snowingplaces

Ski resort in Montana, United States

Big Sky

A large resort in southwest Montana built around Lone Peak, with 5,850 acres of skiable terrain.

Forecast updated , when it was 07:00 in Big Sky (GMT-6).

Big Sky snow forecast at 3,403 m (top lift)

Next 24 hours on the upper mountain

No snow in the next 24 hours.

No snow expected in the next 7 days.

High confidence, all three forecast models agree

No snow is forecast for Big Sky at the top lift (3,403 m / 11,200 ft) in the next 7 days, and all three weather models we compare agree. Expect temperatures from −1 to 8 °C (30 to 46 °F) and the freezing level near 4,050 m (13,300 ft) over the next day.

Temperature now
1 °C (34 °F)
Freezing level
4,050 m (13,300 ft)
Wind
5 km/h (3 mph), gusts 16 km/h (10 mph)

Big Sky hour by hour, on the upper mountain

Hourly snowfall

No rain or snow on the upper mountain in Big Sky in the next 24 hours.

Big Sky 7-day snow forecast, on the upper mountain

DayWeatherSnowfall
TodayDry0 to 8 °C (32 to 46 °F) · freezing level 4,000 m (13,100 ft)No snow
SatRain−2 to 3 °C (28 to 37 °F) · freezing level 3,550 m (11,600 ft)No snow
SunDry−3 to 6 °C (27 to 43 °F) · freezing level 3,550 m (11,600 ft)No snow
MonDry−3 to 9 °C (27 to 48 °F) · freezing level 4,050 m (13,300 ft)No snow
TueDry0 to 10 °C (32 to 50 °F) · freezing level 4,000 m (13,100 ft)No snow
WedDry0 to 10 °C (32 to 50 °F) · freezing level 4,050 m (13,300 ft)No snow
ThuDry0 to 12 °C (32 to 54 °F) · freezing level 4,300 m (14,100 ft)No snow

Big Sky 14-day snow outlook, on the upper mountain

Days 8 to 14. Only two of our three models run this far ahead, and forecasts at this range often change, so read this as a guide to the pattern rather than a plan.

DayWeatherSnowfall
Fri 25 SepDry2 to 9 °C (36 to 48 °F)No snow
Sat 26 SepDry1 to 10 °C (34 to 50 °F)No snow
Sun 27 SepDry0 to 13 °C (32 to 55 °F)No snow
Mon 28 SepDry−1 to 8 °C (30 to 46 °F)No snow
Tue 29 SepDry−1 to 6 °C (30 to 43 °F)No snow
Wed 30 SepDry0 to 8 °C (32 to 46 °F)No snow
Thu 1 OctChance of snow−4 to 5 °C (25 to 41 °F) · 1 of 2 models show snow0–15 cm (0–5 in)

How much snow is there in Big Sky on the upper mountain?

No snow on the ground

This is an estimate from weather models, not a measurement, so it can differ from the depth a resort reports on its pistes. Check the official snow report before you travel.

Where is Big Sky?

State
Montana
Village
2,073 m
Top lift
3,403 m
Vertical
1,330 m
Lifts
40
Season
Late November to Late April
Airports
Bozeman Yellowstone International (BZN)

About Big Sky

Big Sky Resort is in Madison County, Montana, about 50 miles from Bozeman. The ski area spreads around Lone Peak, whose summit at 11,166 ft (3,403 m) is served by a tram.

The resort has 5,850 acres of skiable terrain and 4,350 vertical feet. Its base areas are Mountain Village at 7,500 ft (2,286 m) and Madison Base at 7,400 ft (2,256 m).

The snow

Big Sky is one of the largest resorts in the United States, spread around Lone Mountain in Montana’s Madison Range with a tram to the 3,403 m summit. In our record it snows on about 13 to 14 days a month at mid-mountain from February to April, later than most of the Rockies, and snow was on the ground every Christmas Day in the last ten years. Montana’s snow is cold and dry, and the resort is high enough at its lowest lift at 2,073 m to keep it.

Who it suits

Anyone who dislikes queues: Big Sky’s terrain is vast for its visitor numbers. The Lone Peak tram serves some of the steepest lift-served terrain in North America; Andesite and Moonlight Basin have long, gentle groomers. The base area is small and quiet, and Yellowstone is an hour away. Big Sky is on the Ikon Pass and the Mountain Collective.

Getting there

Bozeman airport is about an hour by road.

When does it snow in Big Sky?

In Big Sky, snow falls on about 14 days in April in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from September to June.

Average days per month with at least 1 cm of snowfall in Big Sky at mid-mountain, 2016–2025
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
10 days13 days13 days14 days10 days4 days<1 days<1 days3 days9 days10 days12 days

Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall at mid-mountain, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Snow in Big Sky month by month

Averages for 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain, from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Average snow days, share of annual snowfall and temperature by month in Big Sky, 2016 to 2025
MonthSnow daysShare of the year's snowLow to high
January109%−15 to −7 °C (5 to 19 °F)
February1312%−15 to −7 °C (5 to 19 °F)
March1312%−12 to −3 °C (10 to 27 °F)
April1416%−9 to 1 °C (16 to 34 °F)
May1013%−4 to 6 °C (25 to 43 °F)
June44%0 to 12 °C (32 to 54 °F)
July<10%6 to 19 °C (43 to 66 °F)
August<10%6 to 18 °C (43 to 64 °F)
September33%1 to 13 °C (34 to 55 °F)
October911%−7 to 4 °C (19 to 39 °F)
November1010%−12 to −3 °C (10 to 27 °F)
December1210%−15 to −7 °C (5 to 19 °F)

Snow in Big Sky in October

In October, Big Sky gets snow on about 9 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 11% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −7 to 4 °C (19 to 39 °F).

Snow in Big Sky in November

In November, Big Sky gets snow on about 10 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 10% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −12 to −3 °C (10 to 27 °F).

Snow in Big Sky in December

In December, Big Sky gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 10% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −15 to −7 °C (5 to 19 °F).

Snow in Big Sky in January

In January, Big Sky gets snow on about 10 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 9% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −15 to −7 °C (5 to 19 °F).

Snow in Big Sky in February

In February, Big Sky gets snow on about 13 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 12% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −15 to −7 °C (5 to 19 °F).

Snow in Big Sky in March

In March, Big Sky gets snow on about 13 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 12% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −12 to −3 °C (10 to 27 °F).

Snow in Big Sky in April

In April, Big Sky gets snow on about 14 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 16% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −9 to 1 °C (16 to 34 °F).

Snow in Big Sky in May

In May, Big Sky gets snow on about 10 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 13% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −4 to 6 °C (25 to 43 °F).

Snow in Big Sky in June

In June, Big Sky gets snow on about 4 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 4% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 0 to 12 °C (32 to 54 °F).

Snow in Big Sky in September

In September, Big Sky gets snow on about 3 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 3% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 1 to 13 °C (34 to 55 °F).

Which winters were snowiest in Big Sky?

Of the last ten winters in Big Sky, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 24% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2020/21, about 17% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 13 June 2017.

Snowfall in Big Sky for each of the last ten winters, as a percentage of the ten-year average
WinterCompared with average
2016/1798% of average
2017/18124% of average
2018/1997% of average
2019/20105% of average
2020/2183% of average
2021/22105% of average
2022/2394% of average
2023/2497% of average
2024/25105% of average
2025/2692% of average

Winters are compared with each other rather than given in centimetres. The ERA5 record is reliable on which winters were big and which were lean, but it underestimates absolute snowfall in the mountains, so the resort's own measured totals are the ones to trust for amounts.

Questions about snow in Big Sky

Does Big Sky have snow at Christmas?

Big Sky had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Christmas Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 20 to 26 December in every one of those years.

Does Big Sky have snow at New Year?

Big Sky had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on New Year's Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 27 December to 2 January in 9 of those years.

Does Big Sky have snow in mid-February?

Big Sky had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on 15 February in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 10 to 20 February in every one of those years.

Does Big Sky have snow at Easter?

Big Sky had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Easter Sunday in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during Good Friday to Easter Monday in 9 of those years.

How many days a year does it snow in Big Sky?

It snows on about 97 days a year in Big Sky at mid-mountain, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. April has the most, about 14 days.

What is the snowiest month in Big Sky?

April is the snowiest month in Big Sky, bringing about 16% of the year's snowfall at mid-mountain, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025.

Which recent winter was the snowiest in Big Sky?

Of the last ten winters in Big Sky, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 24% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2020/21, about 17% below average.

How cold does Big Sky get in winter?

February is the coldest month in Big Sky at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −15 °C (5 °F) and highs of −7 °C (19 °F).

How high is Big Sky?

The village or lowest lift at Big Sky is at 2,073 m (6,800 ft) and the top lift is at 3,403 m (11,200 ft), a vertical drop of 1,330 m (4,400 ft).

When does the ski season start in Big Sky?

The lifts at Big Sky usually open in late November and close in late April. Exact dates change each year with the snow, so check the resort's own website before you book.

Snow forecasts near Big Sky

Map of ski resorts and cities within 150 km of Big SkyBozeman, about 50 km away, no snow this week.50 km100 km150 kmNBozeman: No snow this weekBozemanBig Sky
Blue dots expect snow in the next 7 days. Distances are straight lines, not driving distances.
BozemanCity, about 50 km awayNo snow this weekJackson HoleSki resort, about 190 km awayOut of seasonSun ValleySki resort, about 300 km awayNo snow this week

Compare Big Sky for snow

Facts checked 18 September 2026. Sources: Big Sky Resort mountain information, Wikipedia: Big Sky Resort, J2Ski: Big Sky season dates, Skiresort.com, Big Sky