Look! Early Signs Of A Big Epic Winter In Montana

There’s already a dusting of snow in parts of Montana, but technically, winter hasn’t even begun.

The calendar says December 21 marks the official start, but anyone who’s lived here for more than a season knows Big Sky Country doesn’t wait for a date. The chill has a way of sneaking in early, and the weather can be unpredictable.

READ MORE: The Truth About Montana Winters That Tourists Never Hear

Montana winters are no joke. Mornings so cold your eyelashes freeze, nights where the stars seem sharper against the frozen sky, and wind chills that can make even the toughest Montanan question their life choices. January and February are usually the coldest, and temperatures can drop well below zero.

Look! Early Signs Of A Big Epic Winter In Montana

Before you resign yourself to another long stretch of shoveling, scraping, and layering up, you might be wondering: how bad will this winter be? The Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a cold, snowy season across much of the state, but old-timers will tell you nature has been whispering the signs for weeks.

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Watch the squirrels. If they’re building thicker nests or hoarding like they know something, they probably do. If you’ve seen more spiders sneaking indoors or extra-thick coats on deer, that’s another clue. Even the way the clouds hang over the Bridger Mountains can tell a story if you know how to read it.

Whether you’re in Bozeman, Billings, or way up on the Hi-Line, it might be time to check stock up on firewood, tune up the snow blower, and dig out that puffy jacket you swore you wouldn’t need yet.

Here's are a few early signs of a harsh winter in Montana.