Multiple Inches of Rare August Snow Possible in Western Mountains

Skiers, winter is already making its presence known. Hot on the heels of unseasonal Californian snowfall , the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued Winter Weather Advisories for this Wednesday in the mountains across Northwest Montana.

This morning, the Missoula, Montana, division of the NWS broke the news on Twitter.

“Winter Weather Advisories have been issued from 6 AM - 6 PM Wednesday across [Glacier National Park] & US Highway 2 over Marias Pass & the Mission/Swan Mountains above 5,000 feet,” they wrote.

“Outdoor recreationalists should be prepared for winter conditions across higher elevation and backcountry areas! Snowfall could impact roads and cold temperatures may result in hypothermia,” the NWS added.

The advisories suggest that the "likelihood of moderate impacts from 3 to 6 inches of snow is greater than 90 percent," and that there is "up to a 40 percent chance of isolated major impacts from 6 to 10 inches or more of snow."

It’s hardly the first time Montana’s seen August snowfall. Five years ago, in August 2019, Glacier National Park saw wintry weather , and in August 1992, a freak storm (the NWS called it an “unprecedented weather event”) dropped snow across Montana, with Great Falls receiving over eight inches.

More recently, several ski resorts across the West have seen snowfall this month. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming , and several Lake Tahoe, California ski areas got hit with the ski season’s first dusting. For California, it was the first August snowfall in more than 20 years. Up north, Banff Sunshine Village, Alberta, announced that winter had arrived early on August 21st.

As far as we can tell, none of these recent storms produced enough snow to ski, and, perhaps obviously, they won’t impact any resort opening dates. But if the Montana advisory forecast pans out, there could be slidable snow up in Glacier National Park, provided you’re not afraid of a few core shots. Either way, we’re stoked.

Related: Another Californian Ski Resort Joins Ikon Pass

Be the first to read breaking ski news with POWDER. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing. From ski resort news to profiles of the world’s best skiers, we are committed to keeping you informed.

Submit your best clips for a chance to be featured on POWDER. Tune in and watch handpicked, high-quality ski videos streaming all day long on POWDER TV , and subscribe to our YouTube channel .