PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT 255 PM MST THU DEC 19 2013 ...2013 WEATHER IN REVIEW... IN CONTRAST TO THE VERY WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS OF 2012...2013 WAS CHARACTERIZED BY NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION ACROSS MOST OF THE REGION. OF OUR FOUR MAIN CLIMATE SITES...LIVINGSTON WAS ACTUALLY DRIER THAN NORMAL...BUT BILLINGS... MILES CITY AND SHERIDAN WERE EACH A FEW INCHES ON THE WET SIDE. BECAUSE OF THE RELATIVELY WET WEATHER DURING THE LATE SPRING AND SUMMER...DROUGHT CONDITIONS DIMINISHED AND THE FIRE SEASON WAS GENERALLY QUIET. IN ADDITION...SURFACE MOISTURE WAS HIGH AND GRASSES REMAINED GREEN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND INTO THE FALL. AS A RESULT...THE THUNDERSTORM SEASON WAS ACTIVE INTO SEPTEMBER AND THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF FLASH FLOODING ACROSS THE AREA. THE 2012 BURN SCARS IN MUSSELSHELL COUNTY WERE PARTICULARLY HARD HIT BY FLASH FLOODING DURING THE 2013 SUMMER. FALL SNOWS BEGAN IN LATE SEPTEMBER AND EARLY OCTOBER...AS IS TYPICAL...AND THE WEATHER WAS GENERALLY QUIET THROUGH NOVEMBER. A WIDESPREAD SNOW EVENT AND SIGNIFICANT COLD SNAP IMPACTED THE REGION DURING THE FIRST PART OF DECEMBER...WITH MANY LOCATIONS SEEING THEIR COLDEST TEMPERATURES SINCE 1997. SEVERAL NEW RECORDS WERE ESTABLISHED ACROSS THE AREA DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF DAILY RECORDS EITHER TIED OR BROKEN AT OUR FOUR MAIN CLIMATE SITES. RECORDS GO BACK TO 1934 AT BILLINGS...1937 AT MILES CITY...1907 AT SHERIDAN AND 1948 AT LIVINGSTON. ...BILLINGS... RECORD HIGH TEMPS: 69 ON MARCH 13 94 ON MAY 13 95 ON SEPTEMBER 5 RECORD LOW TEMPS: 15 ON APRIL 15 16 ON APRIL 17 20 ON APRIL 23 38 ON JUNE 5 -21 ON DECEMBER 7 RECORD PRECIPITATION: 1.21 INCHES ON SEPTEMBER 14 1.24 INCHES ON OCTOBER 3 0.30 INCHES ON OCTOBER 14 0.98 INCHES ON DECEMBER 2 0.29 INCHES ON DECEMBER 3 RECORD SNOWFALL: 7.1 INCHES ON JANUARY 11 6.2 INCHES ON DECEMBER 2 4.4 INCHES ON DECEMBER 3 ...MILES CITY... RECORD HIGH TEMPS: 103 ON JULY 11 RECORD LOW TEMPS: 15 ON APRIL 9 19 ON APRIL 23 21 ON MAY 1 -27 ON DECEMBER 5 -30 ON DECEMBER 6 -36 ON DECEMBER 7 -29 ON DECEMBER 8 RECORD PRECIPITATION: 0.34 INCHES ON APRIL 13 1.32 INCHES ON MAY 18 1.22 INCHES ON MAY 29 1.85 INCHES ON MAY 30 1.10 INCHES ON JUNE 11 ...SHERIDAN... RECORD HIGH TEMPS: NONE RECORD LOW TEMPS: 11 ON APRIL 10 13 ON APRIL 18 4 ON APRIL 22 -2 ON APRIL 23 32 ON JUNE 5 -28 ON DECEMBER 7 RECORD PRECIPITATION: 0.20 INCHES ON JANUARY 30 0.70 INCHES ON APRIL 21 0.61 INCHES ON MAY 26 1.49 INCHES ON SEPTEMBER 14 0.48 INCHES ON OCTOBER 14 0.47 INCHES ON DECEMBER 2 ...LIVINGSTON... RECORD HIGH TEMPS: 56 ON JANUARY 26 70 ON MARCH 14 87 ON MAY 12 91 ON MAY 13 98 ON JULY 2 97 ON AUGUST 15 101 ON AUGUST 16 95 ON AUGUST 17 96 ON AUGUST 18 RECORD LOW TEMPS: 8 ON APRIL 10 14 ON APRIL 18 12 ON APRIL 22 12 ON APRIL 23 35 ON JUNE 21 -12 ON NOVEMBER 21 -24 ON DECEMBER 7 RECORD PRECIPITATION: 0.12 INCHES ON FEBRUARY 23 0.86 INCHES ON MAY 19 0.53 INCHES ON SEPTEMBER 14 THE FOLLOWING IS A CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF SIGNIFICANT OR NOTEWORTHY WEATHER EVENTS THAT OCCURRED ACROSS THE REGION IN 2013. JANUARY 30-31: A WINTER STORM IMPACTED THE REGION...WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOW OCCURRING IN BIG HORN AND SHERIDAN COUNTIES. AMOUNTS INCLUDED: LODGE GRASS 13.5 INCHES...FORT SMITH AND WYOLA 12 INCHES...SHERIDAN AND STORY 10 INCHES. FEBRUARY 9-10: HEAVY SNOW FELL ALONG THE FOOTHILLS. AMOUNTS INCLUDED: RED LODGE 10-14 INCHES...BELFRY 9 INCHES...BRIDGER 7 INCHES...MCLEOD 7 INCHES...ABSAROKEE 7 INCHES...PINE CREEK 6 INCHES AND STORY 6 INCHES. FEBRUARY 13-14: HEAVY SNOW FELL ALONG THE BEARTOOTH FOOTHILLS... INCLUDING RED LODGE 6-10 INCHES...BRIDGER 6 INCHES AND NYE 4 INCHES. MARCH 3: A THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY SNOW AND GRAUPEL MOVED THROUGH BILLINGS...PRODUCING STRONG WINDS AND A QUICK 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW. WITH A PEAK WIND OF 58 MPH AT THE BILLINGS AIRPORT THIS WAS ACTUALLY A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM! ELSEWHERE...WIND DAMAGE WAS REPORTED NEAR BUSBY AND CROW AGENCY...AND A 61 MPH GUST WAS OBSERVED AT SHERIDAN. THE WINDS WERE PRODUCED BY A COMBINATION OF THE SHOWER ACTIVITY ALONG A COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. MARCH 4-5: SNOW FELL ACROSS SOUTHEAST MONTANA...INCLUDING 8 INCHES AT EKALAKA...PLEVNA AND NEAR VOLBORG. ELSEWHERE...BROADUS AND BUSBY PICKED UP 6 INCHES...ASHLAND 5 INCHES AND FORSYTH 4 INCHES. MARCH 21-22: A WEATHER SYSTEM PRODUCED 2 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW ACROSS MAINLY SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE AREA. RED LODGE PICKED UP 7 INCHES... STORY 3 INCHES. APRIL 7-9: A COMPLEX UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND COLD CANADIAN AIRMASS PRODUCED TWO SEPARATE PERIODS OF SNOWFALL ACROSS THE REGION. GREATEST AMOUNTS WERE IN THE NORTH INITIALLY...THEN OVER THE SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS. NORTHERN AMOUNTS INCLUDED: ROUNDUP 8-12 INCHES...RYEGATE 6 INCHES...FORSYTH 6 INCHES...BAKER 6 INCHES. SOUTHERN AMOUNTS: RED LODGE 5-11 INCHES...STORY 10 INCHES...DAYTON 7 INCHES AND SHERIDAN 5 INCHES. LOW TEMP OF 11 DEGREES AT SHERIDAN ON THE 10TH TIED A RECORD. LOW OF 15 DEGREES AT MILES CITY ON THE 9TH BROKE A RECORD. BILLINGS DROPPED INTO THE TEENS THREE STRAIGHT DAYS. APRIL 14-17: SNOWFALL IMPACTED THE REGION ON THE 14TH...AND THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A PERIOD OF VERY COLD TEMPERATURES. THE HEAVIEST SNOW FELL ALONG THE FOOTHILLS AND EAST OF BILLINGS WITH MANY LOCATIONS PICKING UP BETWEEN 4 AND 8 INCHES. BILLINGS HIGH TEMPERATURE STAYED BELOW 39 DEGREES FOR FOUR STRAIGHT DAYS...A RECORD SO LATE IN THE SEASON. SEVERAL RECORD LOW AND COLD HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE TIED OR BROKEN ACROSS THE AREA. APRIL 21-23: A SLOW MOVING SYSTEM FROM CANADA BROUGHT ANOTHER PERIOD OF SNOWY AND COLD WEATHER. THE SNOWFALL WAS HEAVIEST ALONG THE NORTH SLOPES OF THE BEARTOOTH AND BIG HORN MOUNTAINS...WITH UP TO 14 INCHES AT RED LODGE AND 9-13 INCHES AT SHERIDAN...DAYTON...BIG HORN AND STORY. FISHTAIL AND MYSTIC LAKE EACH PICKED UP 11 INCHES. TEMPERATURES WERE REMARKABLY COLD WITH THIS SYSTEM...AND SEVERAL RECORD LOWS AND COLD HIGHS WERE TIED OR BROKEN. SHERIDAN DROPPED TO TWO BELOW ZERO ON THE 23RD...WHICH WAS THE LATEST BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURE ON RECORD BY 2 1/2 WEEKS. APRIL 8-23: THIS WAS THE COLDEST MID APRIL ON RECORD AT BILLINGS... MILES CITY...SHERIDAN AND LIVINGSTON. MAY 16: AFTER A VERY DRY START TO THE YEAR...WET WEATHER FINALLY ARRIVED ON THIS DAY. BETWEEN THE 16TH AND THE 20TH MUCH OF THE AREA RECEIVED BETWEEN ONE AND THREE INCHES OF RAIN. MAY 18: STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED FLASH FLOODING IN MILES CITY AND ACCUMULATING HAIL...UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE...IN OLLIE. DRIFTING HAIL WAS NOTED ON ROADS AND SOME CATTLE WAS LOST DUE TO THE STORM IN OLLIE. MAY 25: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL NEAR BROADUS AND HATHAWAY...AND HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF TENNIS BALLS NEAR FORSYTH...THE LATTER OF WHICH IMPACTED TRAVEL ON I-94. MAY 26: AN ACTIVE THUNDERSTORM DAY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL IN STORY ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS...AND TENNIS BALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED SOUTHEAST OF SHERIDAN. FURTHER NORTH...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAIN OCCURRED NEAR CUSTER...WHERE FLASH FLOODING WASHED OUT SOME ROADS. FLASH FLOODING ALSO OCCURRED ALONG SARPY CREEK ROAD...WITH TREE AND FENCE DAMAGE REPORTED. FUNNEL CLOUDS WERE OBSERVED NEAR CUSTER. MAY 27: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED HAIL TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS IN SHERIDAN. MAY 28-31: VERY WET WEATHER IMPACTED THE REGION. ALL AREAS EAST OF BILLINGS RECEIVED OVER 3 INCHES OF RAIN...WITH OVER 8 INCHES NEAR ASHLAND...6.50 INCHES AT COLSTRIP...OVER 5 INCHES EAST OF MILES CITY AND 5 INCHES NEAR LAME DEER AND HYSHAM. THE BILLINGS AREA RECEIVED BETWEEN 1 AND 3 INCHES OF RAINFALL. MAY 29: HEAVY RAIN PRODUCED FLASH FLOODING ON THE DAHL AND CHALKY BURN SCAR AREAS. FLOODING WAS ALSO REPORTED ALONG ROSEBUD CREEK. JUNE 2: HEAVY RAIN PRODUCED FLASH FLOODING ON THE DAHL AND WILSON BURN SCAR AREAS NEAR ROUNDUP. DEAN CREEK ALONG THE MUSSELSHELL AND GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTY LINE ALSO EXPERIENCED FLASH FLOODING...WITH DRIVEWAYS AND FENCES DESTROYED. QUARTER SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED WITH A THUNDERSTORM NORTH OF POMPEYS PILLAR. JUNE 3: A WEAK TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN TWICE NORTHEAST OF BAKER. JUNE 11: MORE HEAVY RAIN AND FLASH FLOODING OCCURRED ON THE DAHL BURN SCAR. FLASH FLOODING ALSO OCCURRED IN SHERIDAN DUE TO 0.85 INCHES OF RAIN IN 40 MINUTES. ANOTHER STORM CAUSED SIGNIFICANT WIND DAMAGE TO TREES AND FENCES NEAR CLEARMONT IN EASTERN SHERIDAN COUNTY...WHERE WIND GUSTS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE AS HIGH AS 80 MPH. A FLOODED UNDERPASS WAS ALSO REPORTED IN MILES CITY. JUNE 13: A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND ABUNDANT MOISTURE IN PLACE BROUGHT SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS THE REGION...WITH MANY REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. A SEVERE STORM STRUCK BILLINGS EARLY IN THE DAY...AROUND 1130 AM...WITH UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND 60-70 MPH WIND GUSTS ESPECIALLY ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE CITY. DOWNED BRANCHES AND POWER OUTAGES WERE REPORTED. SEVERE WEATHER BECAME WIDESPREAD LATER IN THE DAY. TENNIS BALL SIZE HAIL FELL NEAR RAPELJE AND ROUNDUP. MANY LOCATIONS RECEIVED QUARTER TO GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. 60-70 MPH WIND GUSTS WERE OBSERVED FROM NEAR CROW AGENCY TO LAME DEER TO A LITTLE SOUTH OF MILES CITY. JUNE 19: SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRED FROM PARK TO MUSSELSHELL COUNTIES...INCLUDING GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL NEAR COLUMBUS...65 MPH WIND GUSTS AT JUDITH GAP...FUNNEL CLOUDS NEAR KLEIN...QUARTER SIZE HAIL WITH 70-80 MPH WIND GUSTS AND FLASH FLOODING IN ROUNDUP...AND FLASH FLOODING ON THE DAHL AND DELPHIA BURN SCARS. JUNE 21: SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NEAR BAKER AND EKALAKA PRODUCED 60 MPH WIND GUSTS...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND A FUNNEL CLOUD EARLY IN THE MORNING...AROUND 700 AM. JUNE 22: THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY PRODUCED AREAS OF VERY HEAVY RAIN AND FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING OCCURRED AROUND BAKER...WHERE A ROAD WAS WASHED OUT AND RESIDENTS WERE STRANDED...OVER THE DAHL AND DELPHIA BURN SCARS...AND AT PICTOGRAPH CAVE STATE PARK. JUNE 29: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A 63 MPH WIND GUST AT LIVINGSTON...A 70 MPH WIND GUST AT BIG TIMBER...AND A 60 MPH GUST NEAR COLUMBUS. ALSO...COTTONWOOD TREES WERE DOWNED NEAR REED POINT...AND HEAVY RAIN PRODUCED A MUDSLIDE ON HIGHWAY 191 NORTH OF BIG TIMBER. JULY 4: SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IMPACTED MUSSELSHELL AND CARBON COUNTIES. SIGNIFICANT CROP DAMAGE WAS REPORTED NORTHEAST OF ROUNDUP DUE TO 3 INCH HAIL...STRONG WINDS AND HAIL DRIFTS. POWER OUTAGES WERE ALSO REPORTED...AND THERE WAS A 70 MPH WIND GUST THAT BROUGHT DOWN LARGE TREE BRANCHES JUST WEST OF ROUNDUP. FURTHER SOUTH...HEAVY RAIN PRODUCED STREET FLOODING IN RED LODGE...AND PART OF THE JOLIET TO FROMBERG ROAD WAS WASHED OUT. STRONG WINDS ALSO DOWNED UP TO 6 INCH DIAMETER TREE LIMBS NEAR EDGAR. JULY 7: HAIL UP TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER WAS REPORTED NEAR BELLE CREEK IN CARTER COUNTY. ANOTHER SEVERE STORM PRODUCED 60 MPH WIND GUSTS FROM ABERDEEN HILL TO NEAR TONGUE RIVER RESERVOIR...BANNER AND DECKER. SEVERE WINDS WERE ALSO REPORTED NEAR INGOMAR AND MOORHEAD... 64 MPH AND 62 MPH RESPECTIVELY. JULY 8: A LARGE SWATH OF SEVERE WEATHER IMPACTED AREAS FROM WHEATLAND TO FALLON COUNTIES. MANY STORMS PRODUCED LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ACROSS THIS AREA. ALSO...THERE WERE TWO CONFIRMED TORNADOES...AN EF0 JUST NORTH OF MELSTONE AND AN EF1 NEAR 12 MILE DAM SOUTH OF MILES CITY. THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS OF MICROBURST WIND DAMAGE IN RYEGATE AND INGOMAR. STRONG STRAIGHT LINE WINDS ALSO IMPACTED AREAS IN THE EAST FROM MIZPAH TO PLEVNA. DAMAGE INCLUDED DOWNED LARGE TREES...SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE...DOWNED POWER POLES...IRRIGATION PIPE THROWN SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET...AND A SEMI TRAILER KNOCKED OVER. JULY 13: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN PRODUCED FLASH FLOODING NEAR BRIDGER AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL AT PRYOR. JULY 17: HEAVY RAIN NORTH OF GARDINER CAUSED A MUD SLIDE THAT COVERED US-89 UP TO 8 FEET DEEP. JULY 22: SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRED IN PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MONTANA. PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL DRIVEN BY 60 MPH WINDS WAS REPORTED NEAR SHIRLEY IN CUSTER COUNTY...AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED NEAR ALBION. JULY 24-25: SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRED IN SOUTHEAST MONTANA DURING THE NIGHT...INCLUDING WIND DAMAGE NEAR VOLBORG...QUARTER SIZE HAIL WITH 60 MPH WIND GUSTS NORTH OF BROADUS...PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAIN SOUTHEAST OF BROADUS...AND HEAVY RAIN FROM RIDGE TO BOYES. JULY 25: A SINGLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL FROM HARLOWTON TO NEAR RAPELJE. AN ESTIMATED 75 MPH WIND GUST WAS REPORTED 11 MILES WEST OF RAPELJE. JULY 26: ANOTHER NIGHTTIME SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL NEAR COLSTRIP AND BROADUS. AUGUST 1: A SINGLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM TRACKED FROM WILSALL TO BIG TIMBER...BILLINGS AND HARDIN. THIS STORM PRODUCED 60 MPH GUSTS AND WIND DAMAGE AT WILSALL...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AT BIG TIMBER...QUARTER TO GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND UP TO 65 MPH WIND GUSTS IN THE BILLINGS AREA...AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN HARDIN. AUGUST 3: SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IMPACTED SOUTHEAST MONTANA...THE STRONGEST OF WHICH WAS NEAR BROADUS WHERE AN EF0 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AND SOFTBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED. OTHER REPORTS INCLUDED: TENNIS BALL SIZE HAIL AND 65 MPH WIND GUSTS NEAR BIDDLE...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL NEAR DECKER...AND GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL NORTHEAST OF MILES CITY. AUGUST 5: SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRED ACROSS CUSTER...FALLON AND CARTER COUNTIES. REPORTS INCLUDED: 60-65 MPH WIND GUSTS FROM NEAR MILES CITY TO PLEVNA AND BAKER...AN ESTIMATED 75 MPH WIND GUST NEAR CAPITOL...2.5 INCH HAIL NEAR ALBION WHICH BROKE WINDOWS...2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL NEAR RIDGWAY CAUSING SIDING AND SCREEN DAMAGE ON A HOUSE. AUGUST 10: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED QUARTER SIZE HAIL NEAR JOLIET. ANOTHER STORM PRODUCED UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL IN BAKER...CAUSING HOME AND CAR DAMAGE. AUGUST 23: SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IMPACTED PARK COUNTY: ESTIMATED 60- 75 MPH WIND GUSTS IN CLYDE PARK CAUSING TREE AND TENT DAMAGE...AND A 63 MPH GUST WAS MEASURED AT THE LIVINGSTON AIRPORT. AUGUST 30: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED TENNIS BALL SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS JUST NORTHWEST OF MILES CITY. HAIL COVERED THE GROUND ALONG HIGHWAY 59. FURTHER SOUTH...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A 66 MPH WIND GUST NEAR SHERIDAN. SEPTEMBER 5: TWO MICROBURSTS WERE REPORTED IN ROSEBUD COUNTY. ONE PRODUCED A 69 MPH WIND GUST AT INGOMAR. ANOTHER NORTHWEST OF CARTERSVILLE TIPPED OVER A CATTLE TRAILER AND BLEW OFF A PORTION OF A BARNS ROOF. SEPTEMBER 6: A MICROBURST CAUSED WIND DAMAGE IN A LOCALIZED AREA IN WEST BILLINGS...NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF KING AND SHILOH. POWER LINES AND TREE LIMBS WERE DOWNED. SEPTEMBER 7: A THUNDERSTORM INTENSIFIED TO SIGNIFICANT SEVERE LEVELS JUST WEST OF BILLINGS...AND PRODUCED A 73 MPH WIND GUST AT THE AIRPORT...ALONG WITH TORRENTIAL RAIN AND WIND DRIVEN HAIL. FLASH FLOODING OCCURRED IN THE CITY...A RESULT OF THE 2 INCHES OF RAIN IN ABOUT A HALF HOUR...CAUSING MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS WAS OBSERVED. THE STORM REMAINED SEVERE AS FAR EAST AS POMPEYS PILLAR. ELSEWHERE...SEVERE STORMS IMPACTED AREAS NEAR BAKER AND SHERIDAN. WHY THE INTENSE SEVERE WEATHER SO LATE IN THE YEAR? RECORD AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE WERE PRESENT DUE TO A SUBTROPICAL FLOW FROM BAJA...ALONG WITH A STRONG AND SLOW MOVING UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO OUR WEST. SEPTEMBER 14-15: A WEAK LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM COMBINED WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE TO PRODUCE AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN AND SOME LATE SEASON THUNDERSTORMS. HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WAS IN UPSLOPE AREAS FROM RED LODGE TO SHERIDAN WITH 1.5 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN. THE BILLINGS AREA RECEIVED BETWEEN 1 AND 1.8 INCHES OF RAIN...WITH A DAILY RECORD OF 1.21 INCHES ON THE 14TH. SEPTEMBER 25-27: PERIODS OF RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW IMPACTED THE REGION. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OVER THIS 3-DAY PERIOD EXCEEDED AN INCH IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS...INCLUDING SHERIDAN...HARDIN...RYEGATE... GARDINER...HARLOWTON AND RAPELJE. THE FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON FELL ON THE NIGHT OF THE 26TH...WITH 2-3 INCHES AT RED LODGE...6 INCHES AT STORY AND UP TO 10 INCHES IN THE BIG HORN MOUNTAINS. OCTOBER 3-4: HEAVY SNOW FELL ON THE NORTH AND EAST SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS. THE WET SNOW CAUSED SOME TREE DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES...AND DIFFICULT TRAVEL CONDITIONS. AMOUNTS INCLUDED DEAN 24 INCHES...RED LODGE AND MELVILLE 20 INCHES...ROBERTS 18 INCHES...ABSAROKEE AND PRYOR 12 INCHES...SHERIDAN 10 INCHES. BILLINGS RECEIVED 1.34 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION BUT THE SNOW THAT FELL FAILED TO STICK AS TEMPERATURES WERE JUST A BIT TOO WARM. OCTOBER 13-15: HEAVY SNOW FELL OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS. AMOUNTS INCLUDED: BURGESS JUNCTION 17 INCHES...STORY 12 INCHES AND RED LODGE 11 INCHES. OCTOBER 28-29: MUCH OF THE REGION RECEIVED BETWEEN 2 AND 6 INCHES OF SNOW...WITH UP TO 8 INCHES NEAR RED LODGE AND COLUMBUS. BILLINGS MEASURED 4.8 INCHES...THE FIRST FALL SNOWFALL OF AT LEAST AN INCH IN THE CITY. NOVEMBER 8: SHOWERS ALONG A STRONG COLD FRONT PRODUCED SOME STRONG WIND GUSTS DURING THE NIGHT BETWEEN 100 AM AND 500 AM. PEAK WINDS INCLUDED: COLUMBUS 62 MPH...ABERDEEN HILL 63 MPH...SHERIDAN 59 MPH AND BILLINGS 48 MPH. DECEMBER 2-3: A WINTER STORM PRODUCED WIDESPREAD HEAVY SNOWFALL... WITH RAINFALL PRIOR TO THE SNOW EVENT ADDING TO WHAT WERE IMPRESSIVE PRECIPITATION TOTALS FOR DECEMBER. SNOW AMOUNTS RANGED FROM 6 TO 12 INCHES ACROSS MOST OF THE REGION. HIGHER AMOUNTS INCLUDED RED LODGE 19 INCHES...JOLIET 18 INCHES AND STORY 15 INCHES. BILLINGS PRECIPITATION OF 0.98 INCHES ON THE 2ND WAS A DECEMBER DAILY RECORD. DECEMBER 4-8: A SIGNIFICANT COLD SNAP IMPACTED THE REGION...WITH WIDESPREAD WELL BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES. BILLINGS DROPPED TO 21 BELOW ZERO ON THE 7TH...THE FIRST 20 BELOW READING AT THE AIRPORT SINCE JANUARY 1997. BILLINGS HIGH ON THE 7TH WAS ONLY -13 DEGREES. MILES CITY DROPPED TO 36 BELOW ON THE 7TH...WHICH WAS TIED FOR THE 6TH COLDEST TEMPERATURE ON RECORD. MILES CITY SET OR TIED DAILY RECORD LOWS ON FOUR CONSECUTIVE DAYS. DECEMBER 9-10: KLONDIKE CHINOOK BROUGHT STRONG SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS AND SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW TO THE REGION. LIVINGSTON GUSTED AS HIGH AS 78 MPH...HARLOWTON 63 MPH AND BIG TIMBER 61 MPH. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WITH VISIBILITY REDUCED TO LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE IN BLOWING SNOW IMPACTED THE LIVINGSTON AREA AND AREAS ALONG THE UPPER STILLWATER RIVER. NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WERE ALSO REPORTED IN FALLON AND CARTER COUNTIES DUE TO STRONG WINDS...BLOWING SNOW AND SOME NEW SNOWFALL IN FAR EASTERN MONTANA. DECEMBER 9-17: A WINDY PERIOD...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE FOOTHILLS. LIVINGSTON OBSERVED A PEAK WIND OF AT LEAST 60 MPH ON 8 OF 9 DAYS. SNOW COVER DWINDLED AS TEMPERATURES RETURNED TO ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS. DECEMBER 18-19: CANADIAN COLD FRONT BROUGHT A PERIOD OF SNOWFALL ALONG WITH COLDER TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE REGION. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS RANGED FROM 3 TO 6 INCHES FOR MOST LOCATIONS.