BOZEMAN – February 2020 was a crazy weather month for SW Montana. The month began with near record highs in the low to mid 50s and that wiped out most of the lower valley snowpack. Numerous snow storms in the first half of the month brought loads of heavy snow to the region.
The second half of February brought numerous weaker systems with each passing storm dropping an inch or less for lower valleys but over time that pushed snow totals to record levels in Belgrade and Bozeman.
Bozeman MSU had their snowiest February on record in 2019 with 29.2” of snow. February 2020 barely surpassed last year’s total by around a half an inch. February 2020 snow total was 29.7” and a new all-time record high snow total for Bozeman MSU.
Belgrade or Bozeman Yellowstone National Airport the data is just as impressive. February 2019 Belgrade picked up 19” of total snow which was the snowiest February on record. However, February 2020 a grand total of 20.4” of snow has been reported and that is your new all-time record snowiest February on record.
Ennis measured 11.7” of total snow in February 2020 and that is ranked #7. West Yellowstone Gate measured 20” of total snow for February 2020 and that is ranked #8.
Temperatures will be warming up for the last 3 days of the month and should easily reach the low to mid 40s. This will melt down some of the lower valley snowpack in Bozeman and Belgrade.
Mountain snowpack remains very healthy at the end of February. Most river basins snow-water equivalent percent of average numbers are running near to slightly above normal across the state.
