Montana Braces For Early Snow And Winter Weather

Now that October is in full swing across Montana, it's time to start talking winter weather.

Soon, folks will be making appointments to switch over to snow tires (in case you are wondering, studded tire season in Montana runs from October 1st through May 31st). Of course, you will want to make sure that you're prepared with an emergency winter kit in your vehicle, as preparation is key.

Certain parts of Montana have already seen significant snow, but those are the higher elevation spots like Going To The Sun Road and the Beartooth Mountains. However, according to the National Weather Service, we could start to see snow not only in the mountains, but in the valley as well.

It's not uncommon to see large amounts of snow in October here in the Treasure State. Looking at our weather history shows us that we've seen some significant storms before Halloween.

What's the worst October snowstorm Montana has seen?

Back in 2017, there was a snowstorm in Havre that dropped 30 inches. The storm caused blizzard conditions and knocked out power in the area. Trees and branches feel and it is considered the largest early-season snow storm in Montana's history.

Then there was the big snowstorm of 2020 that hit the Great Falls area, over 27 inches of snow fell in 9 days, causing major issues across the city.

Of course, if you've lived in Bozeman for long, it's hard to forget the October of 2019 that brought record lows. Reports at the airport were temperatures of 14 degrees below zero. Oh, and it wasn't just Bozeman that experienced those temps; several towns around the area all reported record lows.

While we aren't expecting anything like that in the near future, it serves as a reminder to ensure that we prepare for whatever may come our way. So, make those appointments to change your tires, make sure you have an emergency kit in the car, and keep an eye on the weather; it can change quickly this time of year.

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What's the worst winter you remember in Montana? Please let us know by sending a message through our app.