Power Outage in Bozeman, MT

Storm total of 16 inches measured 5 miles east of Gallatin Gateway, with drifts 3 to 4 feet deep in spots. In addition, Northwestern Energy reported numerous power outages in the Bozeman area at 2PM MDT/3PM MST.

KBZK reported tree and property damage in the Four Corners area south of Bozeman from thunderstorm wind/outflow. Northwestern Energy reported power outages. The strong winds may have been caused or enhanced by a strong cold pool that developed in the wake of earlier convection. Time estimated.

Twenty-two inches of snow fell at Gallatin Gateway 13ESE, sixteen inches fell at Gallatin Gateway 18SE, and eight inches fell at Belgrade 14NE. The heavy snow knocked out the power to five substations in Bozeman. NorthWestern Energy estimated some 30,000 customers, including Montana State University, lost power for several hours.

Bozeman Pass DOT site meassured 68 mile per hour winds. Winds also toppled two power poles (starting a fire) and downed a tree that ruptured a natural gas line.

High winds estimated at 50KT (58MPH) were seen in Bozeman where a tree was blown over hitting a power line.

Power poles down from thunderstorm wind gusts...power outages also reported.

A severe thunderstorm dropped .75 inch diameter hail at Bozeman, near the downtown area. Power was reported out throughout the city.

Trees and powerlines down in parts of Bozeman. Damage to a shed.

A late season winter storm moved through much of North Central and Southwest Montana on the 23rd. The snow began to fall over the Rocky Mountain Front late on the 22nd, and over much of the rest of the Northern Plains by day break on the 23rd. The snow moved into Southwest Montana during the morning hours on the 23rd. The snow came to an end across the area early on the 24th. At the peak of the storm, blizzard warnings where issued for several hours for the Rocky Mountain Front and all of the adjacent Plains. Sustained winds of 40 mph, with gusts to 60 mph occurred throughout the morning hours in the blizzard area. Numerous roads were closed across North Central Montana due to zero visibility, and power was temporary knocked out in many locations. Snow drifts ranged from 4 to 8 feet in Glacier and Judith Basin counties. The heaviest snowfall occurred in the western and southern mountains.Some total snow accumulations from this event include: 17 inches at Saint Mary's, 12 inches at Cut Bank and Sweetgrass 25 SE, 10 inches at Shonkin, 8 inches at Ethridge, Showdown Ski Resort, Chester, Boulder Hill, and Shelby, and 4 to 7 inches across the remainder of the plains and valleys in North Central and Southwest Montana.

14 inches snowfall reported by spotter at the Montana State University campus in Bozeman...Numerous tree limbs and power lines were downed across town by the weight of the wet snow (automobile damage also occurred due to the falling tree limbs)...damage cost estimate based upon report in newspaper stating that a total of $354000 in damage was done by snow storm to the Bozeman area (including the city of Bozeman...Montana State University...Bozeman Public Schools...and Park Electric Cooperative).

Bozeman spotter...57 kt gust also reported at 2200 MST...Trees knocked over...Traffic light blown down...damage to automobiles...shingles blown off roofs...power outage across Gallatin Valley.

An upper level trough dug into the Northwestern United States during the day on October 11th, and dug southeast. As this system moved south of the Great Falls CWA, moisture on the northern edge of this system brought the first widespread accumulating snowfall to most of Southwestern Montana, with some locations seeing over a foot of snowfall accumulation. As the snow fell, scattered power outages occurred across Southwestern Montana, particularly in the Bozeman area, and multiple motor vehicle accidents and subsequent delays occurred, particularly in and around Bozeman Pass. The majority of the snow fell over Madison, Beaverhead, and Gallatin Counties, though lighter amounts (up to 4 inches at lower elevations) did fall as far north and east as Fergus County.||Key Impacts: Heavy Snow, traffic accidents and delays, power outages.

Severe thunderstorms produced wind gusts to 70 mph at Lima 4NE (Antelope RAWS), 64 mph at the Montana State University campus in Bozeman and a gust to 61 mph at the Norris Hills DOT site. Numerous power lines were downed from falling tree limbs. Power was lost to sections of Bozeman including the loss of power at a movie theater complex.