Non-Stop Snow And Cold Have Been Hitting Montana – And There’s More Coming

It's not exactly a secret that winters can be brutal in Montana, and it isn't uncommon to see a lot of snow. So it comes as no surprise that the Treasure State has been cold and snowy for a while. And depending on whether you enjoy snow sports or prefer to stay indoors, we've either got good news or bad news -- it's showing no signs of stopping before we're well into spring.

As usual, winter weather in Montana started well before winter's official start date.

In September 2019, up to four feet of snow fell on Montana's Rockies, which was a record. Browning got the brunt of it, with a whopping 48 inches of fresh powder.

This storm, like the others of its kind, was not much of a surprise, as winter was expected to be somewhat harsh this year.

The Old Farmer's Almanac even predicted a parade of snowstorms across all northern states, although it did claim that winter would be milder than normal in the north and colder than normal in the south, with slightly above average levels of precipitation.

After the initial September storm, temperatures dropped across Montana. By November, Southwest Montana was freezing and snow was accumulating.

Winter weather advisories were issued for Butte, Bozeman, Dillon, Ennis, West Yellowstone, Boulder, Townsend, and all of Southwest Montana. That part of the state has had lingering snow ever since with no end in sight.

One great part of this winter's weather was the white Christmas that most of us enjoyed this year, although it did put a damper on some holiday travel plans.

Although, with Montana life, that's to be expected.

So, what's next for Montana?

There's still a lot of winter left, so you can expect more of the same -- although the severity depends on which part of the state you call home.

The western part of the state can expect a combination of snow flurries and cold but sunny days, with especially snowy periods in early February and early March.

The good news is that there isn't a catastrophic blizzard on the horizon, although we know that can change anytime.

If you call Eastern Montana home, expect it to be especially cold in late January and early February.

Billings even looks like it has some sunny and mild days ahead, so you may get out and enjoy some pleasant days outside -- but you can expect the cold and snow to return in both February and March.

Do you feel like this Montana winter has been especially brutal, or has it been mild for you? Remember, a snowy winter isn't exactly a bad thing.