Big Sky weather in December

December in Big Sky: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take well below freezing.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Big Sky🇺🇸 United States · Rockies · Ski87
  1. 90Jan
  2. 94Feb
  3. 83Mar
  4. 77Apr
  5. 50May
  6. 20Jun
  7. 14Jul
  8. 12Aug
  9. 23Sep
  10. 59Oct
  11. 74Nov
  12. 87Dec

#3 of 12 months in Big Sky · #198 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 87/100 (tier A)

Days
-1°C
Nights
-10°C
Wet days
12
Sun
5.8 h
Humidity
79%
Daylight
9 h
Big Sky, United States
Photo: Alex Moliski · Pexels

Traveller notes on Big Sky in December

Other months in Big Sky

Big Sky-forum threads on an April visit describe closing as genuinely landing around the tenth or eleventh of the month, posters naming this timing as often falling near Easter. Regulars call steady late-season snowfall genuinely still standard, several posters naming warmer, longer days alongside notably thinner crowds as real advantages of visiting this late. Posters call the resort genuinely feeling local by April, several regulars naming this a real contrast to the busier winter peak. Regulars call spring corn snow genuinely some of the best value and conditions of the entire season, several threads naming this a real reason not to overlook April. Posters recommend Closing Weekend specifically if timing allows, several regulars calling this a real notable on-mountain event worth planning a trip around. The record: 6.6C days, -3.3C nights, 79.9mm across nearly 15 days and 72 percent humidity.
BigSkyAprilRegular · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Big Sky-forum threads on a late May visit describe this as shoulder season, posters using it as a base for Yellowstone while asking whether local businesses would be open given the timing. Regulars call biking, horseback riding and rafting on the Gallatin River all real May options once conditions allow, several posters recommending these over anything snow-dependent this late in spring. Posters recommend checking the Big Sky and Bozeman Chamber event calendars directly, several regulars calling this the best way to confirm what's actually running during shoulder weeks. Regulars call lodging genuinely varied this time of year, ski-in options and condo complexes both mentioned as available even outside peak season. Posters recommend real flexibility around exact May plans, some businesses here still on reduced or seasonal schedules this early. The record: 11.8C days feeling like 10C, 1.2C nights, an extraordinarily high 93.8mm across over 16 days and 61 percent humidity.
BigSkyMayRegular · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Big Sky-forum threads on a July visit describe this as genuinely peak season, posters recommending the chairlift or gondola up the mountain for anyone wanting the views without a full hike. Regulars call Beehive Basin the standout hike close to town, Ousel Falls named the easier first outing for anyone easing into the altitude. Posters recommend a ranch experience or horseback outing as a genuine change of pace from the trail-heavy itinerary most visitors default to. Regulars call late July the calendar's busiest stretch, Music in the Meadows, the farmers market and the PBR Rodeo all real draws worth timing a trip around. Posters recommend real bear spray for hikes further from town like Upper Beehive, wildlife encounters here a genuine possibility. Regulars call the daytime warmth genuinely comfortable, evenings still cool enough for a real layer once the sun drops. The record: 25.7C days feeling like 25C, 12C nights, 38.4mm across over 10 days and 53 percent humidity.
BigSkyJulyRegular · July · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Big Sky-forum threads on March skiing are consistently enthusiastic, posters calling snow conditions rarely a problem this time of year and early March frequently named among the best stretches of the entire season. Regulars describe peak snowpack as typically landing around the first week of March, conditions often surpassing January simply because more has accumulated by then. Posters call the freeze-thaw cycle that defines classic spring skiing as not yet fully underway in March, a real advantage over April. Regulars recommend early-to-mid March as the more dependable target, temperatures generally sitting comfortably in the twenties and thirties Fahrenheit. Posters describe days as noticeably longer and milder than deep winter without sacrificing snow quality. Regulars recommend checking conditions before an April trip. The record: 3.1C days feeling like -1C, -6.3C nights, a notably high 47.1cm of fresh accumulation and 74 percent humidity.
BigSkyMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Big Sky climate normals — December

Daytime high-1°C / 29°F🥶 freezing
Nighttime low-10°C / 13°F
Feels like (high)-6°C / 21°F
Rainfall49 mm / 1.9 in🌦 some rain
Rainy days12 days
Humidity79%💦 very humid
Dew point-9°C / 15°F
Sunshine5.8 h/day
Daylight8.8 h
Wind12 km/h / 7 mph
Snowfall50.9 cm / 20 in
Air quality (US AQI)41🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Big Sky in December

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

Peak crowdsChristmas to New Year ski peak, Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Big Sky's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Best weatherBig Sky's weather peaks December–February.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Big Sky in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Ski season

    25 Nov – 25 Apr · usuallyBook early

    Lifts usually turn from the week of American Thanksgiving to late April, with the Lone Peak tram the reason people come. February and the holiday weeks are the expensive ones; early December is the same mountain for half the money.

  • Holiday

    Christmas to New Year ski peak

    20 Dec – 3 Jan · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

    The week from Christmas to New Year is the busiest of the ski season: lodging and lift-ticket prices reach their highs, ski school and rentals book out and lift lines are longest. Book months ahead, and early-season snow cover varies year to year. Source ↗

  • Season

    Snow season

    Ski season

    About 51 cm of snow falls in the month.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in December →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Big Sky — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Big Sky?

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Big Sky in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Big Sky?
December in Big Sky: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take well below freezing. It ranks #3 of 12 months for Big Sky on SeasonMap's comfort score (87/100).
What is the weather like in Big Sky in December?
In December, Big Sky averages a daily high of -1.4°C and a low of -10.3°C, with about 49.1 mm of rain over roughly 12.2 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Big Sky in December?
Big Sky has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 41 in December.
Does it snow in Big Sky in December?
Big Sky sees roughly 50.9 cm of snowfall in December.

Within 300 km: Yellowstone National Park's Winter wolves in the Lamar around 20 Dec – 10 Mar, and Grand Teton National Park's Elk on the National Elk Refuge around 1 Dec – 31 Mar.