When to Visit Billings

is the depth of winter and makes no pretense otherwise.

follows much the same pattern, with highs edging to 4°C (39°F) and lows near -6°C (19°F). The city is quiet and local in a way it isn't in summer. The occasional chinook can briefly push temperatures 10 or 15 degrees above normal before the cold reasserts itself.

is transitional, with highs climbing to 9°C (48°F) and lows hovering near -2°C (26°F). Rainfall ticks up to around 23mm. The first genuine signs of spring appear. A late snowstorm is well within the range of normal. Pack layers and expect variety.

moves into more reliably springlike territory, with highs reaching 13°C (56°F) and lows just above freezing at 1°C (34°F). Rainfall increases noticeably to 43mm. The hills around Billings start greening. Some days feel like early summer. Others feel like the tail end of winter.

is when Billings fully wakes up. Highs reach 19°C (66°F). Lows are a comfortable 6°C (43°F). This is the rainiest month at around 61mm. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, dramatic, and usually brief. The landscape is as green as it gets all year.

continues warm, with highs at 25°C (77°F) and pleasant evenings around 11°C (52°F). Rainfall stays relatively high at 56mm, tapering from May's peak. The Yellowstone River runs high and fast from snowmelt. The outdoor events calendar starts filling in earnest.

is the hottest month, with highs hitting 30°C (87°F) and lows at 15°C (59°F). Rainfall drops sharply to 30mm. The days are long and clear more often than not. The farmers markets, outdoor concerts, and trails near the Rimrocks are all at their busiest.

is nearly indistinguishable from July in feel, with highs at 29°C (85°F) and lows of 14°C (57°F). Rainfall falls further to 23mm. The landscape takes on a late-summer golden quality. Evenings cool reliably. This makes the heat manageable even without air conditioning everywhere.

is one of the most pleasant months to be in Billings. Highs settle at a comfortable 23°C (74°F). Lows drop to 9°C (48°F). Rainfall sits at a moderate 36mm. The afternoon light turns that particular golden quality of early autumn. Day trips into the surrounding countryside become spectacular. The summer crowds thin noticeably.

signals a genuine transition. Highs fall to 14°C (58°F). Lows to 2°C (37°F). The first hard frost usually arrives before the end of the month. Rainfall holds at 36mm, which can sometimes arrive as early snow. The cottonwoods along the Yellowstone valley turn brilliant yellow.

is quiet and cold in Billings. Highs are 7°C (45°F) and lows back at -2°C (26°F), with snowfall becoming a regular possibility. Precipitation drops back to 15mm. The city shifts into an interior mode. This is a month for museums, galleries, and unhurried meals rather than extended outdoor time.

closes the year with highs of 2°C (36°F) and lows of -7°C (19°F), matching January in cold. Precipitation is minimal at 15mm. The long nights make the holiday lights around downtown feel warm against the dark. A chinook can occasionally surprise you. It would be unwise to count on one.