Billings, MT – Montana will be one of the coldest regions in the United States as a powerful Arctic Blast settles over the Northern Rockies from Monday, Dec. 1 through Friday, Dec. 5, launching the state into a harsh Cold December pattern with snow, below-zero temperatures, and dangerous double-digit subzero wind chills.
According to the National Weather Service, early-week disturbances rotating around the Arctic air mass will produce snow showers and areas of blowing snow, especially east of the Continental Divide. Accumulating snow is likely in portions of central and eastern Montana, while strong northwest winds may reduce visibility and create drifting along open highways.
Temperatures will fall below zero across much of the state, with morning lows potentially reaching the –5°F to –20°F range in central and eastern Montana. Wind chills may plunge between –25°F and –45°F, creating life-threatening conditions for anyone outdoors without proper protection. Billings may see wind chills between –15°F and –30°F during the coldest periods.
NOAA’s 6–10 Day Temperature Outlook places Montana inside one of the strongest below-normal anomalies in the country for Dec. 1–5, consistent with the depth of this early-season Arctic surge. Additional snow showers may develop midweek as reinforcing waves of cold air sweep across the region.
While no major, organized blizzard is forecast at this time, the combination of extreme cold, blowing snow, and hazardous wind chills may severely impact travel statewide. Forecasters urge residents to limit outdoor exposure and follow NWS advisories closely.
