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Climatological Report (Annual)
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
000
CXUS55 KTFX 022134
CLAGTF
CXUS55 KTFX DDHHMM CCA
CLAGTF
MTZ008>015-044>055-151800-
AREA ANNUAL CLIMATE SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
234 PM MST TUE JAN 2 2018
THIS DATA IS PRELIMINARY UNTIL CERTIFIED BY THE NATIONAL CENTERS
FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION.
...2017 WEATHER SUMMARY FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA...
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE / NORMAL/ DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL
GREAT FALLS....44.8 / 44.6... +0.2...44TH COOLEST YEAR OF RECORD.
HAVRE..........44.2 / 43.5... +0.7...39TH WARMEST YEAR OF RECORD.
HELENA.........45.4 / 45.3... +0.1...35TH WARMEST YEAR OF RECORD.
BOZEMAN........42.6 / 42.8... -0.2...39TH COOLEST YEAR OF RECORD.
CUT BANK.......41.6 / 42.1... -0.5...46TH COOLEST YEAR OF RECORD.
DILLON.........43.4 / 42.8... +0.6...30TH WARMEST YEAR OF RECORD.
LEWISTOWN......43.7 / 43.1... +0.6...40TH WARMEST YEAR OF RECORD.
W YELLOWSTONE..35.7 / 34.4... +1.3...27TH WARMEST YEAR OF RECORD.
HIGHEST / LOWEST TEMPERATURES
GREAT FALLS....101 ON 07/15 / -26 ON 12/31
HAVRE..........103 ON 07/08 / -31 ON 12/31
HELENA.........102 ON 07/08 / -16 ON 01/05 & 02/03
BOZEMAN........ 97 ON 07/08 / -28 ON 01/05 & 02/03
CUT BANK....... 97 ON 07/13 / -31 ON 12/31
DILLON......... 95 ON 07/08 09/03 / -22 ON 01/05
LEWISTOWN...... 98 ON 07/15 / -18 ON 01/03
W YELLOWSTONE.. 89 ON 07/08 / -40 ON 01/06
PRECIPITATION / NORMAL / DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL / MOST IN 24 HRS
GREAT FALLS....14.89 / 14.75 / +0.14 / 1.56 ON 04/08-09
HAVRE.......... 8.08 / 11.20 / -3.12 / 1.70 ON 10/02-03
HELENA.........10.52 / 11.22 / -0.70 / 1.02 ON 09/15
BOZEMAN........13.05 / 14.10 / -1.05 / 1.11 ON 05/17
CUT BANK....... 9.75 / 10.85 / -1.10 / 1.37 ON 06/13
DILLON......... 9.79 / 10.50 / -0.71 / 1.03 ON 09/15
LEWISTOWN......13.65 / 16.85 / -3.20 / 1.09 ON 04/08-09
W YELLOWSTONE..26.85 / 21.09 / +5.53 / 0.90 ON 09/15
SOME TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION HIGHLIGHTS AND RANKING...
HAVRE.....THIS WAS THE 11TH DRIEST YEAR OF RECORD, AND THE DRIEST
SINCE 2001.
HELENA....2017 WAS THE 8TH CALMEST YEAR OF RECORD.
WEST YELLOWSTONE...THIS WAS THE 11TH WETTEST YEAR OF RECORD.
SNOWFALL / DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL / MOST IN 24 HRS / MAX SNOW ON GRD
GREAT FALLS.. 65.9 / +2.8 / 7.4 ON 11/01 / 8 INCHES ON 12/30-31
HAVRE.........56.7 /+18.3 / 9.1 ON 11/02 / 13 INCHES ON 10/02-03
HELENA........58.4 /+20.3 / 9.0 ON 12/29 / 12 INCHES ON 02/06
BOZEMAN.......64.1 /+23.9 / 7.5 ON 11/03 14 INCHES ON 11/06-07
CUT BANK......65.1 /+28.2 / 6.5 ON 11/02 / 10 INCHES ON 12/30-31
DILLON........34.3 / -7.1 4.4 ON 12/24 / 5 INCHES ON 02/04
LEWISTOWN..... 6.4 ON 03/02 / 12 INCHES ON 12/31
BOZEMAN MSU..126.4 /+35.4 / 11.6 ON 11/04 / 13 INCHES ON 02/01-04
W YELLOWSTON.135.7 /-24.9 / 8.0 ON 11/05 / 44 INCHES ON 02/09
AVERAGE WIND / DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL / PEAK WIND /MPH/
GREAT FALLS....11.3 MPH / -0.8 / 62 MPH ON 10/22...17TH CALMEST YR
HAVRE..........10.3 MPH / +1.3 / 60 MPH ON 10/17...19TH WINDIEST YR
HELENA......... 6.4 MPH / -0.6 / 56 MPH ON 10/22... 8TH CALMEST YR
BOZEMAN........ 5.7 MPH / -0.2 / 58 MPH ON 07/05...13TH CALMEST YR
CUT BANK.......12.7 MPH / 0.0 / 68 MPH ON 11/20...33RD CALMEST YR
DILLON......... 8.9 MPH / -0.1 / 63 MPH ON 10/20...15TH CALMEST YR
LEWISTOWN...... 9.0 MPH / -0.3 / 65 MPH ON 08/30...19TH CALMEST YR
W YELLOWSTONE.. MPH / / 58 MPH ON 05/24
LAST SPRING FROST / FIRST FALL FROST FREEZE FREE
AVERAGE AVERAGE DAYS NORMAL
GREAT FALLS....05/03 05/20 / 09/23 09/21 124 123
HAVRE..........05/15 05/15 / 09/25 09/21 106 128
HELENA.........05/03 05/15 / 09/24 09/24 151 130
BOZEMAN........05/26 06/02 / 09/17 09/11 125 101
CUT BANK.......05/15 05/24 / 09/21 09/11 119 109
DILLON.........05/14 06/02 / 09/25 09/13 133 102
LEWISTOWN......05/19 05/26 / 09/24 09/17 121 113
W YELLOWSTONE..07/01 06/24 / 08/05 07/22 9 15
DONE
DAYS OF MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE 90F OR HIGHER / 32F OR LOWER
80F OR HIGHER AT WEST YELLOWSTONE
AVERAGE AVERAGE
GREAT FALLS.... 36 18 / 55 40
HAVRE.......... 43 24 / 64 54
HELENA......... 44 24 / 60 41
BOZEMAN........ 31 22 / 61 45
CUT BANK....... 18 8 / 66 48
DILLON......... 19 8 / 53 45
LEWISTOWN...... 22 11 / 56 44
W YELLOWSTONE.. 51 40 / 94 91
DAYS WITH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE 32F OR LOWER / 0F OR LOWER
AVERAGE AVERAGE
GREAT FALLS.... 164 166 / 31 21
HAVRE.......... 174 180 / 28 31
HELENA......... 161 167 / 29 18
BOZEMAN........ 186 178 / 31 22
CUT BANK....... 177 183 / 37 27
DILLON......... 187 191 / 22 14
LEWISTOWN...... 186 181 / 25 21
W YELLOWSTONE.. 273 256 / 41 55
DAYS WITH PRECIPITATION
T+
=>0.01 NRM =>0.10 NRM =>0.50 NRM SNOW NRM
GREAT FALLS.... 96 99 41 40 9 4 76 69
HAVRE.......... 87 84 29 33 2 4 66 55
HELENA......... 91 88 34 33 6 4 67 62
BOZEMAN........ 128 102 44 44 4 4 79 66
CUT BANK....... 68 77 27 26 2 4
DILLON......... 87 80 30 29 2 4
LEWISTOWN...... 104 113 45 47 4 4
MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
BZN 9.5 25.1 41.8 43.0 51.7 60.0 71.2 66.9 55.2 42.3 27.8 16.2
CTB 16.9 20.3 31.9 41.8 52.6 59.4 69.2 64.4 54.2 42.0 28.3 18.2
DLN 12.0 28.7 41.0 42.1 51.5 59.5 70.4 66.4 53.5 42.0 32.9 21.1
GTF 17.9 25.5 37.7 43.9 54.4 61.7 73.4 67.0 56.7 45.2 32.9 21.1
HVR 14.3 24.7 35.3 45.3 55.9 64.1 74.6 67.8 57.7 42.3 28.2 20.1
HLN 11.2 24.7 41.8 45.9 56.2 64.2 76.7 71.0 58.0 44.9 31.6 18.0
LWT 17.4 26.6 36.3 42.1 51.7 59.9 72.7 65.8 55.4 43.7 32.4 20.5
WYS 7.2 21.6 32.3 34.5 44.2 51.5 61.3 56.3 47.4 34.8 26.2 14.0
MONTHLY PRECIPITATION
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
BZN 0.30 0.27 1.28 1.98 1.72 2.57 0.13 0.14 1.71 0.41 1.66 0.88
CTB 0.05 0.82 0.46 2.18 0.96 2.48 0.01 TR 0.53 0.50 0.51 0.70
DLN 0.06 0.15 0.65 1.88 1.49 1.37 0.65 0.20 2.21 0.16 0.52 0.45
GTF 0.85 0.57 0.41 3.58 2.01 2.10 0.08 0.06 2.37 0.58 0.97 1.31
HVR 0.69 0.69 0.15 0.66 0.34 0.68 0.23 0.15 0.97 1.92 0.38 1.22
HLN 0.62 0.68 0.42 0.72 1.39 1.25 0.19 TR 1.92 0.44 1.06 1.83
LWT 0.35 0.68 0.43 2.66 1.69 1.75 0.18 0.25 2.62 0.98 0.40 0.62
WYS 1.93 4.15 2.91 2.93 0.67 1.37 0.52 1.03 4.16 1.04 4.20 1.97
MONTHLY SNOWFALL
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
MSU 15.3 15.8 3.1 7.1 10.0 0 0 0 0 4.0 24.9 46.3
CTB 10.5 12.4 10.5 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 3.0 14.3 12.4
DLN 10.5 3.7 T 0 0 0 0 0 1.2 0 6.3 13.8
GTF 12.4 6.8 5.6 5.0 0 0 0 0 T 2.0 13.4 20.7
HVR 10.0 9.2 1.0 T 0 0 0 0 0 13.0 4.5 18.6
HLN 12.7 10.8 2.9 T 0 0 0 0 T 1.3 7.5 23.2
LWT 10.1 11.9 14.4 5.4 0 0 0 0 0 7.5 7.8 M
WYS 24.5 31.8 7.0 16.4 2.5 T 0 0 3.0 4.7 22.9 1.8
MILESTONES REACHED DURING 2017...
BOZEMAN...
MAR...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 41.8F TIES 2007 FOR THE WARMEST OF
RECORD. AVERAGE IS 34.1F.
SNOWFALL OF 1.8 INCHES WAS THE 6TH LOWEST OF RECORD. AVERAGE
IS 7.7 INCHES.
JUL...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 71.2F WAS THE THIRD WARMEST OF RECORD,
AND THE WARMEST SINCE 2007. AVERAGE IS 67.0F.
PRECIPITATION OF 0.13 INCHES WAS THE SIXTH LOWEST OF RECORD,
AND THE DRIEST SINCE 2007. AVERAGE IS 1.12".
AUG...PRECIPITATION OF 0.14 INCHES WAS THE THIRD LOWEST OF RECORD,
AND THE DRIEST SINCE 2001. AVERAGE IS 1.08".
NOV...PRECIPITATION OF 1.66 INCHES WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST OF RECORD,
AND THE WETTEST SINCE 1968. AVERAGE IS 0.77".
SNOWFALL OF 15.9 INCHES WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST OF RECORD.
AVERAGE IS 10.7 INCHES.
DEC...SNOWFALL OF 21.4 INCHES WAS THE HIGHEST OF RECORD. AVERAGE
IS 6.0 INCHES.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 4.0 MPH WAS THE THIRD LOWEST OF RECORD.
ANNUAL SNOWFALL OF 64.1 INCHES IS THE NINTH HIGHEST OF RECORD.
SPRING (MAR-MAY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 45.5F WAS THE FOURTH WARMEST
OF RECORD AND WARMEST SINCE 2007. AVERAGE IS 42.7F.
SUMMER (JUN-AUG)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 66.0F WAS THE SIXTH WARMEST
OF RECORD AND WARMEST SINCE 2007. AVERAGE IS 63.9F.
CUT BANK...
FEB...PRECIPITATION OF 0.82 INCHES WAS THE FOURTH HIGHEST OF RECORD,
AND THE HIGHEST SINCE 1958. AVERAGE IS 0.21 INCHES.
SNOWFALL OF 12.4 INCHES WAS THE SIXTH HIGHEST OF RECORD, AND
HIGHEST SINCE 2011. AVERAGE IS 4.8 INCHES.
APR...PRECIPITATION OF 2.18 INCHES WAS THE FOURTH HIGHEST OF RECORD,
AND THE HIGHEST SINCE 1978. AVERAGE IS 0.78 INCHES.
JUL...PRECIPITATION OF 0.01 INCHES WAS THE THIRD LOWEST OF RECORD,
AND THE LOWEST SINCE 1959. AVERAGE IS 1.28 INCHES.
AUG...PRECIPITATION OF A TRACE TIED 1917 AND 1955 FOR THE LOWEST OF
RECORD. AVERAGE IS 1.16 INCHES.
OCT...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 17.4 MPH WAS THE FOURTH HIGHEST OF RECORD,
AND THE HIGHEST SINCE 1985. AVERAGE IS 12.9 MPH.
NOV...SNOWFALL OF 14.3 INCHES WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST OF RECORD, AND
HIGHEST SINCE 2014. AVERAGE IS 9.3 INCHES.
ANNUAL SNOWFALL OF 65.1 INCHES WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST OF RECORD AND
HIGHEST SINCE 2014
WINTER (DEC-FEB)...PRECIPITATION OF 2.42 INCHES WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST
OF RECORD, AND THE HIGHEST SINCE 1978. AVERAGE IS 0.61 INCHES.
SNOWFALL OF 37.9 INCHES WAS THE FOURTH HIGHEST OF RECORD, AND
HIGHEST SINCE 2009. AVERAGE IS 15.5 INCHES.
SPRING (MAR-MAY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 44.1F WAS THE FOURTH
WARMEST OF RECORD, AND THE WARMEST SINCE 1992. AVERAGE IS 40.8F.
DILLON...
MAR...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 41.0F WAS THE FOURTH WARMEST OF RECORD,
AND THE WARMEST SINCE 1992. AVERAGE IS 34.3F.
JUL...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 70.4F WAS THE THIRD WARMEST OF RECORD,
AND THE WARMEST SINCE 2007. AVERAGE IS 65.7F.
SPRING (MAR-MAY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 44.9F WAS THE SIXTH WARMEST
OF RECORD AND WARMEST SINCE 2015. AVERAGE IS 42.1F.
GREAT FALLS...
APR...PRECIPITATION OF 3.58 INCHES WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST OF RECORD,
AND THE HIGHEST SINCE 1975. AVERAGE IS 1.42 INCHES.
JUL...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 73.4F WAS THE FIFTH WARMEST OF RECORD,
AND WARMEST SINCE 2007. AVERAGE IS 67.4F.
PRECIPITATION OF 0.08 INCHES WAS THE SIXTH LOWEST OF RECORD,
AND THE LOWEST SINCE 1984. AVERAGE IS 1.50 INCHES.
AUG...PRECIPITATION OF 0.06 INCHES WAS THE FOURTH LOWEST OF RECORD,
AND THE LOWEST SINCE 1969. AVERAGE IS 1.57 INCHES.
DEC...SNOWFALL OF 20.7 INCHES WAS THE 6TH HIGHEST OF RECORD. AVERAGE
IS 9.0 INCHES.
THE COLD THAT STARTED A STRING OF 5 CONSECUTIVE DAYS BELOW ZERO BEGAN
ON DECEMBER 28. IT LASTED THROUGH JANUARY 1 2018. THIS STRETCH WAS THE
LONGEST SUCH STRETCH SINCE 1996.
HAVRE...
MAY...PRECIPITATION OF 0.34 INCHES WAS THE SIXTH LOWEST OF RECORD,
AND THE LOWEST SINCE 1988. AVERAGE IS 1.74 INCHES.
JUN...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 11.3 MPH WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST OF RECORD,
AND THE HIGHEST SINCE 2012. AVERAGE IS 9.0 MPH.
OCT...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 13.0 MPH WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST OF RECORD,
AND THE HIGHEST SINCE 1967. AVERAGE IS 8.8 MPH.
DEC...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 12.4 MPH WAS THE 10TH WINDIEST OF RECORD.
AVERAGE IS 9.5 MPH.
SNOWFALL OF 18.6 INCHES WAS THE 7TH HIGHEST OF RECORD. AVERAGE
IS 7.2 INCHES.
SUMMER (JUN-AUG)...PRECIPITATION OF 1.06 INCHES WAS THE SECOND LOWEST
OF RECORD AND THE LOWEST SINCE 1967. AVERAGE IS 4.94 INCHES.
THE COLD THAT STARTED A STRING OF 8 CONSECUTIVE DAYS BELOW ZERO BEGAN
ON DECEMBER 25. IT LASTED THROUGH JANUARY 1 2018. THIS STRETCH WAS THE
LONGEST SUCH STRETCH SINCE 1996.
HELENA...
JAN...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 3.1 MPH WAS THE SECOND LOWEST OF RECORD,
AND THE LOWEST SINCE 2010. AVERAGE IS 5.9 MPH.
JUL...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 76.7F WAS THE SECOND WARMEST OF RECORD,
AND WARMEST SINCE 2007. AVERAGE IS 70.0F.
AUG...PRECIPITATION OF A TRACE TIED 1940 FOR THE LOWEST OF RECORD.
AVERAGE IS 1.20 INCHES.
SEP...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 5.3 MPH WAS THE FOURTH LOWEST OF RECORD,
AND THE LOWEST SINCE 2011. AVERAGE IS 6.6 MPH.
DEC...SNOWFALL OF 23.2 INCHES WAS THE 7TH HIGHEST OF RECORD. AVERAGE
IS 7.3 INCHES.
AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 4.3 MPH WAS THE 5TH CALMEST OF RECORD.
AVERAGE IS 5.7 MPH.
WINTER (DEC-FEB)...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 4.9 MPH WAS THE THIRD LOWEST
OF RECORD, AND THE LOWEST SINCE 2010. AVERAGE IS 6.0 MPH.
SPRING (MAR-MAY)...THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 48.0F WAS THE SIXTH
WARMEST OF RECORD, AND WARMEST SINCE3 2015. AVERAGE IS 45.1F.
SUMMER (JUN-AUG)...THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 70.7F WAS THE THIRD
WARMEST OF RECORD, AND THE WARMEST SINCE 2007. AVERAGE IS 66.8F.
PRECIPITATION OF 1.44 INCHES WAS THE SEVENTH LOWEST OF RECORD,
AND THE LOWEST SINCE 1973. AVERAGE IS 4.45 INCHES.
LEWISTOWN...
JUL...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 72.7F WAS THE SECOND WARMEST OF RECORD,
AND WARMEST SINCE 2007. AVERAGE IS 65.5F.
.PRECIPITATION OF 0.18 INCHES WAS THE THIRD LOWEST OF RECORD,
AND THE LOWEST SINCE 1984. AVERAGE IS 1.93 INCHES.
OCT...AVERAGE WIND SPEED OF 12.1 MPH WAS THE FOURTH HIGHEST OF RECORD,
AND THE HIGHEST SINCE 1990. AVERAGE IS 9.3 MPH.
SPRING (MAR-MAY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 45.8 DEGREES WAS THE
FOURTH WARMEST OF RECORD, AND THE WARMEST SINCE 1992. AVERAGE
IS 41.4.
SUMMER (JUN-AUG)...PRECIPITATION OF 2.18 INCHES WAS THE LOWEST OF
RECORD. AVERAGE IS 6.74 INCHES.
WEST YELLOWSTONE...
FEB...PRECIPITATION OF 4.15 INCHES WAS THE HIGHEST OF RECORD. AVERAGE
IS 1.58 INCHES.
MAR...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 32.3F TIES 1992 FOR THE WARMEST OF
RECORD. AVERAGE IS 24.6F.
SEP...PRECIPITATION OF 4.16 INCHES WAS THE HIGHEST OF RECORD. AVERAGE IS
1.09 INCHES.
NOV...PRECIPITATION OF 4.20 INCHES WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST OF RECORD, AND
WETTEST SINCE 1988. AVERAGE IS 2.07 INCHES.
WINTER (DEC-FEB)...PRECIPITATION OF 9.97 INCHES WAS THE SIXTH HIGHEST OF
RECORD, AND WETTEST SINCE 1997. AVERAGE IS 6.11 INCHES.
FALL (SEP-NOV)...PRECIPITATION OF 9.40 INCHES WAS THE FOURTH WETTEST
OF RECORD. AVERAGE IS 4.67 INCHES.
NEW RECORD
TEMPERATURE WARM| DAILY WIND DAILY
HIGHS LOWS LOWS| HIGH AVG LOW AVG GUST PRECIP
BOZEMAN 5 1 7 7 8 16 3
CUT BANK 4 1 5 0 2 4 5
DILLON 8 1 7 1 2 11 5
GREAT FALLS 7 1 2 3 2 2 3
HAVRE 8 3 0 6 2 7 1
HELENA 9 0 4 0 8 8 5
LEWISTOWN 7 0 8 4 1 9 0
W YELLOWSTONE 0 0 1 3
THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENTS AND PATTERNS
DURING THE YEAR...
AREA ANNUAL EXTREMES...
HIGH TEMPERATURE...103 HAVRE, LOMA AND BIG SANDY IN JULY
LOW TEMPERATURE....-41 WHISKEY CREEK AND NEAR HAVRE IN JANUARY
MONTHLY PRECIP.....12.40 INCHES AT BLACK BEAR SNOTEL IN FEBRUARY
6.63 INCHES AT MOUTH OF DEARBORN RVR IN MAY
WIND GUST..........115 MPH NEAR SUNBURST IN JUNE
2017...
JANUARY...
A WEAKER THAN NORMAL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WAS OVER THE WEST COAST.
THIS BROUGHT COLDER AIR AND VARIABLE PRECIPITATION TO THE AREA FOR
MUCH OF THE MONTH. THE FIRST HALF WAS VERY COLD, WITH TEMPERATURES AS
MUCH AS 30 TO 40 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. A MILD PATTERN RETURNED FOR THE
REST OF THE MONTH, WITH PERIODS OF MUCH ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES.
COLD AIR TRAPPED IN SOME SOUTHWEST VALLEYS PRODUCED VERY COLD MONTHLY
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES IN THESE AREAS. THERE WERE PERIODS OF LOW AIR
QUALITY DURING SOME OF THESE INVERSIONS.
THE AREA FROM CHOTEAU TO HAVRE HAD NEARLY TWICE THEIR NORMAL
PRECIPITATION FOR JANUARY, WHICH IS GENERALLY LESS THAN ONE INCH.
WINDS WERE ON THE LIGHT SIDE.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 63F NEAR GRASS RANGE 18TH -41F AT WHISKEY CREEK 5TH
NEAR HAVRE 11TH
PRECIP 2.60 INCHES AT MARIAS PASS AND 6.50" AT BLACK BEAR SNOTEL
WIND GUST 85 MPH AT DEEP CREEK RAWS 16TH
########
FEBRUARY...
A WEAK RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUED ALONG THE WEST COAST. IT WAS
MUCH WEAKER THAN NORMAL, BUT CONTRIBUTED TO ABOVE NORMAL
PRECIPITATION AND VARIABLE TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE AREA. WINDS WERE
GENERALLY NEAR TO ABOVE NORMAL. RECORD SNOW AMOUNTS OCCURRED ALONG
THE NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT FROM THE 4TH-7TH. RECORD HIGH
TEMPERATURES OCCURRED ON THE 15TH AND 16TH, WITH ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS ON THE 16TH AND 21ST.
THE HEAVY SNOWFALL OVER THE NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT IN EARLY
FEBRUARY CAUSED THE WETTEST FEBRUARY OF RECORD AT MANY GLACIER AND
EAST GLACIER. WEST YELLOWSTONE ALSO SAW THEIR WETTEST FEBRUARY OF
RECORD. EAST GLACIER REPORTED 68.5 INCHES OF SNOW.
WINDS AVERAGED NEAR TO ABOVE NORMAL. THE HIGHEST WIND GUST WAS 96 MPH
AT DEEP CREEK RAWS, WHILE 77 MPH WAS REPORTED AT TWO MEDICINE AND
SAPPHIRE VILLAGE.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 73F AT FORT BELKNAP 15TH -38F AT ELK PARK 3RD
PRECIP 6.58 INCHES AT EAST GLACIER AND 12.40" AT BLACK BEAR SNOTEL
WIND GUST 98 MPH AT LOGAN PASS 6TH
########
MARCH...
A VERY STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WAS CENTERED OVER MONTANA THIS
MONTH. THIS BROUGHT ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES, ALONG WITH VARYING
AMOUNTS OF PRECIPITATION. SOUTHWEST MONTANA WAS ESPECIALLY WARM. WEST
YELLOWSTONE TIED FOR THEIR WARMEST MARCH OF RECORD.
HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE MID 70S ON MARCH 18TH, THIS WAS THE
EARLIEST OF RECORD AT MANY LOCATIONS FOR SUCH VALUES.
A WEAK RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATED THE WEATHER IN MARCH,
BRINGING WARM AND DRY FLOW TO MUCH OF THE STATE. TEMPERATURES WERE
NEAR TO WELL ABOVE NORMAL. AT HAVRE, A 55-DAY STREAK OF ABOVE NORMAL
TEMPERATURES ENDED ON THE 17TH, THEIR SECOND LONGEST STREAK OF
RECORD. TEMPERATURE AVERAGES WERE ABOVE NORMAL, RANGING FROM 0.9F AT
YELLOWMULE RAWS TO 8.9F AT TURNER.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 80F AT LOMA 18TH -12F AT DUPUYER CREEK 9TH
PRECIP 3.77 INCHES AT EAST GLACIER , 8.70" AT MANY GLACIER SNOTEL
WIND GUST 83 MPH NEAR PENDROY 3RD
########
APRIL...
DURING APRIL, A WEAK RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WAS CENTERED OVER THE
STATE. THIS BROUGHT NEARLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AND NEAR TO SLIGHTLY
ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION.
SNOW FELL IN THE HIGHWOOD MOUNTAINS ON THE 4TH, WITH UP TO 21 INCHES
REPORTED. GREAT FALLS RECEIVED 1.56" OF PRECIPITATION ON THE 5TH,
THEIR 5TH HIGHEST 24-HOUR AMOUNT OF RECORD IN APRIL. THUNDERSTORMS
ACCOMPANYING A COLD FRONT DOWNED POWER LINES IN THE ENNIS, FORT
BENTON, LOMA AND CARTER AREAS ON THE 7TH. SMALL FUNNEL CLOUDS WERE
SIGHTED NEAR CONRAD ON THE 23RD AND NEAR LOGAN ON THE 24TH.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 77F AT LOMA 7TH 4F AT DARKHORSE LAKE 4TH
CHINOOK AND ARMELLS CK 13TH
PRECIP 3.58 INCHES AT GREAT FALLS 8.10" AT CRYSTAL LAKE SNOTEL
WIND GUST 67 MPH AT CUT BANK 7TH
########
MAY...
A WEAK RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER WESTERN MONTANA DOMINATED
THE WEATHER IN MAY. TEMPERATURES AVERAGED NEAR TO ABOVE NORMAL. AT
MANY LOCATIONS, THIS WAS THE WARMEST MAY SINCE 2006. PRECIPITATION
WAS MOSTLY BELOW NORMAL. A SMALL AREA OVER NORTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK
TO CENTRAL TETON COUNTIES HAD ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION. UP TO
4-INCHES OF PRECIPITATION FELL OVER WESTERN TETON COUNTY AND TWO FEET
OF SNOW IN THE ADJACENT ROCKIES ON THE 16TH. POLARIS REPORTED 10.2"
OF SNOW DURING THIS STORM.
WHILE HEAVY PRECIPITATION FELL IN SOME AREAS, OTHERS REMAINED DRY.
WITH ONLY 0.34" AT HAVRE, THIS WAS THEIR 6TH DRIEST MAY OF RECORD,
AND DRIEST SINCE 1988.
WIND SPEEDS AVERAGED BELOW NORMAL. ON THE 6TH, THUNDERSTORM WINDS
GUSTED TO 64 MPH AT MALMSTROM AFB, WHILE ON THE 12TH A THUNDERSTORM
GUST OF 75 MPH WAS RECORDED AT CHESTER.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 91F AT HAVRE & LOMA 5TH 17F AT BANNACK ST PARK 14TH
PRECIP 6.63 INCHES MOUTH OF DEARBORN RIVER
WIND GUST 75 MPH AT CHESTER 12TH
########
JUNE...
UNDER A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE, JUNE WAS WARM WITH NEAR NORMAL
PRECIPITATION.
TEMPERATURES WERE ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE FIRST 9 DAYS, WITH RECORD
HIGH TEMPERATURES REPORTED ON THE 8TH. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ON THE
8TH PRODUCED SEVERE DOWNBURST WINDS OVER THE HI-LINE. GUSTS REACHED
115 MPH NEAR SUNBURST. COOLER AIR SPREAD OVER THE REGION, WITH A
RECORD LOW OF 32F AT DILLON ON THE 11TH.
DRY CONDITIONS CONTINUED IN NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. LESS THAN ONE-HALF
INCH OF RAIN FELL IN EASTERN FERGUS COUNTY. AT GRASS RANGE, THIS WAS
THE 3RD DRIEST JUNE OF RECORD.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 99F AT LOMA 26TH 21F AT WISDOM 1ST
PRECIP 3.57 INCHES NEAR CUT BANK 6.30" AT BADGER PASS
WIND GUST 115 MPH NEAR SUNBURST 8TH
########
JULY...
JULY WAS VERY WARM AND DRY. MANY LOCATIONS SAW THEIR FIRST 100 DEGREE
DAY IN JULY SINCE 2007. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORM OCCURRED THROUGHOUT
THE MONTH, MOSTLY PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS. THE WARMTH OF THE MONTH WAS
SHOWN IN THE 7.2F POSITIVE DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL AT LEWISTOWN. AT
LEWISTOWN AND HELENA, THIS WAS THEIR 2ND WARMEST JULY OF RECORD.
GREAT FALLS RECORDED 23 DAYS WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES OF 90 OR HIGHER.
THIS WAS THE MOST IN JULY SINCE 24 DAYS IN JULY 1936.
RAINFALL WAS ON THE LOW SIDE. WITH ONLY 0.01", CUT BANK TIED FOR
THEIR SECOND DRIEST JULY, WHILE LEWISTOWN HAD THEIR 3RD DRIEST. FOR
THE APRIL THROUGH JUNE PERIOD, THIS WAS THE DRIEST OF RECORD AT
HAVRE, WITH ONLY 1.91".
WINDS WERE ON THE LIGHT SIDE. THE AREA AVERAGE WAS THE SIXTH CALMEST
JULY OF RECORD.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 103F AT HAVRE 8TH 26F AT GATES PARK 17TH
LOMA AND BIG SANDY 15TH
PRECIP 1.60 INCHES NEAR BIG SKY
WIND GUST 73 MPH NEAR HAVRE 15TH
########
AUGUST...
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE ALONG THE WEST COAST PRODUCED WESTERLY FLOW
ALOFT OVER THE AREA. TEMPERATURES WERE NEAR TO ABOVE NORMAL WEST AND
SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL EAST. DRY CONDITIONS CONTINUED. SMOKY SKIES
WERE A COMMON SIGHT DURING THE MONTH.
CUT BANK AND HELENA TIED PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THEIR DRIEST AUGUST OF
RECORD, RECORDING ONLY A TRACE. LEWISTOWN HAD THEIR DRIEST SUMMER OF
RECORD, WHILE HAVRE HAD THEIR SECOND DRIEST, AND DRIEST SINCE 1967.
WIND SPEED AVERAGES WERE BELOW NORMAL. GREAT FALLS TIED FOR THE
CALMEST AUGUST OF RECORD.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 99F AT LOMA 28TH 21F AT WEST YELLOWSTONE 17TH
PRECIP 1.03 INCHES WEST YELLOWSTONE 2.01" AT LONE MOUNTAIN.
WIND GUST 66 MPH AT LEWISTOWN 30TH
########
SEPTEMBER...
THE WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT CONTINUED IN SEPTEMBER. TEMPERATURES WERE A
DEGREE OR TWO BELOW NORMAL, WITH ABOVE NORMAL MOSTLY SOUTH OF US
HIGHWAY 2. BOZEMAN AND DILLON HAD THEIR WETTEST SEPTEMBER SINCE 2013,
WHILE WEST YELLOWSTONE HAD THEIR WETTEST OF RECORD.
WIND SPEEDS CONTINUED TO AVERAGE BELOW NORMAL. BOZEMAN AND LEWISTOWN
SAW THEIR CALMEST SEPTEMBER OF RECORD.
SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL WITH GENERALLY ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION.
THE FIRST FROST OCCURRED AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA
ON THE 13TH. THIS WAS ABOUT 10 DAYS AHEAD OF THE AVERAGE.
THE WETTEST AREA WAS OVER JUDITH BASIN AND PORTIONS OF BLAINE AND FERGUS
COUNTIES. WHILE MANY GLACIER WAS THE WETTEST, RAINFALL AMOUNTS
OF 4.5 INCHES OR MORE WERE REPORTED OVER THESE OTHER WET AREAS.
WINDS WERE SOMEWHAT ABOVE NORMAL. SOME SPOTS HAD THEIR STRONGEST
SEPTEMBER AVERAGE SINCE 2000. THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH THE HELENA
AREA ON THE 1ST PRODUCED GUSTS TO 62 MPH. THIS WAS THEIR STRONGEST
SEPTEMBER GUST SINCE 1999, AND THEIR SECOND HIGHEST SEPTEMBER GUST
OF RECORD.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 98F AT TWIN BRIDGES 15F AT GATES PARK 24TH
WHITEHALL 3RD
PRECIP 4.79 INCHES AT LAKE VIEW 7.50" AT BRACKETT CREEK SNOTEL
WIND GUST 69 MPH NEAR LINCOLN 10TH
########
OCTOBER...
WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT CONTINUED IN OCTOBER. THIS PATTERN PRODUCED
SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION.
NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, A STORM BROUGHT UP TO 3 FEET OF SNOW
TO THE BEARS PAW MOUNTAINS, WITH AMOUNTS TO 16 INCHES IN HAVRE. THIS
CAUSED WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES FROM CUT BANK TO HARLEM. OTHERWISE,
THE MONTH WAS VERY WINDY. AVERAGE SPEEDS WERE THE STRONGEST IN 20 OR
MORE YEARS.
THE HEAVY PRECIPITATION OVER NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA PRODUCED THE 3RD
WETTEST OCTOBER AT GOLD BUTTE. MEANWHILE, DRY CONDITIONS CONTINUED
FARTHER SOUTH. DILLON HAD THEIR DRIEST OCTOBER SINCE 2007 AND DRIEST
CALENDAR YEAR SINCE 2012. HAVRE, WITH 13 INCHES, HAD THEIR 2ND
SNOWIEST OCTOBER OF RECORD.
WINDS WERE STRONGER THAN AVERAGE. THIS WAS THE 10TH WINDIEST OCTOBER,
ON AVERAGE. CUT BANK SAW THEIR WINDIEST OCTOBER SINCE 1985, HAVRE
SINCE 1967 AND GREAT FALLS AND LEWISTOWN SINCE 1990.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 83F AT ARMELLS CK 19TH 5F AT NEAR RUDYARD 5TH
PRECIP 6.00 INCHES AT ROCKY BOY
WIND GUST 94 MPH AT DEEP CREEK RAWS 25TH
########
NOVEMBER...
DURING NOVEMBER, A BROAD RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATED PRODUCING
ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION. NEARLY ALL
DAYS OF THE MONTH AVERAGED ABOVE NORMAL. SEVERAL LOCATIONS HAD THEIR
WARMEST NOVEMBER SINCE 1954. HELENA SET AN ALL-TIME HIGH MONTHLY
AVERAGE, EXCEEDING THEIR OLD RECORD SET IN 1904.
PRECIPITATION WAS LIGHT. HAVRE HAD ONLY A TRACE, WHILE HELENA
MEASURED 0.02". THIS WAS THE SECOND DRIEST NOVEMBER OF RECORD AT
THESE LOCATIONS. THE WETTEST SPOT WAS MANY GLACIER WITH 4.30 INCHES.
SNOWFALL WAS GENERALLY LIGHT AS WELL. HOWEVER, CUT BANK PICKED UP
6-INCHES, ONE-INCH ABOVE THEIR MONTHLY NORMAL.
WINDS WERE LOWER THAN NORMAL. THIS WAS THE CALMEST NOVEMBER OF
RECORD AT DILLON, AND THE LOWEST AREA AVERAGE WIND SPEED SINCE
1982.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 78F AT LOMA 9TH -13F AT WEST YELLOWSTONE 18TH
PRECIP 4.30 INCHES AT MANY GLACIER
WIND GUST 76 MPH AT TWO MEDICINE 14TH
########
DECEMBER...
ALOFT, A STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATED FOR MOST OF THE MONTH.
THIS PRODUCED GENERALLY DRY CONDITIONS FOR THE FIRST HALF. THE
PLAINS WERE WARM, WHILE INVERSIONS KEPT THE SOUTHWEST BELOW NORMAL
FOR TEMPERATURES. A FEW RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE SET ON THE
12TH AS TEMPERATURES PUSHED INTO THE 50S AND 60S. THE HIGH OF 67
NEAR HARLEM SET A DAILY RECORD. THE OLD RECORD WAS 66 AT VALENTINE
ON DEC 12 2004. DURING THE LAST HALF, ARCTIC AIR AND SNOWY
CONDITIONS SETTLED OVER THE AREA. PRECIPITATION WAS GENERALLY ABOVE
NORMAL. SEVERAL LOCATIONS ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA HAD TWICE
THEIR NORMAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH. HELENA MEASURED THEIR 7TH
SNOWIEST DECEMBER OF RECORD, WITH NEARLY TWO-FEET.
THERE WERE SEVERAL WINDY PERIODS DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE MONTH.
THE PERIOD FROM THE 5TH THROUGH 18TH WAS ESPECIALLY WINDY. THE HIGHEST
GUST OF THE MONTH OCCURRED ON THE 17TH.
HIGH LOW
TEMP 67F AT HARLEM 20S 12TH -38F AT ST JOE 26TH
PRECIP 7.30 INCHES AT COPPER CAMP SNOTEL 4.26-IN AT E GLACIER
WIND GUST 86 MPH AT TWO MEDICINE 17TH
$$
&&
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