Strong Snow Storms Hit Area

Eastern Montana and North Dakota were hit by a blizzard last week that resulted in the closing of many highways and schools throughout the area.

On Tuesday, April 12, the blizzard- like conditions forced the Departments of Transportation for both Montana and North Dakota to close Interstate 94 from Billings to Jamestown, N.D., a 513-mile stretch.

Closer to home, Richland County closed all of its highways due to the weather on Wednesday night, April 13.

School closures included Wolf Point, Frontier, Poplar and Culbertson.

Roosevelt County Commissioners expressed their appreciation to the road department for its dedication during the time. Overtime work was done on Friday to help clear the roads.

“They were wiling to come in and were concerned,” Commissioner Gordon Oelkers said. “I really haven’t heard any complaints from residents.”

Oelkers said the Culbertson and Bainville areas were probably the ones that were hit hardest in Roosevelt County. Areas hit hard by the snow in Montana included Billings with 15 inches, Miles City with 14 inches, Glendive with 14 inches, Sidney with 9 inches, north of Culbertson with 8 inches, Poplar with 4 inches, southeast of Vida with 8 inches and Scobey with 5 inches. Red Lodge received more than 36 inches of snow. The 13.9 inches in Billings on Tuesday was the snowiest April day in Billings since 1955.

Between Tuesday and Friday, there were 129 incidents responded to in the Glendive district by the Montana Highway Patrol.

There was a fatality in Valley County near Hinsdale on Thursday, April 14.

Snow totals reported in North Dakota included 36 inches in Minot, 29.2 inches in Dickinson, 24 inches in Stanley, 18 inches in Watford City and 17 inches in Williston, N.D.