The Big Devastating 1992 Snow Storm That Rocked Montana

If you’ve lived in Montana for long, you know one thing for sure. The weather doesn’t always follow the calendar. Around here, snow can fall any time of year, and while it’s rare, even summer months aren't completely safe from a surprise storm.

This year, as we near the end of 2025, colder air is beginning to dip into the northern Rockies. Sure, we're received a couple snow flurries already this year, but nothing that compares to one of Montana's strangest weather events history, the August snowstorm of 1992.

A Big Snow Storm That Devastated Montana in 1992

Back on August 23, 1992, residents across central and southwestern Montana woke up to a shock. Great Falls saw more than 10 inches of snow, setting an all-time record for the month and sending thermometers plummeting to near-freezing levels for days.

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According to the The Weather Channel, it was an “unprecedented weather event,” fueled by a combination of cold air at the surface and southwestern flow that was moisture-rich. Normally, that mix spells snow in November, not August, but hey, that's weather in Montana for you.

The early blast of winter didn’t just make headlines, it caused major damage across the state. Farmers reported devastating crop losses as the sudden freeze destroyed fields that were nearly ready for harvest. Visitors in Glacier National Park were forced to pack up and leave as snow blanketed campgrounds and mountain passes.

In Great Falls, temperatures dropped below 34°F five times over an eight-day stretch. For perspective, snow typically doesn’t start showing up in the lower elevations of Montana until late September or early October.

While an August snowstorm of that magnitude hasn’t repeated since, meteorologists say it’s not impossible. Montana’s wide range of elevations and volatile weather patterns make it one of the few states where summer snow can still sneak in, especially above 6,000 feet.

So if you’re headed out to hike, fish, or camp in the mountains late in the season, it’s never a bad idea to keep a jacket and some gloves stashed in the truck. After all, as every Montanan knows, Mother Nature doesn’t check the calendar.