MTMontana rankings

Snowiest towns in Montana

Ranked by average snowfall in a normal winter, 1991–2020, at the nearest NOAA weather station. Towns that share a station share its figure and its rank (T = tied). 39 towns with 2,500+ residents that get at least an inch of snow a year.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

#TownSnow a yearDays with 1"+ of snowWeather station
1 Red Lodge Red Lodge2,502 people 142 in 33 Red Lodge, MT
2 Lewistown Lewistown6,087 people 112 in 37 Lewistown 11 Sse, MT
T3 Bozeman Bozeman56,114 people 91 in 29 Bozeman Montana State Univ, MT
T3 Belgrade11,872 people 91 in 29 Bozeman Montana State Univ, MT
T3 Map of Four Corners Four Corners5,791 people 91 in 29 Bozeman Montana State Univ, MT
6 Deer Lodge Deer Lodge3,021 people 75 in 27 Anaconda, MT
T7 Great Falls Great Falls60,329 people 66 in 20 Great Falls Intl Airport, MT
T7 Malmstrom AFB Malmstrom AFB4,302 people 66 in 20 Great Falls Intl Airport, MT
9 Whitefish Whitefish8,749 people 63 in 26 Whitefish, MT
10 Livingston Livingston8,780 people 63 in 22 Livingston 12 S, MT
T11 Map of Kalispell Kalispell28,504 people 54 in 20 Kalispell Glacier Airport, MT
T11 Map of Evergreen Evergreen9,611 people 54 in 20 Kalispell Glacier Airport, MT
T11 Columbia Falls Columbia Falls5,615 people 54 in 20 Kalispell Glacier Airport, MT
14 Bigfork Bigfork5,565 people 51 in 20 Creston, MT
T15 Billings Billings119,434 people 48 in 16 Billings Wfo, MT
T15 Laurel Laurel7,215 people 48 in 16 Billings Wfo, MT
T15 Libby Libby3,042 people 48 in 17 Libby 1 Ne Rs, MT
18 Conrad Conrad2,618 people 47 in 17 Conrad, MT
19 Glasgow Glasgow3,190 people 44 in 13 Glasgow Wfo, MT
T20 Missoula Missoula76,514 people 43 in 14 Missoula Intl Airport, MT
T20 Map of Orchard Homes Orchard Homes5,588 people 43 in 14 Missoula Intl Airport, MT
T20 Lolo Lolo4,314 people 43 in 14 Missoula Intl Airport, MT
23 Map of Havre Havre9,258 people 41 in 14 Havre City Co Airport, MT
T24 Shelby Shelby3,216 people 39 in 13 Shelby, MT
T24 Map of Cut Bank Cut Bank3,028 people 39 in 13 Shelby, MT
T26 Helena Helena33,639 people 37 in 13 Helena Rgnl Airport, MT
T26 Map of Helena Valley Southeast Helena Valley Southeast9,108 people 37 in 13 Helena Rgnl Airport, MT
T26 Map of Helena Valley West Central Helena Valley West Central8,056 people 37 in 13 Helena Rgnl Airport, MT
T26 Map of Helena Valley Northwest Helena Valley Northwest5,183 people 37 in 13 Helena Rgnl Airport, MT
T26 Map of Helena Valley Northeast Helena Valley Northeast4,659 people 37 in 13 Helena Rgnl Airport, MT
T26 Map of Montana City Montana City3,092 people 37 in 13 Helena Rgnl Airport, MT
32 Lockwood Lockwood7,181 people 35 in 12 Billings Wtp, MT
33 Polson Polson5,428 people 34 in 14 Skq Dam, MT
34 Sidney Sidney6,171 people 30 in 13 Sidney, MT
35 Hardin Hardin3,742 people 28 in 8 Hardin, MT
36 Glendive Glendive4,810 people 23 in 12 Glendive, MT
37 Hamilton Hamilton5,101 people 17 in 5 Stevensville, MT
38 Butte-Silver Bow Butte-Silver Bow35,785 people 15 in 6 Divide, MT
39 Dillon Dillon4,085 people 11 in 4 Dillon U Of Montana Western, MT

How this ranking works

We rank every town by average snowfall in a normal winter, 1991–2020, at the nearest NOAA weather station. Towns that get less than an inch a year aren’t ranked. The town with the highest figure ranks #1. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast, and each town’s Climate page shows its whole year month by month.

Snow and frost are measured at weather stations, and each town uses the nearest NOAA station with a matching climate (within 25 miles, with temperatures that agree with the town’s own). Towns near the same station share its figure, so they tie.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Climate: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states