We Got the Cold. Now, Here Comes the Snow for Billings

Frozen pipes, power outages, broken furnaces, cars that won't start... Montana got nailed with arctic cold since last week, wreaking havoc with many resident's daily routines. Chester, MT was in the national spotlight for being the coldest place in the US on Saturday. Now, Billings is looking at our first significant snow accumulation of 2024.

There are currently two Severe Weather Alerts for the Billings area.

The polar vortex sweeping the nation didn't drop much snow in South Central Montana (we received less than 3" total in Laurel), but it certainly delivered frigid temps. Windchill remains a concern on Tuesday; there's a Windchill Advisory through 11 am with the windchill hitting down to -35. The NWS notes,

During the wind chill advisory, people are urged to stay indoors
until conditions improve. If you must go outside, dress in layers.
Several layers of clothes will keep you warmer than a single heavy
coat. Cover exposed skin to reduce your risk of frostbite or
hypothermia.

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The snow will come in stages.

Forecasters have issued a Winter Storm Watch for Central and South Central Montana that is predicted to bring between 4 and 8 inches of total snowfall in the Billings area. The Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Tuesday night to Thursday afternoon. According to the latest models from the National Weather Service in Billings, here's when we can expect snow:

• Tuesday Night: 40% chance of snow with less than 1/2 inch expected.
• Wednesday: 80% chance of snow with around 2 inches expected.
• Wednesday Night: 90% chance of snow with around 2 inches expected.
• Thursday: 70% chance of snow (mainly before 11 am) with 2 inches expected.

Daytime highs during this period range from 22 on Tuesday, to a high of 11 on Thursday. Temperates will begin to rebound by the weekend, with highs ranging from 40 to 45 by Saturday and Sunday. Please exercise caution while driving this week, and check the Montana Road Report if you plan on traveling around the state. Roads could be quite treacherous with blowing and drifting snow.