Climatological Report (Annual)
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
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CXUS55 KTFX 061852
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CXUS55 KTFX DDHHMM CCA
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MTZ008>015-044>055-151800-
AREA ANNUAL CLIMATE SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
1152 AM MST MON JAN 6 2020
THIS DATA IS PRELIMINARY UNTIL CERTIFIED BY THE NATIONAL CENTERS
FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION.
...2019 WEATHER SUMMARY FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA...
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE / NORMAL/ DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL
GREAT FALLS....41.2 / 44.6... -3.4... 4TH COOLEST YEAR OF RECORD.
HAVRE..........39.8 / 43.5... -3.7...16TH COOLEST YEAR OF RECORD.
HELENA.........42.6 / 45.3... -2.8...30TH COOLEST YEAR OF RECORD.
BOZEMAN........39.8 / 42.8... -3.0... 8TH COOLEST YEAR OF RECORD.
CUT BANK.......38.3 / 42.1... -3.8...10TH COOLEST YEAR OF RECORD.
DILLON.........39.5 / 42.8... -3.3... 1ST COOLEST YEAR OF RECORD.
LEWISTOWN......39.5 / 43.1... -3.6... 7TH COOLEST YEAR OF RECORD.
W YELLOWSTONE..33.4 / 34.4... -1.0...15TH COOLEST YEAR OF RECORD.
HIGHEST / LOWEST TEMPERATURES
GREAT FALLS.... 98 ON 07/23 / -32 ON 03/03
HAVRE..........100 ON 08/02 / -41 ON 02/07
HELENA......... 96 ON 08/04 & 08/05 / -30 ON 03/04
BOZEMAN........ 96 ON 09/04 / -39 ON 03/04
CUT BANK....... 95 ON 07/23 / -33 ON 03/03
DILLON......... 92 ON 07/11 & 08/04 / -23 ON 03/04
LEWISTOWN...... 93 ON 07/23 / -34 ON 03/03
W YELLOWSTONE.. 90 ON 07/23 / -35 ON 01/01
THE AREA EXTREMES WERE 101 AT LOMA IN JULY, AND -46 AT A
LOCATION 31 MILES NORTH OF HAVRE IN FEBRUARY AND ELK PARK IN MARCH.
PRECIPITATION / NORMAL / DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL / MOST IN 24 HRS
GREAT FALLS....16.83 / 14.75 / +2.08 / 0.96 ON 06/26-27
HAVRE..........12.32 / 11.20 / +1.12 / 0.95 ON 06/21-22
HELENA.........16.50 / 11.22 / +5.28 / 1.27 ON 05/25-26
BOZEMAN........15.05 / 13.93 / +1.12 / 1.18 ON 09/20-21
CUT BANK......E13.50 / 10.85 / +2.52 / 0.73 ON 08/11-12
DILLON......... 8.81 / 10.50 / -1.69 / 0.68 ON 05/17
LEWISTOWN......18.12 / 16.85 / +1.27 / 1.05 ON 09/20-21
W YELLOWSTONE..25.35 / 21.09 / +4.03 / 1.01 ON 02/26
SOME TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION AND WIND HIGHLIGHTS AND RANKING...
BOZEMAN...TEMPERATURES AVERAGED 39.9F, THE 8TH COOLEST OF RECORD
AND COOLEST SINCE 1996.
THIS WAS THE 4TH CALMEST YEAR OF RECORD, THE CALMEST SINCE
2010.
CUT BANK..TEMPERATURES AVERAGED 38.3F, THE 10TH COOLEST OF RECORD
AND COOLEST SINCE 1996.
PRECIPITATION WAS THE WETTEST YEAR SINCE 2014.
SNOWFALL OF 99.3 INCHES WAS THE MOST IN ANY YEAR. THE OLD
RECORD WAS 79.9 INCHES SET LAST YEAR IN 2018.
DILLON....THIS WAS THE COOLEST YEAR OF RECORD. THE PREVIOUSLY COOLEST
YEAR WAS 39.8F IN 1985. DATA FOR THE YEAR 1996 IS MISSING.
GREAT FALLS...THIS WAS THE COOLEST YEAR SINCE 1996. THIS WAS THE
SNOWIEST YEAR OF RECORD. THE PREVIOUS HIGH WAS 116.5-INCHES
IN 1989.
THERE WERE 11 DAYS ON WHICH WIND GUSTS EXCEEDED 54 MPH.
THIS WAS THE MOST IN A YEAR SINCE 1991.
HAVRE.....SNOWFALL OF 76.0 WAS THE 3RD HIGHEST OF RECORD AND HIGHEST
SINCE 1982.
THIS WAS THE COOLEST YEAR SINCE 1996.
HELENA....THIS WAS THE 13TH WETTEST CALENDAR YEAR OF RECORD AND
WETTEST SINCE 1993. THIS WAS THE COOLEST YEAR SINCE 1996.
LEWISTOWN..THIS WAS ALSO THE COOLEST YEAR SINCE 1996.
SNOWFALL / DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL / MOST IN 24 HRS / MAX SNOW ON GRD
GREAT FALLS..121.1 /+58.0 / 17.7 ON 09/28-29/ 15 INCHES ON 03/03
HAVRE.........76.0 /+37.6 / 8.2 ON 09/28-29/ 13 INCHES ON 03/02
HELENA........64.6 /+26.5 / 4.6 ON 02/25 / 16 INCHES ON 03/13
BOZEMAN.......59.1 /+18.9 / 5.7 ON 02/28 24 INCHES ON 02/28
CUT BANK......99.3 /+62.4 / 14.0 ON 11/28 / 12 INCHES ON 11/29
DILLON........54.2 /+12.8 / 10.0 ON 12/24 / 13 INCHES ON 12/26
LEWISTOWN.... 78.2 /+31.0 / 6.0 ON 01/25 / 21 INCHES ON 03/04
BOZEMAN MSU.. 94.7 / +3.7 / 8.2 ON 02/27 / 33 INCHES ON 03/08
W YELLOWSTON.158.4 / -2.2 / 8.0 ON 10/09 / 58 INCHES ON 03/10
GREAT FALLS SET A NEW 24-HR SNOWFALL RECORD ON SEPTEMBER 28-29. THE
OLD RECORD WAS 16.8-INCHES SET APRIL 19-20, 1973.
AVERAGE WIND / DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL / PEAK WIND /MPH/
GREAT FALLS....10.8 MPH / -1.3 / 63 MPH ON 01/03... 5TH CALMEST YR
HAVRE..........10.2 MPH / +1.1 / 64 MPH ON 07/23...22ND WINDIEST YR
HELENA......... 6.0 MPH / -1.0 / 60 MPH ON 10/22... 2ND CALMEST YR
BOZEMAN........ 5.2 MPH / -0.7 / 59 MPH ON 10/22... 3RD CALMEST YR
CUT BANK.......11.9 MPH / -0.8 / 71 MPH ON 12/03...13TH CALMEST YR
DILLON......... 8.6 MPH / -0.4 / 60 MPH ON 07/29... 9TH CALMEST YR
LEWISTOWN...... 8.7 MPH / -0.5 / 66 MPH ON 07/13...13TH CALMEST YR
W YELLOWSTONE.. 5.5 MPH / / 53 MPH ON 04/27
LAST SPRING FROST / FIRST FALL FROST GROWING SEASON
AVERAGE AVERAGE DAYS NORMAL
GREAT FALLS....05/18 05/20 / 09/28 09/21 131 123
HAVRE..........05/18 05/15 / 09/28 09/21 131 128
HELENA.........05/03 05/15 / 09/28 09/24 146 130
BOZEMAN........05/19 06/02 / 09/28 09/11 130 101
CUT BANK.......05/20 05/24 / 09/18 09/11 119 109
DILLON.........06/12 06/08 / 09/28 09/13 110 102
LEWISTOWN......05/23 05/26 / 09/28 09/17 126 113
W YELLOWSTONE..06/25 06/24 / 08/13 07/13 47 15
DAYS OF MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE 90F OR HIGHER / 32F OR LOWER
80F OR HIGHER AT WEST YELLOWSTONE
AVERAGE AVERAGE
GREAT FALLS.... 19 18 / 66 40
HAVRE.......... 21 24 / 77 54
HELENA......... 23 24 / 61 41
BOZEMAN........ 18 22 / 70 45
CUT BANK....... 6 8 / 82 48
DILLON......... 8 8 / 75 45
LEWISTOWN...... 5 11 / 66 44
W YELLOWSTONE.. 38 40 / 127 91
DAYS WITH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE 32F OR LOWER / 0F OR LOWER
AVERAGE AVERAGE
GREAT FALLS.... 181 166 / 39 21
HAVRE.......... 196 180 / 48 31
HELENA......... 174 167 / 35 18
BOZEMAN........ 205 178 / 37 22
CUT BANK....... 191 183 / 45 27
DILLON......... 206 191 / 34 14
LEWISTOWN...... 198 181 / 40 21
W YELLOWSTONE.. 294 256 / 62 55
DAYS WITH PRECIPITATION
MORE THAN T
=>0.01 NRM =>0.10 NRM =>0.50 NRM SNOW NRM
GREAT FALLS.... 120 99 54 40 7 4 83 69
HAVRE.......... 109 84 41 33 3 4 64 55
HELENA......... 109 88 55 33 5 4 66 62
BOZEMAN........ 124 102 42 44 7 4 88 66
CUT BANK....... 103 77 40 26 4 4
DILLON......... 82 80 25 29 5 4
LEWISTOWN...... 132 113 51 47 6 4
MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
BZN 22.5 9.2 17.5 42.8 49.8 58.9 65.8 65.7 56.3 35.0 29.3 25.2
CTB 26.0 -3.8 23.7 41.1 47.7 57.5 63.3 63.9 53.1 33.3 26.5 27.3
DLN 24.9 9.9 22.3 42.3 48.4 56.6 64.6 63.7 54.7 33.4 31.1 22.5
GTF 29.6 -0.2 23.4 43.6 49.7 59.9 66.1 66.8 56.0 36.8 31.3 31.7
HVR 24.6 -5.9 21.2 44.7 50.0 61.3 68.3 68.1 57.1 37.0 25.8 24.9
HLN 24.9 6.5 21.1 45.6 52.3 63.0 69.0 69.7 59.1 38.4 31.6 30.0
LWT 27.7 1.8 23.6 42.1 46.6 57.4 64.1 64.4 53.8 34.7 29.1 29.2
WYS 13.0 14.9 18.9 34.6 41.6 49.5 58.7 57.2 47.7 26.1 24.2 16.1
MONTHLY PRECIPITATION
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
BZN 0.51 1.02 0.27 2.70 1.79 2.03 1.70 0.32 3.08 0.83 0.71 0.09
CTB 0.10 1.13 1.23 1.38 1.61 2.40 0.73 0.43 0.64 0.85 0.59 0.20
DLN 0.47 0.37 0.70 1.90 1.31 3.05 TR 0.78 0.30 0.58 0.29 0.70
GTF 0.35 1.43 0.97 1.48 3.52 3.30 0.12 0.67 1.44 0.70 0.65 0.17
HVR 0.48 1.66 0.69 0.55 1.31 1.32 0.49 0.62 1.78 0.30 0.49 0.34
HLN 0.34 1.09 1.18 1.61 3.26 3.36 0.01 0.40 0.76 0.53 0.22 0.04
LWT 0.52 1.47 0.73 1.75 5.10 5.63 0.62 1.13 1.52 0.76 1.36 0.27
WYS 2.13 2.90 1.21 1.86 3.20 2.76 0.58 0.85 0.13 1.09 1.43 1.25
MONTHLY SNOWFALL
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
BZN 8.2 24.4 2.8 2.7 0 0 0 0 1.5 6.6 9.7 0.7
MSU 11.8 29.2 9.6 6.6 0.2 0 0 0 1.2 16.4 17.5 2.5
CTB 11.9 18.1 4.3 TR 0 0 0 0 18.0 7.8 35.9 3.3
DLN 3.0 6.5 6.7 0 0 0 0 0 7.4 9.5 8.1 13.0
GTF 15.1 32.3 5.6 4.0 1.9 0 0 0 19.3 17.0 24.1 1.8
HVR 6.8 18.0 0.8 2.2 4.0 0 0 0 10.5 0.9 25.8 7.0
HLN 8.5 26.8 9.2 0 0 0 0 0 3.2 5.6 10.5 0.8
LWT 17.0 18.3 1.8 5.0 0 0 0 0 6.0 8.0 15.1 7.0
WYS 27.9 57.1 11.3 7.4 0.5 0 0 0 2.5 17.5 16.1 18.1
DAYS WITH...
ANY FOG FOG VSBY <1/4SM GLAZE THUNDER
2019 AVG 2019 AVG 2019 AVG 2019 AVG
BZN 142 106 21 32 0 1 40 32
CTB 142 102 38 24 0 0 13 17
DLN 102 73 16 10 0 0 36 32
GTF 122 95 39 19 2 2 24 18
HVR 128 95 22 18 0 2 24 30
HLN 117 79 22 14 1 1 32 25
LWT 135 106 29 20 1 1 36 28
MILESTONES REACHED DURING 2019...
BOZEMAN...
FEB...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 9.2F WAS THE SECOND COOLEST OF RECORD,
AND THE COLDEST SINCE 1989. AVERAGE IS 24.7F.
PRECIPITATION OF 1.02 INCHES WAS THE FOURTH WETTEST OF RECORD,
AND WETTEST SINCE 1986. AVERAGE IS 0.46".
SNOWFALL OF 24.4-INCHES WAS THE HIGHEST OF RECORD, EXCEEDING
THE PREVIOUS HIGH OF 15.2-INCHES SET IN 1959. AVERAGE IS
4.9-INCHES.
BOZEMAN MSU RECORDED 29.2-INCHES, EXCEEDING THEIR PREVIOUS
RECORD OF 28.1-INCHES SET IN 2003.
MAR...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 17.5F WAS THE COOLEST OF RECORD. THIS
BROKE THE PREVIOUSLY COLDEST RECORD OF 18.0F SET IN 1969.
AVERAGE IS 34.1F.
PRECIPITATION OF 0.27" WAS THE THIRD DRIEST AND DRIEST SINCE
2013. AVERAGE IS 0.91".
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 3.2 MPH WAS THE CALMEST OF RECORD. THE
PREVIOUS LOW WAS 4.7-MPH IN 1984. AVERAGE IS 6.2-MPH.
APR...PRECIPITATION OF 2.70 INCHES WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST OF RECORD,
AND WETTEST SINCE 2018. AVERAGE IS 1.57".
SEP...PRECIPITATION OF 3.08 INCHES WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST OF RECORD,
AND WETTEST SINCE 1983. AVERAGE IS 1.08 INCHES.
OCT...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 35.0F WAS THE COOLEST OF RECORD. THIS
BROKE THE PREVIOUSLY COLDEST RECORD OF 35.9F SET IN 1969.
AVERAGE IS 43.4F.
SNOWFALL OF 6.4-INCHES WAS THE EIGHTH HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
HIGHEST SINCE 1991. AVERAGE IS 2.1-INCHES.
DEC...PRECIPITATION OF 0.09" WAS THE THIRD DRIEST AND DRIEST SINCE
2002. AVERAGE IS 0.51".
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 3.7 MPH WAS THE SECOND OF RECORD, AND
CALMEST SINCE 1983. AVERAGE IS 4.9-MPH.
WATER YEAR ENDING SEP...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 5.2-MPH WAS THE THIRD
CALMEST OF RECORD AND LOWEST WATER-YEAR AVERAGE SINCE 2010.
AVERAGE IS 5.9-MPH.
WINTER (DEC-FEB)...SNOWFALL OF 37.4-INCHES WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST OF
RECORD AND HIGHEST SINCE 1952. AVERAGE IS 14.9-INCHES.
BOZEMAN MSU RECORDED 59.9-INCHES OF SNOW WHICH WAS THE EIGHTH
HIGHEST OF RECORD AND HIGHEST SINCE 2018. AVERAGE IS 39.0".
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 4.4-MPH WAS THE FIFTH CALMEST OF RECORD
AND LOWEST WATER-YEAR AVERAGE SINCE 2010. AVERAGE IS 5.0-MPH.
SPRING (MAR-MAY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 36.7F WAS THE THIRD
COLDEST OF RECORD AND COLDEST SINCE 1975. AVERAGE IS 42.7F.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 5.5-MPH WAS THE CALMEST OF RECORD. THE
PREVIOUS LOW WAS 5.7-MPH IN 2017. AVERAGE IS 6.7-MPH.
FALL (SEP-NOV)...PRECIPITATION OF 4.61-INCHES IS THE NINTH HIGHEST
OF RECORD AND HIGHEST SINCE 1983. AVERAGE IS 2.93-INCHES.
SNOWFALL OF 17.6-INCHES WAS THE FOURTH HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
HIGHEST SINCE 1975. AVERAGE IS 7.6-INCHES.
BOZEMAN MSU RECORDED 35.1-INCHES OF SNOW WHICH WAS THE SEVENTH
HIGHEST OF RECORD AND HIGHEST SINCE 2009. AVERAGE IS 18.0".
ANNUAL THUNDER DAYS OF 40 WAS THE MOST SINCE THESE RECORDS BEGAN IN
2000.
CUT BANK...
FEB...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF -3.8F WAS THE SECOND COOLEST OF RECORD,
AND THE COLDEST SINCE 1936. AVERAGE IS 24.2F.
PRECIPITATION OF 1.50 INCHES WAS THE WETTEST OF RECORD. THE
PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 1.13-INCHES IN 2018. AVERAGE IS 0.21".
SNOWFALL OF 18.9-INCHES WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST OF RECORD, AND
HIGHEST SINCE 2018. AVERAGE IS 4.8-INCHES.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 8.4 MPH TIED WITH 2010 FOR THE LOWEST OF
RECORD. AVERAGE IS 12.8-MPH.
SEP...SNOWFALL OF 18.0-INCHES TIED THE HIGHEST OF RECORD. THIS TIED
WITH 1925 FOR THE MOST SNOWFALL IN SEPTEMBER. AVERAGE IS
0.3-INCHES.
WATER YEAR ENDING SEP...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 11.5-MPH WAS THE SIXTH
CALMEST OF RECORD AND LOWEST WATER-YEAR AVERAGE SINCE 1993.
AVERAGE IS 12.7-MPH.
WINTER (DEC-FEB)...SNOWFALL OF 38.2-INCHES WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST OF
RECORD AND HIGHEST SINCE 2018. AVERAGE IS 15.5-INCHES.
SPRING (MAR-MAY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 36.7F WAS THE THIRD
COLDEST OF RECORD AND COLDEST SINCE 1975. AVERAGE IS 42.7F.
WETTEST OF RECORD AND WETTEST SINCE 2003. AVERAGE IS 4.86
INCHES.
FALL (SEP-NOV)...SNOWFALL OF 61.7-INCHES WAS THE HIGHEST OF RECORD.
THE PREVIOUS HIGH WAS 39.5-INCHES IN 1934. AVERAGE IS 7.8-
INCHES.
DILLON...
FEB...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 9.9F WAS THE COLDEST OF RECORD. THIS
BROKE THE PREVIOUSLY COLDEST RECORD OF 10.8F SET IN 1989.
AVERAGE IS 26.2F
MAR...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 22.3F WAS THE COOLEST OF RECORD. THIS
BROKE THE PREVIOUSLY COLDEST RECORD OF 23.0F SET IN 1952.
AVERAGE IS 34.3F.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 6.1 MPH WAS THE LOWEST OF RECORD. THE
PREVIOUS LOW WAS 7.5-MPH IN 1981. AVERAGE IS 9.8-MPH.
AUG...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 6.9 MPH WAS THE SIXTH LOWEST OF RECORD,
AND CALMEST SINCE 2013. AVERAGE IS 7.5-MPH.
SEP...SNOWFALL OF 7.4-INCHES WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
HIGHEST SINCE 1914. AVERAGE IS 1.1".
OCT...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 33.4F WAS THE COOLEST OF RECORD. THIS
BROKE THE PREVIOUSLY COLDEST RECORD OF 36.9F SET IN 1969.
AVERAGE IS 43.5F.
DEC...PRECIPITATION OF 0.70" WAS THE FOURTH WETTEST AND WETTEST
SINCE 1982. AVERAGE IS 0.44".
SPRING (MAR-MAY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 37.7F WAS THE SECOND
COLDEST OF RECORD AND COLDEST SINCE 1975. AVERAGE IS 42.1F.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 8.7 MPH WAS THE SEVENTH LOWEST OF
RECORD, AND CALMEST SINCE 2006. AVERAGE IS 9.7-MPH.
WATER YEAR ENDING SEP...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 8.5-MPH WAS THE SIXTH
CALMEST OF RECORD AND LOWEST WATER-YEAR AVERAGE SINCE 2010.
AVERAGE IS 9.0-MPH.
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 40.1F WAS THE COLDEST OF RECORD. THE
PREVIOUSLY COOLEST WATER YEAR WAS 40.2F IN 1978. AVERAGE IS
42.7F.
FALL (SEP-NOV)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 39.7F WAS THE THIRD
COLDEST OF RECORD AND COLDEST SINCE 2000. AVERAGE IS 43.0F.
SNOWFALL OF 25.0-INCHES WAS THE FOURTH HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
HIGHEST SINCE 1991. AVERAGE IS 10.1".
GREAT FALLS...
FEB...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF -0.2F WAS THE SECOND COOLEST OF RECORD,
AND THE COLDEST SINCE 1936. NORMAL AVERAGE IS 27.3F.
PRECIPITATION OF 2.58 INCHES WAS THE WETTEST OF RECORD. THE
PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 2.16-INCHES IN 1958. AVERAGE IS 0.47".
SNOWFALL OF 32.3-INCHES WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
HIGHEST SINCE 2018. AVERAGE IS 8.3".
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 8.1 MPH WAS THE CALMEST OF RECORD. THE
PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 8.2-MPH SET IN 2010. AVERAGE IS 13.0-MPH.
MAR...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 8.8 MPH WAS THE FOURTH CALMEST OF
RECORD, AND CALMEST SINCE 1965. AVERAGE IS 12.2-MPH.
SEP...SNOWFALL OF 19.3-INCHES WAS THE HIGHEST OF RECORD, EXCEEDING
THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 13.2-INCHES SET IN 1934. AVERAGE IS
1.2-INCHES.
OCT...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 36.8F WAS THE SECOND COOLEST OF RECORD,
AND COLDEST SINCE 1925. AVERAGE IS 45.2F.
NOV...SNOWFALL OF 24.1-INCHES WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
HIGHEST SINCE 2005. AVERAGE IS 8.1".
WINTER (DEC-FEB)...PRECIPITATION OF 3.89-INCHES WAS THE THIRD
HIGHEST OF RECORD AND HIGHEST SINCE 1978. AVERAGE IS 1.53".
SNOWFALL OF 52.5 INCHES WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST OF RECORD, AND
HIGHEST SINCE 2018. AVERAGE IS 25.8 INCHES.
FALL (SEP-NOV)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 41.4F WAS THE THIRD
COLDEST OF RECORD AND COLDEST SINCE 1996. AVERAGE IS 44.9F.
PRECIPITATION OF 4.66-INCHES WAS THE NINTH HIGHEST OF RECORD
AND HIGHEST SINCE 2015. AVERAGE IS 2.87".
SNOWFALL OF 60.4 INCHES WAS THE HIGHEST OF RECORD, EXCEEDING
THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 31.2-INCHES SET IN 1919. AVERAGE IS
13.4".
WATER YEAR ENDING SEP...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 42.0F WAS THE SIXTH
COOLEST OF RECORD, AND COOLEST SINCE 1993. AVERAGE IS 44.5F.
SNOWFALL OF 95.6-INCHES WAS THE SEVENTH HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
HIGHEST SINCE 2018. AVERAGE IS 63.5-INCHES.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 10.7-MPH WAS THE THIRD CALMEST OF
RECORD AND LOWEST WATER-YEAR AVERAGE SINCE 2014. AVERAGE IS
12.1-MPH.
HAVRE...
FEB...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF -5.9F WAS THE SECOND COOLEST OF RECORD,
AND THE COLDEST SINCE 1936. AVERAGE IS 22.2F.
PRECIPITATION OF 1.38" WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST AND WETTEST SINCE
2018. AVERAGE IS 0.28".
SNOWFALL OF 18.0-INCHES WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
HIGHEST SINCE 2018. AVERAGE IS 5.8".
MAY...SNOWFALL OF 4.0-INCHES WAS THE SEVENTH HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
HIGHEST SINCE 2004. AVERAGE IS 1.8".
SEP...SNOWFALL OF 10.5-INCHES WAS THE HIGHEST OF RECORD. THE
PREVIOUS HIGH WAS 8.7-INCHES SET IN 1934. AVERAGE IS 0.3".
OCT...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 37.0F WAS THE FOURTH COOLEST OF RECORD,
AND COLDEST SINCE 1919. AVERAGE IS 44.3F.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 11.3 MPH WAS THE SEVENTH HIGHEST OF
RECORD, AND THE HIGHEST SINCE 2017. AVERAGE IS 8.8 MPH.
NOV...PRECIPITATION OF 1.55" WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST AND WETTEST SINCE
1958. AVERAGE IS 0.43".
SNOWFALL OF 25.8-INCHES WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
HIGHEST SINCE 1958. AVERAGE IS 5.3".
WATER YEAR ENDING SEP...SNOWFALL OF 69.7-INCHES WAS THE SEVENTH
HIGHEST OF RECORD AND HIGHEST SINCE 1983. AVERAGE IS
38.4-INCHES.
FALL (SEP-NOV)...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 10.6 MPH WAS THE EIGHTH
HIGHEST OF RECORD, AND THE HIGHEST SINCE 2006. AVERAGE IS 8.9
MPH.
HELENA...
FEB...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 6.5F WAS THE FOURTH COOLEST OF RECORD,
AND THE COLDEST SINCE 1989. AVERAGE IS 27.7F.
PRECIPITATION OF 2.30" WAS THE HIGHEST OF RECORD. THE PREVIOUS
RECORD WAS 1.98-INCHES IN 2014. AVERAGE IS 0.30".
SNOWFALL OF 26.8-INCHES WAS THE FOURTH HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
HIGHEST SINCE 1936. AVERAGE IS 5.0".
MAR...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 21.1F WAS THE THIRD COOLEST OF RECORD,
AND COOLEST SINCE 1955. AVERAGE IS 36.3F.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 3.4 MPH WAS THE CALMEST OF RECORD. THE
PREVIOUS LOW WAS 4.7-MPH IN 1992. AVERAGE IS 7.5-MPH.
MAY...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 6.9 MPH WAS THE FIFTH CALMEST OF RECORD,
AND CALMEST SINCE 2018. AVERAGE IS 8.2-MPH.
SEP...PRECIPITATION OF 3.03" WAS THE FOURTH HIGHEST AND WETTEST
SINCE 1965. AVERAGE IS 1.10"
OCT...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 38.4F WAS THE THIRD COOLEST OF RECORD,
AND COLDEST SINCE 1969. AVERAGE IS 45.6F.
DEC...PRECIPITATION OF 0.04" WAS THE SIXTH DRIEST AND DRIEST SINCE
2007. AVERAGE IS 0.40".
SPRING (MAR-MAY)...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 6.1-MPH WAS THE CALMEST OF
RECORD. THE PREVIOUS LOW WAS 6.2-MPH IN 1952. AVERAGE IS
8.0-MPH.
FALL (SEP-NOV)...PRECIPITATION OF 4.66-INCHES WAS THE SEVENTH
HIGHEST OF RECORD AND HIGHEST SINCE 1947. AVERAGE IS 2.27".
WATER YEAR ENDING SEP...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 5.9-MPH WAS THE
CALMEST OF RECORD. THE PREVIOUS LOW WAS 6.0-MPH IN 2010.
AVERAGE IS 7.0-MPH.
LEWISTOWN...
FEB...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 1.8F WAS THE SECOND COOLEST OF RECORD,
AND THE COLDEST SINCE 1936. AVERAGE IS 25.7F.
MAR...PRECIPITATION OF 0.24" WAS THE FIFTH DRIEST AND DRIEST SINCE
2009. AVERAGE IS 0.99".
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 6.8 MPH WAS THE SECOND CALMEST OF
RECORD, AND CALMEST SINCE 1983. AVERAGE IS 9.5-MPH.
SEP...PRECIPITATION OF 3.09" WAS THE EIGHTH HIGHEST AND WETTEST
SINCE 1986. AVERAGE IS 1.13".
SNOWFALL OF 6.0-INCHES WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
MOST SINCE 1926. AVERAGE IS 0.3".
OCT...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 34.7F WAS THE COOLEST OF RECORD. THIS
BROKE THE PREVIOUSLY COLDEST RECORD OF 34.8F SET IN 1919.
AVERAGE IS 43.7F.
FALL (SEP-NOV)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 39.2F WAS THE SEVENTH
COLDEST OF RECORD AND COLDEST SINCE 1996. AVERAGE IS 43.5F.
SNOWFALL OF 29.1-INCHES WAS THE SIXTH HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
HIGHEST SINCE 1959. AVERAGE IS 8.2".
WATER YEAR ENDING SEP...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 8.6-MPH WAS THE EIGHTH
CALMEST OF RECORD, AND CALMEST SINCE 1998. AVERAGE IS 9.2-MPH.
WEST YELLOWSTONE...
FEB...SNOWFALL OF 57.1-INCHES WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
MOST SINCE 1986. AVERAGE IS 25.8".
OCT...SNOWFALL OF 17.5-INCHES WAS THE EIGHTH HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
MOST SINCE 1991. AVERAGE IS 6.1".
NEW RECORD
TEMPERATURE WARM| DAILY WIND DAILY
HIGHS LOWS LOWS| HIGH AVG LOW AVG GUST PRECIP
BOZEMAN 1 10 3 5 8 10 5
CUT BANK 1 7 2 0 4 4 1
DILLON 0 9 1 0 3 10 8
GREAT FALLS 1 9 2 3 7 7 4
HAVRE 1 7 0 6 5 7 3
HELENA 0 3 0 1 15 5 3
LEWISTOWN 0 6 1 0 1 5 2
W YELLOWSTONE 0 0 0 0
THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENTS AND PATTERNS
DURING THE YEAR...
2019...
JANUARY...
A STRONGER THAN NORMAL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WAS OVER THE WEST
COAST. THIS BROUGHT ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES TO THE AREA. AFTER A
COLD START, TEMPERATURES WARMED TO ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH THE 7TH.
THIS WAS ALSO A WINDY PERIOD, WITH GUSTS TO 103 MPH AT DEEP CREEK
AND 94 MPH AT TWO MEDICINE...THEIR HIGHEST GUSTS OF RECORD. A SERIES
OF STORMS BROUGHT HEAVY SNOW TO MOST OF THE REGION FROM THE 17TH
THROUGH 25TH. A FAST MOVING COLD FRONT PRODUCED STRONG WINDS ACROSS
THE REGION ON THE 27TH. GUSTS REACHED 75 MPH AT JUDITH PEAK WITH
WIDESPREAD GUSTS IN THE 60 MPH RANGE.
SNOW DURING THE MONTH HAS PRODUCED THE SNOWIEST WATER-YEAR TO DATE
AT BOZEMAN MSU. HAVRE HAS HAD THEIR FOURTH SUCH PERIOD.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 61F NEAR BYNUM (13TH) -38F AT WEST YELLOWSTONE (1ST)
WHISKEY CREEK
PRECIP 1.95 INCHES AT W YELLOWSTONE & 6.10" AT BLACK BEAR SNOTEL
WIND GUST 103 MPH AT DEEP CREEK RAWS (3RD)
########
FEBRUARY...
FEBRUARY WAS A RECORD MONTH FOR COLD AND SNOW. A BROAD TROUGH OF LOW
PRESSURE DOMINATED WESTERN NORTH AMERICA. AFTER STARTING WITH A
COUPLE OF MILD DAYS, A STRONG COLD FRONT SWEPT THROUGH THE AREA
PUSHING TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING, WHERE THEY REMAINED FOR THE
REST OF THE MONTH OVER MUCH OF THE AREA. SEVERAL SNOWFALL RECORDS
FOR THE MONTH WERE SET, INCLUDING 27.1-INCHES AT BOZEMAN AND 29.2-
INCHES AT BOZEMAN MSU. PERSISTENT SNOW AND COLD PRODUCED SOME OF THE
HIGHEST AVERAGE MONTHLY SNOW DEPTHS IN A DECADE OR MORE. BOZEMAN
RECORDED THE MOST DAYS OF A TRACE OF SNOW OR MORE FOR ANY FEBRUARY
(21). THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS IN 2014. RECORDS FOR THE MOST NUMBER
OF DAYS IN A MONTH WITH MEASURABLE SNOW WERE SET AT BOZEMAN AND
GREAT FALLS. MEASURABLE SNOW FELL ON 21 DAYS AT GREAT FALLS. THE
PREVIOUS HIGH FOR ANY MONTH WAS 20 DAYS IN JANUARY 1957. GREAT FALLS
TIED FOR THE MOST DAYS IN A MONTH WITH AN INCH OR MORE OF SNOWFALL.
THIS TIED THE RECORD SET IN JANUARY 1957. HELENA SET A RECORD OF 11
DAYS, WHICH EXCEEDED THE OLD RECORD OF 10 DAYS IN DECEMBER 1880.
GREAT FALLS, HELENA AND WEST YELLOWSTONE ALL HAD THEIR WETTEST
FEBRUARY OF RECORD, WITH WEST YELLOWSTONE HAVING THEIR THIRD WETTEST
MONTH OF RECORD. AT GREAT FALLS, THIS FEBRUARY WAS THE WETTEST OF
ANY WINTER MONTH (NOV-MAR) OF RECORD. THE NEXT WETTEST WAS DECEMBER
1917 WITH 2.49-INCHES. DILLON HAD THEIR COLDEST FEBRUARY OF RECORD
AND FIFTH COLDEST MONTH OVERALL. OVERALL, THIS WAS THE THIRD COLDEST
FEBRUARY OF RECORD AND COLDEST SINCE 1936. IT WAS ALSO THE COLDEST
MONTH SINCE JANUARY 1979. COMBINING THE SNOW AND COLD, FOR ALL
MONTHS WITH AVERAGE TEMPERATURES OF 0F OR COLDER, THIS WAS THE
SNOWIEST AT GREAT FALLS. FOR ALL MONTHS WITH AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OF 10F OR LESS, THIS WAS THE SNOWIEST AT GREAT FALLS. WINDS WERE
VERY LIGHT FOR THE MONTH.
HAVRE`S HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 38F WAS THEIR COOLEST FEBRUARY MAXIMUM
SINCE 1969. CUT BANK AND HAVRE HAD THEIR WETTEST FEBRUARY OF RECORD.
THIS WAS CUT BANK AND HAVRE`S SNOWIEST FEBRUARY OF RECORD. EAST
GLACIER MEASURED 78-INCHES, THEIR SNOWIEST FEBRUARY OF RECORD.
WINDS AVERAGED NEAR TO ABOVE NORMAL. THE HIGHEST WIND GUST WAS 92
MPH AT DEEP CREEK RAWS, WHILE 76 MPH WAS REPORTED AT BROWNING.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 60F AT FORT BENTON (2ND) -46F NORTH OF HAVRE (7TH)
PRECIP 6.47 IN AT W YELLOWSTONE & 17.90" AT BLACK BEAR SNOTEL
WIND GUST 74 MPH AT DEEP CREEK RAWS (2ND)
########
MARCH...
A DEEP TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE DOMINATED DURING THE FIRST
HALF OF THE MONTH, CONTINUING THE BITTER COLD PATTERN OF FEBRUARY.
TEMPERATURES AVERAGED BELOW NORMAL WITH PRECIPITATION MOSTLY BELOW
NORMAL. WITH TEMPERATURES AVERAGING AS MUCH AS 50F BELOW NORMAL ON
THE THIRD, TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS -46F WERE MEASURED AT ELK PARK.
THIS IS AMONG THE COLDEST TEMPERATURE RECORDED IN MONTANA DURING
MARCH. FROM THE COLD TO WARMING LATER IN THE MONTH, GREAT FALLS HAD
A RANGE OF 91F. THIS WAS THEIR LARGEST MARCH TEMPERATURE RANGE SINCE
1978 AND LARGEST FOR ANY MONTH SINCE DECEMBER 2013. WITH A NEAR
NORMAL UPPER AIR PATTERN, MARCH HAD BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND
GENERALLY ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION. MOST AREAS HAD THEIR COOLEST
MARCH SINCE 2002. THE AREA HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 62F WAS THE COOLEST
MARCH EXTREME SINCE 1975.
THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION FELL OVER THE ROCKIES AND CENTENNIAL
MOUNTAINS. AREAS FROM NEAR FAIRFIELD TO SWEET GRASS HAD MORE THAN
THREE TIMES THEIR NORMAL MARCH MOISTURE. FOR THE WATER-YEAR THROUGH
MARCH, HAVRE HAD THEIR SNOWIEST OF RECORD. BOZEMAN MSU, CUT BANK,
EAST GLACIER, AND GREAT FALLS WERE ALL AT SECOND SNOWIEST AT THIS
POINT.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 69F AT VALENTINE (26TH) -46F AT ELK PARK (3RD)
PRECIP 1.44 INCHES NEAR CLANCY & 2.90" AT BLACK BEAR SNOTEL
WIND GUST 94 MPH AT DEEP CREEK RAWS 11TH
########
APRIL...
DURING APRIL, THE UPPER LEVEL FLOW WAS GENERALLY FROM THE WEST. THIS
RESULTED IN NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION.
THE WEATHER WAS FAIRLY TYPICAL FOR APRIL. THE FIRST STORM TO AFFECT
THE AREA WAS FROM THE 9TH THROUGH 12TH. PRECIPITATION FROM THIS
SYSTEM RANGED FROM ONE-HALF INCH TO OVER THREE INCHES. BADGER PASS
PICKED UP 23-INCHES OF SNOW, WHILE 18-INCHES FELL AT HEART BUTTE.
WARMING TEMPERATURES WERE ACCOMPANIED WITH STRONGER WINDS. GUST
REACHED 70 MPH AT DEEP CREEK AND 63 MPH AT TWO MEDICINE ON THE 14TH.
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DIME-SIZE HAIL IN GREAT FALLS ON THE
17TH. A COLD FRONT PUSHED ACROSS THE REGION ON THE 20TH. WIDESPREAD
PRECIPITATION AMOUNTED TO ONE-HALF TO TWO INCHES ACROSS THE AREA. ON
THE 28TH, COLD AIR OVERSPREAD THE REGION WITH TEMPERATURES REMAINING
IN THE 20TH. A BLIZZARD RAGED OVER NORTH-CENTRAL MONTANA WITH TWO TO
TWO-AND-ONE-HALF FEET OF SNOW REPORTED IN THE HIGHWOODS AND LITTLE
BELTS. MUCH LIGHTER AMOUNTS FELL OVER LOWER ELEVATIONS. WIND GUSTS
REACHED 71 MPH AT THE N BAR RANCH. AFTERWARDS, NEWLAN CREEK DROPPED
TO -1F ON THE 29TH. THIS WAS ONE OF THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES SO LATE
IN THE SEASON SINCE 2006.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 80F AT LOMA AND TOWNSEND -1F AT NEWLAN CREEK 29TH
(19TH)
PRECIP 4.47 INCHES NEAR BOZEMAN 9.30" AT BRACKETT CK SNOTEL
WIND GUST 71 MPH AT N BAR RANCH (28TH)
########
MAY...
UPPER LEVEL FLOW WAS GENERALLY FROM THE NORTHWEST FOR THE MONTH.
TEMPERATURES AVERAGED BELOW NORMAL WITH MOSTLY NEAR NORMAL
PRECIPITATION. THE MONTH STARTED COLD, WITH A LOW TEMPERATURE OF 0F
AT NEWLAN CREEK. THIS WAS SOME OF THE AREA`S COLDEST AIR IN MAY
SINCE 2002. SNOW FELL ACROSS THE REGION ON THE 5TH. UP TO 4-INCHES
FELL AT CHOTEAU. WARMING MID-MONTH PUSHED TEMPERATURES INTO THE 80S
OVER CENTRAL MONTANA. COOLER AIR WITH SNOW RETURNED ON THE 18TH.
ALONG WITH WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS UP TO 1.5-INCHES, SNOW
ACCUMULATED TO 11-INCHES AT LODGE POLE AND 5-INCHES AT GRASS RANGE.
HEAVY RAIN FELL OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. UP TO 7-INCHES OF
RAIN FELL WEST OF AUGUSTA PRODUCING FLOODING ON THE SUN AND TETON
RIVERS. AUGUSTA AND SUN RIVER WERE AFFECTED BY THE FLOODING.
HIGHWAYS LEADING INTO AUGUSTA WERE CLOSED AS WATER WAS RUNNING OVER
THE ROADS. SOME SMOKE FROM ALBERTA WILDFIRES MOVED INTO THE AREA ON
THE 29TH.
IT WAS THE WARMEST MAY SINCE 1958 AT CUT BANK AND GREAT FALLS, AND
SINCE 1985 AT BOZEMAN AND LEWISTOWN.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 86F AT LOMA AND CHINOOK (30TH) 0F AT NEWLAN CREEK (1ST)
PRECIP 11.43 IN NEAR AUGUSTA
WIND GUST 58 MPH AT DILLON (14TH)
########
JUNE...
JUNE`S WEATHER WAS FAIRLY TYPICAL AS WELL. UPPER LEVEL FLOW AVERAGED
FROM THE WEST, WHICH IS NORMAL FOR JUNE. TEMPERATURES WERE NEAR
NORMAL AFTER A WARM START, TEMPERATURES COOLED BELOW NORMAL FROM THE
7TH THROUGH 10TH. THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED DURING THIS PERIOD.
TEMPERATURES REBOUNDED TO ABOVE NORMAL VALUES AND REMAINED ABOVE
NORMAL THROUGH THE 19TH. THE WARMEST TEMPERATURES OF THE MONTH
OCCURRED DURING THIS PERIOD. COOLER CONDITION PREVAILED FOR THE REST
OF THE MONTH. SNOW FELL AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS ON THE 21ST, WITH SOME
SNOWFALL REPORTED AT BOZEMAN. THE GROUND WAS WHITE FOR A TIME. THIS
IS THE LATEST RECORDED SNOWFALL IN BOZEMAN SINCE JUNE 23, 1993.
SINCE SUMMER SNOWFALL RECORDS HAVE BEEN KEPT (1938), THERE HAVE BEEN
ONLY FOUR YEARS IN WHICH SNOW FELL LATER IN THE YEAR. THE LATEST WAS
A TRACE ON JULY 19, 1972. A SMALL TORNADO OCCURRED NEAR MOCCASIN ON
THE 27TH. THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS REACHED 74 MPH NEAR FORT BELKNAP.
THE WEATHER WAS VERY ACTIVE IN JUNE. TEMPERATURES AVERAGED NEAR
NORMAL. JUNE STARTED OUT WITH COLD TEMPERATURES, WITH SOME LINGERING
HEAVY RAIN FROM MAY. ANOTHER AREA OF HEAVY RAIN FELL ON THE 8TH.
OVER TWO-INCHES OF RAIN FELL FROM BOZEMAN TO LEWISTOWN TO THE BEARS
PAWS. RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES OCCURRED ON THE 9TH, WITH SHARPLY
COLDER AIR THE NEXT DAY. WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S AT LOWER
ELEVATIONS, SNOW FELL OVER THE MOUNTAINS ON THE 10TH AND 11TH.
ANOTHER PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN OCCURRED FROM THE 15TH-19TH. NINE
INCHES OF RAIN FELL AT WOOD CREEK SNOTEL, WHILE 7.5 INCHES FELL AT
GIBSON DAM. RESULTANT FLOODING OCCURRED OVER MANY RIVERS IN CENTRAL
MONTANA. SOME STAGES WERE HIGHER THAN FROM THE SNOWMELT IN MAY, AND
HIGHER THAN SEEN IN 2011. ALL ROADS TO AUGUSTA WERE CLOSED FOR A
TIME. HIGHWAY 200 WAS REOPENED ON THE 22ND AFTER A WASHED-OUT
CULVERT WAS REPAIRED. ON THE 23RD, TORRENTIAL RAINS CAUSED FLOODING
IN THE SHELBY AND NORTH OF GREAT FALLS AREAS. OVER 4.5 INCHES OF
RAIN FELL IN 2.5 HOURS NORTH OF GREAT FALLS, WITH OVER 3-INCHES IN
ONLY 15 MINUTES. A SMALL TORNADO WAS ALSO SEEN THIS DAY NEAR
HIGHWOOD. ON THE 25TH, A MICROBURST CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO
FARMS EAST OF FAIRFIELD.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 91F AT CHINOOK (13TH) 21F AT YELLOW MULE RAWS (8TH)
PRECIP 6.30" AT ROCKY BOY SNOTEL
WIND GUST 74 MPH NEAR FORT BELKNAP (27TH)
########
JULY...
JULY`S TEMPERATURES AVERAGED SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL, WITH
PRECIPITATION NEAR NORMAL. THERE WERE TEN DAYS ON WHICH SEVERE
WEATHER WAS REPORTED, WHICH WAS THE MOST IN ANY MONTH SINCE JULY
2013. ALTHOUGH A 90F WAS REPORTED AT CHINOOK LAST MONTH, MOST AREAS
HAD THEIR FIRST 90F DAY ON JULY 13. THUNDERSTORMS IN THE HAVRE AREA
PRODUCED GUSTS OF 92 MPH AT SADDLE BUTTE ON THE 14TH. HAIL TO 1.25-
INCHES WAS REPORTED AT TOWNSEND AS WELL. COOLER CONDITIONS BROUGHT
WINDY CONDITIONS ON THE 18TH. GUSTS REACHED 56 MPH AT CUT BANK AND
52 MPH AT GREAT FALLS. THE COOLER AIR PRODUCED TEMPERATURES IN THE
MID-20S IN MOUNTAIN LOCATIONS, AND A LOW OF 38F AT GREAT FALLS ON
THE 21ST. THIS WAS THEIR COOLEST JULY TEMPERATURE SINCE 1999.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 101F AT LOMA (23RD) 25F AT ELK PARK AND GATES PARK
(20TH)
PRECIP 3.08 INCHES AT BOULDER & 3.80-INCHES AT SPUR PARK SNOTEL
WIND GUST 92 MPH NEAR HAVRE (14TH)H
########
AUGUST...
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WAS OVER THE ROCKIES DURING AUGUST, WHICH
IS NORMAL. TEMPERATURES WERE NEAR NORMAL, WITH MOSTLY BELOW NORMAL
PRECIPITATION. TEMPERATURES STARTED OUT VERY WARM, WITH THE WARMEST
OF THE MONTH REPORTED ON THE SECOND. A PERIOD OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM OCCURRED ON THE 10TH AND 11TH. LARGE HAIL (2-INCHES)
CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE IN BROADWATER COUNTY ON THE 10TH. UP TO
250 ACRES OF TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN THE TOBACCO ROOT MOUNTAINS
WHEN A DOWNBURST FROM A THUNDERSTORM MOVED THROUGH THAT AREA. VERY
COOL AIR KEPT HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 50S ON THE 18TH. A WARM-UP
BACK TO THE 90S OCCURRED ON THE 19TH. DRY CONDITIONS DURING THE
MONTH PRODUCED THE DRIEST AUGUST SINCE 2003 AT BOZEMAN MSU.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 100F AT HAVRE (2ND) 25F AT GATES PARK (27TH)
PRECIP 2.36 INCHES GOLD BUTTE 3.00" AT DAISY PEAK SNOTEL
WIND GUST 72 MPH NEAR GREAT FALLS (21ST)
########
SEPTEMBER...
THE HIGHLIGHT FOR SEPTEMBER WAS THE SNOWSTORM AT THE
END OF THE MONTH. FOR MOST OF THE MONTH, THE WEATHER WAS FAIRLY
TYPICAL WITH WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. TEMPERATURES AVERAGED NEAR NORMAL
WITH ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED
EARLY IN THE MONTH WITH THE WARMEST PERIODS AROUND THE THIRD AND
FIFTEENS. THUNDERSTORMS ON THE SIXTH CAUSED WIND GUSTS OF 71 MPH AT
BRENNER IN BEAVERHEAD COUNTY. RAINS FROM THE 8TH AND 9TH RESULTED IN
UP TO TWO INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHWEST. THUNDERSTORMS WITH
A COLD FRONT CAUSED WIND GUSTS OF 62 MPH AT LEWISTOWN ON THE 13TH.
THIS WAS AN ALL-TIME HIGH GUST RECORD FOR LEWISTOWN FOR SEPTEMBER.
RAIN FELL AGAIN OVER THE SOUTHWEST ON THE 17TH. AMOUNTS OF UP TO TWO
INCHES FELL. WHILE SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PLAINS SAW THEIR FIRST
FROST ON THE 18TH, MOST HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE COLD AIR LATER IN THE
MONTH. MOST AREAS DID HAVE THEIR FIRST FROST ON THE 28TH. THE MONTH
ENDED WITH A RECORD-SETTING SNOW STORM. WINDS WERE STRONG DURING
PART OF THE EVENT, WITH GUSTS REACHING 56 MPH AT JOPLIN. OVER 4-FEET
OF SNOW FELL AT BROWNING AND BABB, WITH MORE THAN 3-FEET FROM
DUPUYER NORTH INTO SOUTHERN ALBERTA. SOME AREAS FELL BELOW FREEZING
ON THE 27TH AND REMAINED BELOW FREEZING UNTIL OCTOBER 3. A WIDE
RANGE IN TEMPERATURE EXTREMES PRODUCED A RANGE OF 79F AT GREAT
FALLS. THIS TIED WITH 2000 FOR THEIR LARGEST SEPTEMBER TEMPERATURE
RANGE. MANY LOCATIONS HAD THEIR WETTEST SEPTEMBER IN SEVERAL
DECADES. AT HELENA IT WAS THE WETTEST SINCE 1965, BOZEMAN MSU SINCE
1978 AND HAVRE AND LEWISTOWN SINCE 1986. CUT BANK, GREAT FALLS AND
HAVRE ALL HAD THEIR SNOWIEST SEPTEMBER OF RECORD, WITH 20 INCHES
FALLING AT CUT BANK.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 97F AT LOMA 4TH 5F AT BLACKFEET AGRI (30TH)
PRECIP 5.60 IN AT GRASS RANGE & 7.30 IN AT SACAJAWEA AND PIKE
CREEK SNOTEL
WIND GUST 71 MPH BRENNER (6TH) AND DEEP CREEK RAWS (26TH)
########
OCTOBER...
WEST-NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT DOMINATED DURING OCTOBER. THIS PATTERN
CONTRIBUTED TO BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURE AVERAGES WITH VARIABLE
PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS. HEAVY SNOW FROM SEPTEMBER REMAINED ON THE
GROUND IN EARLY OCTOBER. WARMING MELTED MUCH OF THE SNOW, WITH
TEMPERATURES REACHING NEAR 70F ON THE SEVENTH. ANOTHER WINTER STORM
MOVED THROUGH THE AREA WITH UP TO A FEET OF SNOW AND MUCH COLDER
AIR BY THE 10TH. WITH TEMPERATURES AT OR NEAR ZERO, THIS WAS THE
EARLIEST OF RECORD FOR A TEMPERATURE OF 0F AT GREAT FALLS, BY 16
DAYS. WARM AIR RETURNED,, WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 70S ON THE
16TH. WITH THE WARMING, WINDS RETURNED AS WELL. GUSTS REACHED 73 MPH
NEAR BYNUM ON THE 18TH AND 81 MPH AT TWO MEDICINE ON THE 22ND. SNOW
RETURNED BY THE EVENING OF THE 25TH. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS,
FROM SIX TO TWELVE INCHES OF SNOW FELL OVER MUCH OF THE AREA. COLDER
AIR PUSHED TEMPERATURES WELL BELOW ZERO ON THE 28TH AND 29TH OVER
SOUTHWEST MONTANA. BOZEMAN FELL TO -14F, SETTING A NEW ALL-TIME LOW
TEMPERATURE FOR OCTOBER. THIS ALSO SET A NEW RECORD FOR ZERO OR
COLDER TEMPERATURE SO EARLY IN THE SEASON AT BOZEMAN.
SUSTAINED HEAVY SNOWFALL FOR SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER SET NEW SEASON-TO-
DATE RECORDS AT CHOTEAU, EAST GLACIER PARK AND GREAT FALLS. GREAT
FALLS HAD 13 DAYS WITH ONE-INCH OR MORE OF SNOW ON THE GROUND. THIS
SET A NEW RECORD FOR OCTOBER, EXCEEDING THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 12
DAYS SET IN 1969.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 77F AT FORT BENTON & -23F AT ELK PARK (30TH)
LOMA (16TH)
PRECIP 2.59 INCHES NEAR BOZEMAN 7.30-INCHES AT PIKE CREEK &
SACAJAWEA SNOTEL
WIND GUST 85 MPH AT TWO MEDICINE (22ND)
########
NOVEMBER...
NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT CONTINUED IN NOVEMBER. THIS BROUGHT BELOW
NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND AREAS OF MUCH ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION TO
NORTHERN MONTANA. SOUTHWEST PORTIONS WERE BELOW NORMAL. FOR THE
FIRST 10 DAYS, TEMPERATURES FLUCTUATED FROM MUCH ABOVE NORMAL TO
BELOW NORMAL. PERIODS OF SNOW BROUGHT ACCUMULATING SNOW DURING THIS
PERIOD, WHICH DID MELT WITH WARMER CONDITIONS ON THE 8TH. FORT
BENTON WARMED TO 67F ON THE 8TH. SHARPLY COLDER AND SNOWY CONDITIONS
SPREAD OVER THE REGION ON THE 9TH AND 10TH, WITH A POINT NORTH OF
RUDYARD DROPPING TO -30F ON THE 11TH. THIS WAS THE EARLIEST -30F
TEMPERATURE IN MONTANA SINCE 1986. UP TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW WERE
RECORDED OVER THE HI-LINE. TEMPERATURES WARMED TO ABOVE NORMAL
VALUES AGAIN. BY THE 15TH, TEMPERATURES WARMED INTO THE 60S ONCE
AGAIN. WINDY CONDITIONS ALSO RETURNED. BY THE 17TH, WINDS WERE
GUSTING OVER 60 MPH ALONG THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT. GUSTS REACHED 96
MPH AT DEEP CREEK ON THE 17TH, WITH GUSTS OF 72 MPH NEAR BYNUM AND
65 MPH AT COFFEE CREEK. MILD CONDITIONS ALSO BROUGHT INCREASED WINDS
ON THE 23RD AND 24TH. GUSTS REACHED 92 MPH AT DEEP CREEK, 82 MPH
EAST OF RINGLING AND 74 MPH NEAR BYNUM. TEMPERATURES COOLED TO BELOW
ZERO VALUES AT THE END OF THE MONTH, WITH HEAVY SNOW OVER MUCH OF
NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. MANY LOCATIONS IN NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA HAD
RECEIVED MORE THAN AN AVERAGE SEASON`S SNOWFALL BY THE END OF
NOVEMBER.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 67F AT FORT BENTON (8TH) -30F NEAR RUDYARD (11TH)
PRECIP 2.90 INCHES AT CUT BANK 3.60-INCHES AT PIKE CREEK &
SHOWER FALLS SNOTEL
WIND GUST 96 MPH AT DEEP CREEK RAWS (17TH)
########
12/22
DECEMBER...
GENERAL WEST-NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT PREVAILED IN DECEMBER. THIS
BROUGHT TEMPERATURES THAT AVERAGED ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE MONTH.
TEMPERATURES AVERAGED UP TO 8F ABOVE NORMAL. LIGHT SNOW FELL ACROSS
THE AREA ON THE 8TH. AMOUNTS RANGED UP TO FOUR INCHES. MILD AND
WINDY CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR MUCH OF MID-MONTH.
THE WARMEST TEMPERATURES OCCURRED ON THE 21ST. WINDS PEAKED BETWEEN
THE 17TH AND 20TH. GUSTS REACHED 73 MPH AT TWO MEDICINE ON THE 20TH
AND 99 MPH AT DEEP CREEK ON THE 16TH. A STORM BROUGHT SNOW TO
SOUTHWEST MONTANA FROM THE 24TH-26TH. DILLON PICKED UP AROUND 13
INCHES, WHICH WAS WAS THEIR LARGEST SNOWFALL ON NEARLY 30 YEARS. A
SNOWDEPTH OF 13-INCHES ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 26 WAS THEIR
LARGEST DEPTH SINCE FEBRUARY 1949. AFTERWARDS, TEMPERATURES FELL
WELL BELOW ZERO IN THE SOUTHWEST. BANNACK STATE PARK DROPPED TO -24F
ON THE 27TH, WHILE WEST YELLOWSTONE RECORDED THE SAME ON THE 29TH.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 62F AT FORT BENTON (21ST) -24F AT BANNACK STATE PARK (27TH)
LOMA WEST YELLOWSTONE (29TH)
PRECIP 6.00 INCHES AT MANY GLACIER SNOTEL 1.85-IN AT ST MARY
WIND GUST 99 MPH AT DEEP CREEK (16TH)
$$
&&
NNNN