Area Information

The city of Billings, seat of Yellowstone County, is located in south central Montana at an elevation of about 3,200 ft above sea level. It is nestled in the fertile valley of the Yellowstone River and is framed on three sides by scenic mountain ranges.

Fed by numerous tributaries, the Yellowstone River flows in a northeasterly direction through the Yellowstone Valley. The valley measures from a few hundred feet to twelve miles in width. Valley soils are deep, well-drained loams and silty clays. Sandstone Cliffs, from 300 to 500 feet high, form a landmark border known as the "rimrocks" to the north and east of the city. Above the rimrocks, the land is primarily rolling hills with high, flat tablelands.

The city limits encompasses a land area of approximately 30 square miles. Yellowstone County contains 2,666 square miles. Both city and county are the most populated in the state. All of Montana is in the Mountain Time Zone and the 406 area code.

Billings enjoys sunny weather that is surprisingly mild for a city in the northern United States. The climate is classified as semiarid and features humidity levels that are comfortably low year around. Average annual precipitation totals approximately 15 inches, 63 percent of which falls during the growing season (May-September). Snowfall averages about 57 inches, but seldom accumulates to great depths because of frequent thawing periods.

The mountains to the west provide warm "Chinook" winds, which often melt the snow and bring spring-like temperatures in the midst of January and February. Billings frequently enjoys "open" winters when cold waves bypass the area completely.

Spring brings rapid fluctuations in the weather with periods of rain and wet snow. City residents look for their spring perennials to appear as early as mid-March. Wise gardeners wait until mid-May to plant, however, because the last frost can occur as late as May 15.

Summer is characterized by low humidity and warm, sunny days which fade into pleasantly cool evenings. Occasional thunderstorms pass through the area but usually bring only small amounts of rain.

Autumn days are typically mild and nights are cool. The first frost usually arrives around September 25, which allows for a growing season of about 133 days, and is normally followed by an "Indian summer." The transition to winter weather is gradual and commonly takes place in late November or early December.

Severe weather problems endured by many cities across the nation (fog, ice storms, frequent high winds, destructive hailstorms, etc.) are a rarity in Billings. A sheltered location and low humidity levels give Billings and the Yellowstone Valley enjoyably mild weather that is a welcome exception to other northern climates.