Bozeman, MT – The Rocky Mountains may get their first true taste of winter early this year. According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center (CPC), Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho face an elevated risk of snow during the first week of November, well ahead of Thanksgiving.
NOAA’s October 24, 2025, outlook places a 20–40% “slight risk” for heavy snow across western Montana, northern Idaho, and northwestern Wyoming between November 1–4. That early burst of cold Canadian air paired with Pacific moisture could bring several inches of snow to higher elevations, and even light accumulations at lower passes.
While temperatures moderate mid-month, forecasters say additional snow chances may return near November 15–20, especially across the Yellowstone region and southern Montana mountains. Travelers heading through the Rockies around that time should be ready for slick roads and early winter driving conditions.
Overall, the Rockies appear to be the first U.S. region to see measurable pre-Thanksgiving snow—a sign that winter is officially waking up in the West.
