Billings, MT – A cold and potentially snowy holiday stretch is setting up across Montana as NOAA’s Week 3–4 Outlook forecasts below-normal temperatures from December 20 through January 2. The period, which spans both Christmas and New Years, is shaping up to be one of the colder holiday windows in recent years.
According to NOAA, a broad surge of Arctic air will settle across Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, northern Illinois, and Iowa, dropping temperatures well below seasonal norms. With such persistent cold in place, even normal or slightly lighter precipitation amounts are expected to fall as snow, raising the likelihood of accumulating events statewide.
Montana falls within an equal-chances precipitation zone, but forecasters note that the combination of cold air and active northern-stream energy increases the potential for frequent light to moderate snow systems. This includes fast-moving clippers, which may bring quick bursts of snow capable of producing slick roads and reduced visibility for holiday travelers.
Communities across Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, Great Falls, Helena, and the I-90/I-15 corridors should expect periodic snow and bitter wind chills from Dec. 20–Jan. 2. Mountain passes—including Bozeman Pass, Lookout Pass, and Homestake Pass—may experience hazardous conditions at times, with accumulating snow likely during stronger disturbances.
If the pattern holds, Montana could be positioned for both a white Christmas and a cold, snowy start to 2026, with temperatures potentially dropping well below freezing for several consecutive days.
Forecasters will refine system-by-system updates closer to the holiday window, but residents are encouraged to monitor travel conditions and stay weather aware.
