Billings, Montana – The Montana–Wyoming region is entering an extended period of elevated winter weather risk as lingering Arctic cold across the northern Rockies keeps the threat for additional snowstorms high through mid-February, following one of the most expansive winter systems of the season.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, temperatures across Montana and Wyoming are expected to remain below normal through the Feb. 7–20 period. With cold air firmly entrenched and an active Pacific storm track feeding into the Rockies and High Plains, any incoming system would favor snow, with the potential for heavy accumulations and blowing snow.
The renewed concern comes on the heels of Winter Storm Fern, a massive system that swept from Texas to Maine and reinforced a cold-dominated pattern across much of the country. While Fern’s heaviest snow focused farther east, the storm helped lock in conditions favorable for repeated snow events across the northern Rockies and adjacent plains.
If additional systems develop, communities from Billings and Great Falls to Bozeman, Livingston, Sheridan, Casper, and Cheyenne could face rapidly deteriorating travel conditions. Mountain passes and exposed highways, including Interstates 90, 94, 25, and 80, are especially vulnerable to whiteout conditions when strong winds combine with falling or blowing snow.
Montana Department of Transportation and Wyoming DOT officials warn that repeated snow events may strain plowing operations, particularly across high elevations and rural stretches. Emergency management agencies are urging residents to prepare now by reviewing winter travel plans, keeping vehicles stocked with cold-weather supplies, and monitoring updates closely.
While the exact timing of future storms remains uncertain, forecasters say the overall pattern supports continued winter threats. Additional advisories and warnings may be issued as confidence increases, with cold air and the risk of heavy mountain and plains snow likely remaining a recurring concern across Montana and Wyoming through mid-February.
