snow of 10 inches or greater. Clover Meadow snotel estimated 12 inches new snow over 14 hours ending 8 AM MDT 4/19. Black Bear snotel estimated 10 inches storm total ending 3 AM 4/19 and Shower Falls snotel estimated 8 inches storm tota…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Many snotel sites estimated storm total snow that exceeds winter storm warning criteria. These sites include (Storm Total) Shower Falls (10 inches), Madison Plateau (7 inches), Black Bear (9 inches), Clover Meadow (8 inches), Lower Twin (9 inches), and Albro Lake (7 inches).
High Wind High Wind
Mesonet station mtray Raynolds pass measured sustained winds, averaged over an hour, of 40 mph.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | 0 |
| 2024 | 24 | 0 |
| 2023 | 32 | 0 |
| 2022 | 21 | 0 |