Bozeman cost of living ...

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by happiness is

I didn't say the temps in the Bozeman area can't be severely cold at times. I was referring to the record cold that goes down into 50's below, like the photo you linked from Glasgow in 1936. And yes, many places in Montana can have the lowest temp on a certain day. I think you have over-reacted to my message.

Some handy charts:

Intellicast - Bozeman Historic Weather Averages in Montana (59715)
Intellicast - Glasgow Historic Weather Averages in Montana (59230)

Note that Bozeman's record lows mostly run somewhat colder than Glasgow's. Tho Havre beats both:
Intellicast - Havre Historic Weather Averages in Montana (59501)

But here's -66 recorded at West Yellowstone:
Intellicast - West Yellowstone Historic Weather Averages in Montana (59758)

Also, many areas have pocket lows that can run drastically colder than what's recorded at the official weather station (and those official stations tend to be sheltered, too). Good example -- couple weeks ago at my aunt's place in Fort Benton it was -10 but at her son's place about 20 miles to the west it was -41!!

[Reziac]

A few fun facts from the National Weather Service:

Top Ten Montana Weather Events of the 20th Century

#10). July 5, 1937. The temperature topped out at 117F at Medicine Lake in northeastern Montana. This tied the all-time high temperature for Montana previously established at Glendive on July 20, 1893. Combined with the -70F at Roger's Pass in 1954 (#6), this makes the all-time temperature range recorded in Montana 187F. This is the most extreme temperature range experienced in any of the 50 United States.

And in the category of "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes -- it'll change!" the winners are:

#9). January 11, 1980. The temperature at the Great Falls International Airport rose from -32F to 15F in seven minutes as warm, Chinook winds eroded an Arctic airmass. This 47 degree rise in seven minutes stands as the record for the most rapid temperature change registered in the United States.

#8). December 14, 1924. The temperature at Fairfield, Montana (about 20 miles WNW of Great Falls), dropped from 63F at noon to -21F at midnight. This 84 degree change in 12 hours still stands as the greatest 12 hour temperature change recorded in the United States.

#5). January 23, 1916. An Arctic cold front slammed through Browning, Montana, dropping the temperature from 44F to -56F in 24 hours. This 100 degree change stands as the most dramatic temperature change ever recorded in 24 hours in the United States.

Move over, Livingston:

#4). January 30 through February 4, 1989. A bitterly cold Arctic air mass invaded the northern Rockies bringing record cold temperatures and extreme wind chills to Montana. Ahead of the front, on January 30th, downslope winds gusted to 100 mph at Shelby, 102 mph at Cut Bank, 114 mph in Augusta, 117 mph at Browning and 124 mph at Choteau.

(This is why Choteau is now in North Dakota.)