BILLINGS, Mont. – Snow may arrive weeks ahead of schedule across Montana and Wyoming this year, with La Niña expected to set up a cold, storm-heavy pattern that could lock in through February. Higher elevations in the Rockies may see flakes by September, while the valleys and plains brace for heavier snow systems later this fall and into winter.
According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, La Niña will steer Arctic air masses and Pacific storm systems straight across the northern Rockies, raising the odds of significant snowfall for communities from Billings to Cheyenne. Persistent mountain snowpack could also increase avalanche risk in the Tetons, Big Horns, and Absaroka ranges. The Farmers’ Almanac echoes the outlook, warning residents to prepare for a season marked by “Chill, Snow, Repeat.”
Travel along I-90 and I-25 is expected to be especially hazardous, with blowing snow and whiteout conditions common during peak systems. Ranchers and rural communities may also face added strain, with prolonged subzero temperatures and snow-covered roads making livestock care and supply runs difficult.
With La Niña’s influence projected to hold through February, both Montana and Wyoming should prepare for a long, cold season with repeated snow and ice threats across the northern Rockies.
