Riverton, WY – The Northern Rockies are bracing for the first major winter storm of the season this weekend, with widespread Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories issued for Montana and Wyoming’s mountain ranges.
According to the National Weather Service, snow will begin Saturday and last into Sunday evening, bringing difficult to impossible travel conditions across multiple high-elevation passes.
- Montana: Glacier National Park, the Beartooth and Crazy Mountains, Butte/Blackfoot, and Seeley Lake are all under alerts. Totals range from 2–4 inches in advisory zones to 10–18 inches in the Beartooths, with high winds creating whiteout conditions.
- Wyoming: The Tetons, Gros Ventre, Wind River, Absaroka, and Bighorn Mountains are forecast to receive 6–15 inches of snow, with localized amounts up to 18 inches in the Bighorns. Passes including Togwotee Pass, US 14 over Granite Pass, and US 16 over Powder River Pass may see hazardous or impassible conditions.
Forecasters warn that outdoor recreation will be hazardous to dangerous, and travel across mountain passes could become treacherous. Hunters, hikers, and campers are urged to postpone trips or take full winter survival gear.
Power outages and infrastructure disruptions are possible, especially in Montana’s Beartooth region. Travelers are advised to carry food, water, and flashlights. Montana road conditions can be checked by dialing 511, while Wyoming conditions are available at wyoroad.info.
This storm underscores the rapid seasonal transition across the Northern Rockies, with fall in the valleys but full winter conditions at higher elevations.
