Billings, MT – The first major mountain snowstorm of the season is set to impact much of Montana this weekend, with the National Weather Service issuing multiple Winter Storm Warnings across the state’s high country.
According to NWS offices in Missoula, Great Falls, and Billings, the warnings stretch from Glacier National Park to the Beartooth and Crazy Mountains. Snowfall will begin early Saturday and continue through Sunday evening, with the heaviest totals expected in the Beartooths.
- Glacier Region: Both East and West Glacier, including Going-to-the-Sun Road, Logan Pass, Saint Mary, Babb, Kiowa, and Marias Pass, could see 4 to 8 inches of snow, with higher amounts above 7,000 feet. Winds up to 40 mph may create whiteout conditions and dangerous wind chills.
- Absaroka/Beartooth & Crazy Mountains: Totals of 10 to 18 inches are possible, especially on the north-facing slopes of the Beartooths above 8,000 feet. The NWS warns that recreation in the high country will be hazardous to dangerous.
Impacts include difficult to impossible travel, potential road closures, and risks of hypothermia or frostbite for those not properly equipped. Power outages and infrastructure disruptions are also possible.
Officials urge hikers, campers, and drivers to delay plans and avoid non-essential travel in the mountains during the storm. Those who must be on the road should carry food, water, and flashlights. Road conditions statewide can be checked by dialing 511 or visiting the Montana Department of Transportation website.
This storm represents a sharp seasonal shift, with Montana’s mountains transitioning rapidly from early fall into full winter conditions.
