Dec 11, 2025
Record precipitation fell as a prolonged atmospheric river event gripped the region from December 6 through 12. Much like a garden hose being moved back and forth, the jet stream shifted the focus of this moisture plume across the Pacific Northwest, repeatedly drenching parts of northern Idaho and western Montana. Between December 10 and 11, 2025, the atmospheric river specifically focused on northwest Montana, and produced record rainfall and catastrophic rain-on-snow flooding. A saturated snow
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 1306058). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.
This event is one of many recorded floods in Sanders County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.