Montana Winters: Cold, Snowy, Extreme

Montana winters are harshly continental:

• Avg January temp: 20°F (-7°C); highs often below freezing.
• Avg January snowfall: 9.5 inches (24 cm); much higher in mountains.
• Record cold: -70°F (-57°C) at Rogers Pass (Jan 1954) — lowest in lower 48.
• Record monthly snow: 222.4 inches (565 cm) at Marias Pass (Jan 1928).
• Chinooks: Warm downslope winds can spike temps 30–50°F in hours.
• Blizzards, ice storms, Arctic outbreaks common.

Western valleys (Kalispell, Missoula) are milder; eastern plains (Glendive, Miles City) see deeper cold. Preparation (insulation, vehicle winter kit, emergency supplies) is essential.