NOAA has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Beartooth Pass WY/MT that is calling for 3-12″ of snow to fall on Friday & Saturday!
* WHAT...Early season mountain snowfall. Snow levels dipping down
to around 7000 to 7500 feet Friday night. 3 to 6 inches of
snowfall is expected between 8500 and 9500 feet. Up to a foot of
snow could occur above 10000 feet including over Beartooth
Highway. - NOAA, Riverton WY, today
This will likely be enough to close Beartooth Pass for a day or two or more.
* IMPACTS...Beartooth Highway could be closed due to significant
snowfall. Chief Joseph Highway could become slick at pass level
late Friday night into Saturday morning. - NOAA, Riverton WY, today
A snowstorm shut down Beartooth Pass already this month on September 11th and 12th, 2019.
“More snow is expected in the Beartooth Mountains starting tomorrow, including Beartooth Pass. Anyone planning to head to the mountains should be prepared for temperatures dropping below freezing and rapidly changing weather conditions. Snow amounts of 4 to 8 inches are expected.” – NOAA, Billings MT, today
It is not uncommon for Beartooth Pass to see enough snow to close the pass in August or September.
Beartooth Pass road reaches elevations as high as 10,947-feet.
Beartooth Pass Info:
Beartooth Highway is an All-American Road on a section of U.S. Route 212 in Montana and Wyoming between Red Lodge and the Northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park, passing over the Beartooth Pass in Wyoming at 10,947 feet (3,337 m) above sea level. It has been called “the most beautiful drive in America,” by late CBS correspondent Charles Kuralt. Because of heavy snowfall at the top, the pass is usually open each year only from mid-May through mid-October, weather conditions permitting.- Wikipedia
Winter Weather Advisory for Beartooth Pass, WY/MT
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Riverton WY 150 PM MDT Thu Sep 19 2019 ...Significant Mountain Snowfall Friday into Saturday Morning across the Absaroka Mountains and Yellowstone National Park... .A fall storm system will bring mountain snowfall to northwest Wyoming Friday and Saturday. The heaviest snowfall is expected Friday into Friday evening, but mountain snowfall is expected to linger through the day Saturday. ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO NOON MDT SATURDAY... * WHAT...Early season mountain snowfall. Snow levels dipping down to around 7000 to 7500 feet Friday night. 3 to 6 inches of snowfall is expected between 8500 and 9500 feet. Up to a foot of snow could occur above 10000 feet including over Beartooth Highway. * WHERE...Absaroka Mountains. * WHEN...From 6 AM Friday to noon MDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...Beartooth Highway could be closed due to significant snowfall. Chief Joseph Highway could become slick at pass level late Friday night into Saturday morning. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Visibility under a half mile will occur in heavier snowfall. Backcountry activities will be impacted by wet, heavy snow or a cold rain and low visibility. Those with outdoor interests are encouraged to plan for winter weather.