Weather
The first significant snowstorm of the 2025-26 season has blanketed parts of Utah, Wyoming, and Montana, bringing winter back to the northern Rockies. As forecasted by the SnowBrains weather force, the weekend of October 4-5 saw up to 12 inches of snow in some high-elevation regions.
This early snow band primarily affected the higher peaks and mountain ranges, including the Wyoming Wind Rivers, Big Horn Mountains, Tetons, and areas around Yellowstone, as well as Montana’s Big Sky, Red Lodge, and Absaroka-Beartooth ranges. In Utah, the upper Wasatch peaks, from 10,000 to 11,000 feet, were among the hardest-hit areas. Snow accumulations ranged from 8 to 16 inches in the hardest-hit spots, according to reports.
Impressive snow levels were seen Sunday at the Long Lake road-closed gate on U.S. 212 (Beartooth Highway) between Cooke City, MT, and Red Lodge, MT, which includes 22 miles of highway inside Wyoming. Road crews are clearing snow with no time yet set for reopening.
The snowstorm impacted other travel and outdoor activities, with notable closures such as Guardsman Pass in Utah due to snow-slicked roads. Freeze warnings were also in effect early Monday, October 6, in parts of Montana and Wyoming, with temperatures dropping as low as the low 20s in some higher elevations.
While some of this will melt on the roads during daylight hours, be prepared for winter driving conditions if traveling over any passes today. Keep up with WYDOT for the latest updates.
Ski resorts across these states are beginning to prepare for the upcoming season, closely monitoring snowfall, and will soon be firing up snowmaking guns. With the pattern likely to persist, resorts such as Big Sky, Jackson Hole, and Alta-Snowbird are expected to continue experiencing early snow accumulation.
As for the broader seasonal outlook, experts suggest that this initial snowstorm is part of a dynamic pattern that could bring a “snowy start to October” and an active winter shaped by atmospheric river conditions and jet stream configurations that favor snowfall in the northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest.
October Snow Photos
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