That was Then. This is Now.

Montana is known for extreme weather: raging blizzards, ferocious winds, bone-numbing cold.

It was at Rogers Pass, after all, where the coldest temperature in the Lower 48 was recorded.

Unpredictability was the state’s calling card, Chinook winds turned frigid January days balmy in a matter of minutes, early September snowstorms put an abrupt end to summer.

Montana, like at least a dozen other states, embraced the saying “If you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes.”

That was then. This is now. Today’s forecast is the same as yesterday’s which was pretty much the same as last week’s. While a third of the country recovers from flooding and hurricane damage — at the same time readying for the next storm — Montanans enjoy cloudless skies and comfortable temperatures.

Other than a mild equinox storm last month, this fall has more closely resembled summer. Occasional wildfire smoke is the biggest inconvenience.

The weather will change. It always does. But it’s going to take a lot longer than 15 minutes.

In the meantime word is out: Montana is a pleasant place to live. It used to be the weather that kept out the riff-raff. Folks looking to relocate were turned off by the seemingly endless winters that stretched from September to May. Even the unhoused stayed away, a lack of services for them here made living outside in winter unbearable.

Now with homeless shelters in place and newcomers with deep pockets flocking here for the mild weather and second homes, Montana has come to resemble somewhere else.

With the exception of land developers and real estate agents, most Montanans didn’t use to welcome nonresident newcomers. We thought we were special and a swarm of outsiders would only dilute that specialness.

Our extreme weather was a part of that.

We could use a good, old-fashioned winter again, one that starts with a Halloween snowstorm that doesn’t go away, followed by a cold snap lasting until April.

It was 70 years ago this year that the mercury dropped to minus 70 on Rogers Pass.

We’re way overdue.

Parker Heinlein is at [email protected]