Spring Surprise: See the Unbelievable Snow Totals Across MT

BUTTE, MT - Just when you thought it was safe to put away the snow shovels, nature decided to throw one more icy punch.

Get our free mobile app

Across the northern U.S., residents awoke to find spring flowers buried under several inches—sometimes feet—of snow, in what’s being called one of the most surprising late-season winter events in recent memory.

It wasn’t just a light dusting, either. This freak storm packed a blizzard-grade wallop, dumping more snow in 24 hours than some spots typically see in a full week.

Power lines sagged under the weight. Tree limbs snapped like matchsticks. And drivers found themselves fishtailing through what looked more like a January whiteout than an April morning commute.

Meteorologists had warned us of a late-season “snow bomb,” but few expected this level of intensity.

From the Rocky Mountain passes to windswept prairies, the storm's icy grip extended farther and harder than expected.

One town almost broke its all-time record for single-day snowfall this late in the season. And guess what? It’s not even the snowiest one.

What’s truly wild is just how concentrated this snowfall was.

So, who got hit the hardest?

Grab your cocoa, double-check your snow tires, and find your town—or your next ski trip fantasy—on this jaw-dropping list of the Top 10 Snowiest Locations in the Last 24 Hours.

Spoiler alert: some of these totals will leave you speechless.

MT’s 10 Snowiest Spots in the Last 24 Hours – See the Jaw-Dropping Totals 4/17/25

Discover the top 10 snowfall totals across Montana in the past 24 hours, measured by "SWE".

SWE stands for Snow Water Equivalent — it's a measurement used to figure out how much water is contained within the snow. Basically, if you took all the snow in a specific area and melted it down, SWE tells you how many inches of water you'd get.

So when we say a location got 2.0 inches of SWE, that doesn’t mean 2 inches of snow — it could actually mean around 20 inches or more of snow, depending on how dense or fluffy the snow is.

Gallery Credit: Devon Brosnan

A select few areas saw totals so staggering they’ve already made national headlines—and social media has exploded with videos of knee-deep drifts in driveways and backyards that turned into makeshift sledding hills overnight.

11 Items Illegal to Throw Away in Montana

These items are illegal to throw away in Montana. Check with your county for household hazardous waste collection events. Some of these items may be disposed of at such an event.

Gallery Credit: Patti Banner

12 Animals You Must Report If You Hit Them in Montana

Ever hit an animal while driving in Montana? It’s an unfortunate reality of life on the road here, and while some critters can scurry off unscathed, others aren’t so lucky.

So, who do you call? If you hit one of these animals, you’ll need to report it to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) or local law enforcement. If it’s an emergency—say, the animal is still alive and injured in a way that poses a hazard—call 911. Otherwise, the non-emergency number will do. They’ll guide you on the next steps and make sure everything is properly documented.

Not sure which animals make the list? Keep reading, because failing to report could land you in hot water.

Gallery Credit: Tony LaBrie

Categories: Articles