While heat warnings and tornado warnings dominate forecasts across much of the United States, Montana’s Beartooth Highway is seeing snow and wind gusts of up to 55 mph.
The unusual conditions highlight the remarkable altitude-induced extreme weather conditions along the iconic mountain route. Even in mid-summer, visitors can encounter winter conditions near the summit, while the lower elevations remain warm and dry, making the Beartooth Highway one of the most meteorologically dynamic roads in the country.
The advice is realistic – and that also applies to the snow
The National Weather Service in Billings has issued a winter weather advisory for the Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains until 9 a.m. MDT Thursday, warning of up to 5 cm of snow and wind gusts of up to 90 km/h along the Beartooth Highway.
Slippery roads are expected, and “the combination of high winds and falling snow may result in locally reduced visibility, especially in exposed areas.”
This is not a crazy event. It’s not a record. In fact, it’s almost entirely expected.
The road that lives above the clouds
The Beartooth Highway – US Route 212, which extends 70 miles (110 km) from Red Lodge, Montana to Cooke City near the northeast entrance to Yellowstone – peaks at 10,947 feet above sea level. That is higher than most Alps. The summit is above tree line, above most weather systems, and right in the zone where June is more like March.
The late CBS journalist Charles Kuralt, who rode more American roads than anyone in history, mentioned it “the most beautiful ride in America.” That reputation is built on the hairpin bends, the glacial lakes, the granite plateaus and the breathtaking views. It is also based on the road’s complete indifference to the calendar.
Snow usually lasts until early to mid-July at higher elevations. June snowstorms are just part of the Beartooth experience. Last June, the pass received 12 to 12 inches of snow and completely closed for a number of days.
This season’s timeline is already remarkable
Only the Bear’s Tooth reopened on May 21, 2026 after crews cleared significant snowdrifts from the summit – less than three weeks ago. At the time, the Montana Department of Transportation explicitly warned against this “Temporary travel restrictions or complete road closures may occur at any time without notice.” Wednesday’s advice is exactly the kind of event they described.
What today’s advice means for motorists
For anyone planning to ride the Beartooth today or Thursday morning before the advisory expires at 9 a.m. MDT: check the road conditions line Montana 511 before departure and bring warm clothing, snow chains or all-weather tires and extra fuel.
The highway is inaccessible for most of its length and rescue times at 10,000 feet are not fast.
The advisory does not mean the road is closed – just that conditions above 2,300 meters are winter-like, with slippery surfaces and potential for reduced visibility in exposed areas near the summit. Check the Montana DOT Road Conditions before heading out.
Why this makes the Beartooth worth every mile
Here’s the counterintuitive truth about driving America’s largest alpine highway in June: The possibility of snow is part of what makes it extraordinary. The same elevation that generates a winter weather advisory in mid-summer also produces the glacial lakes, persistent snowfields, roadside mountain goats, and 360-degree views that make the Beartooth unlike any other paved road in the country. Pack your gear for all four seasons, check the conditions and point the car uphill. The snow, when it comes, only adds to the story.
