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National Weather Service
Unveils Montana's Top Ten
Weather/Water/Climate
Events of the 20th Century
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Editor's Note: As the century draws to a close, staff at the National Weather Service offices in Montana
have reviewed records of major weather events to affect the state over the past 100 years. Based on
impacts to people, property and the economy, the National Weather Service has chosen the top ten
weather-related events to impact Montana in ascending order. Choosing among the numerous 20th
century weather events was a difficult task. And many of the events did not impact Montana alone. Some
of these events were widespread, impacting other parts of the western United States. You will also note
that some of the larger events are recent. This is because record keeping has improved in the latter half
of the century, while urbanization in the state has increased the economic impacts of severe storms and
floods.
Local media wishing to discuss Montana's top weather events of the century should contact the
Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Rick Dittmann at the numbers listed below.
Top Ten Montana Weather Events of the 20th Century
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#10).
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July 5, 1937. The temperature topped out at 117F at Medicine Lake in northeastern
Montana. This tied the all-time high temperature for Montana previously established at Glendive
on July 20, 1893. Combined with the -70F at Roger's Pass in 1954 (#6), this makes the all-time
temperature range recorded in Montana 187F. This is the most extreme temperature range
experienced in any of the 50 United States.
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#9).
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January 11, 1980. The temperature at the Great Falls International Airport rose from -32F to
15F in seven minutes as warm, Chinook winds eroded an Arctic airmass. This 47 degree rise in
seven minutes stands as the record for the most rapid temperature change registered in the United
States.
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#8).
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December 14, 1924. The temperature at Fairfield, Montana (about 20 miles WNW of Great
Falls), dropped from 63F at noon to -21F at midnight. This 84 degree change in 12 hours still
stands as the greatest 12 hour temperature change recorded in the United States.
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#7).
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April 25-26, 1969. A late season storm brought a drastic change in weather to eastern
Montana. A day after numerous stations registered their highest temperature for the month
(many in the 80s), a cold front swept through Montana bringing blizzard conditions to much of
the eastern half of the state. Temperatures fell more than 50 degrees in 24 hours with wind chill
readings well below zero for nearly 48 hours.
Snowfall amounts of over 1 foot were widespread with higher amounts including a 32 inch tally
reported near Sonnette. Wind whipped the fresh snow into drifts reported to be over 20 feet high
in places. Power and phone lines were knocked out. Utility lines downed over a 12 county area
resulted in losses of nearly $2 million (1998 dollars). Some residents of southeastern Montana
were without power for two weeks and without telephone service for over a month. Over
100,000 sheep, horses and cattle were lost with cost in today's dollars tallying well over $10
million.
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#6).
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January 20, 1954. The temperature at Roger's Pass, Montana, (about 25 miles NW of
Helena) dropped to -70F (not a wind chill). This still stands as the coldest temperature ever
recorded in the lower 48 United States.
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#5).
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January 23, 1916. An Arctic cold front slammed through Browning, Montana, dropping the
temperature from 44F to -56F in 24 hours. This 100 degree change stands as the most dramatic
temperature change ever recorded in 24 hours in the United States.
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#4).
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January 30 through February 4, 1989. A bitterly cold Arctic air mass invaded the northern
Rockies bringing record cold temperatures and extreme wind chills to Montana. Ahead of the
front, on January 30th, downslope winds gusted to 100 mph at Shelby, 102 mph at Cut Bank, 114
mph in Augusta, 117 mph at Browning and 124 mph at Choteau. Twelve empty railroad cars
were blown over in Shelby. Elsewhere, roofs were blown off homes, mobile homes were rolled
over or torn apart and numerous trees and power lines were blown down.
With the passing of the Arctic front on the 31st, temperatures dropped dramatically. In Helena,
the temperature remained colder than -20F for 84 hours (three and a half days) including a record
low, -33F, on the fourth. Wind chill values during this period dropped to -75F. The cold caused
the brakes to fail on a freight train. The train then rolled, uncontrolled, into Helena and exploded
causing extensive damage to Carroll College.
In Billings, record lows were established for 5 consecutive days. Bozeman set record lows for
four consecutive days. In Missoula, record lows of -22F and -23F were established on the 2nd and
the 3rd, respectively. Wisdom, Montana, saw the mercury drop to -52F on February 3rd.
As the cold front moved through Great Falls on January 31st, the temperature dropped from 54F
to -23F (a 67F change) and did not rise to above -20F until February 4th. This included two
record low temperatures (-35F and -33F) on the 3rd and 4th.
Between January 30th and February 5th, four people lost their lives with damage estimates well
into the tens of millions of dollars.
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#3).
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June 22, 1938. Torrential rain-producing thunderstorms caused flash flooding on the
Yellowstone, Musselshell and Sun Rivers. But, the worst flooding occurred downstream of the
Bear's Paw Mountains near Havre.
More than 5 inches of rain fell in the Gravelly Coulee watershed in one hour creating a wall of
water which rushed out of the foothills, traveled 10 miles and still managed to erode two miles of
Great Northern Railroad track near Laredo. Farther east, nearly $500,000 damage (nearly $4.5
million in today's dollars) occurred in Havre as the normally dry Bull Hook Creek spread a half
mile wide on its route through the center of town. Two inches of rain fell in Zurich in one hour
with 3.55 inches falling during the early part of the night. At least 8 people lost their lives as a
consequence of the flash flooding. Farther south, in Fort Benton, 27 small bridges were washed
out. The Carter Ferry was swamped and sank near the banks of the Missouri River.
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#2).
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12:34 A.M. June 19, 1938. Tremendous rains over the Prairie County Highlands north of
Terry, Montana, produced a flash flood which roared down Custer Creek and into the
Yellowstone River. The wall of water weakened or destroyed a railroad trestle just before an
11-car passenger train of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul Railroad Company known as the
"Olympian," crossed.
The train, moving at full speed, ran head-on into the far bank of Custer Creek. Of the 140 people
on board, 49 perished and 65 were injured. Some of the bodies were carried 130 miles
downstream to Sydney, Montana.
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#1).
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Saturday June 6, 1964. A slow moving line of thunderstorms brought torrential rains to the
Rocky Mountain Front of western Montana. Record 24 hour rainfall amounts of 8 to 14 inches
fell along the east slopes of the Continental Divide. Near the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area,
Gibson Reservoir received enough inflow to fill it two and a half times. The dam is 195.5 feet
tall and contains 99,057 acre-feet of water when full. Water flowing out of Gibson Dam flows
into the Sun River. The Sun River runs southeast toward Great Falls where it empties into the
Missouri. Typically, the flow of the Missouri would cause a backwater on the Sun River. On
June 9th and 10th, however, the flood wave of the Sun caused the Missouri to back up, flooding
the Meadowlark Golf Course and the Country Club Addition. Nearly 3000 people were
evacuated from western Great Falls as 10 to 12 feet of water spread over the area. Advance
warning, however, helped prevent any loss of life.
Farther north, the rain continued through Sunday, June 7th. In Glacier National Park, the torrents
caused Divide Creek to spill its banks. Logjams were releasing periodic flash floods. Scores of
tourists were stranded in campgrounds and lodges as all communications and power were
knocked out. Downstream, more than 30 people lost their lives on the Blackfoot Reservation.
Tributaries of the Marias River saw several irrigation dams breech. Along Birch Creek, a flood
wave devastated the Birch Creek Valley with a 20 foot high wall of water destroying any
buildings and bridges in its path. 19 people lost their lives there.
The dam on Lower Two Medicine River also failed releasing a flood wave which claimed 9
more people.
At least 58 people were killed by the torrential rain and the resultant flooding and flash flooding.
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Honorable Mentions
2nd Runner up July 21, 1997. A line of thunderstorms pushed through northwest Montana
during the late afternoon and evening hours of July 21, 1997. In a period of 15 minutes
(615 PM - 630 PM), property damage in excess of $1.5 million and two injuries occurred in
Libby.
Wind gusts estimated at 80 mph, accompanied by marble sized-hail at times, snapped off or
uprooted numerous trees, including Willow, Cottonwood, and Spruce trees. Power poles were
snapped off four to five feet above the ground. Almost every street in the town was blocked by
fallen trees. Damage included the downed trees, roof and window damage to homes and
businesses, damage to vehicles, blocked roads, loss of the chlorinator for the city water system
and loss of the lift pump for the sewer system. The Red Cross estimated 20 homes with major
damage and 70 homes with minor damage within the city limits.
1st Runner upThe winter of 1936. No single event can be justifiably used to represent the
length and harshness of this winter. January was colder than normal with three fatalities
reported. In February, the 111-station 42 year mean temperature was 22.4F colder than normal.
Temperatures dropped to -53F at Summit (west of the Continental Divide) on the 13th, -57F at
Cascade (15 miles west of Great Falls) on the 15th and -59F at Frazer and Glasgow on the 15th.
Feed and fuel were scarce, water supplies froze, schools were closed and 15 lives were lost.
While March saw an overall average temperature, the month ended with well below readings.
On the 30th, readings dropped to -29F at Summit, -28F at Chessman Reservoir and -20F at Red
Lodge and Sahara. Winter's grip held through early April with temperatures bottoming out at
-24F at Pleasant Valley on the 2nd and -28F at Chessman Reservoir on the 1st.
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Contact: WCM Rick Dittmann, (406) 453-9957
Take a look at Top Ten Weather Stories of the century for across the U.S.
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