Rare June Snow Blankets Rockies Ahead of July 4th

A rare June winter storm delivered arctic temperatures, strong winds, and heavy snow to parts of the Rocky Mountains in the days leading up to the July Fourth holiday weekend. The National Weather Service issued winter storm and weather alerts for portions of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, with some alerts remaining in effect on Monday as temperatures continued to fall. Jackson, Montana, recorded 16 inches of snow on Sunday, according to The Weather Channel. Local reports indicated that Lemhi County in East Idaho was forecast to receive 4 to 8 inches of heavy, wet snow.

The unexpected weather also impacted National Parks. The NWS advised the public to prepare for "winter-like conditions" in backcountry and higher elevations. Winter Weather Advisories included U.S. 20 over Targhee Pass, a primary route to the busy West entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Glacier National Park in Montana, where the Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically only accessible during the summer due to heavy snowfall, may experience earlier closures than anticipated. Travelers planning hiking trips in the region were cautioned that many trails might be closed due to the weather.

Fox Weather tracked the movement of the snow, noting its occurrence just days before July 4th. While snow in this region during June is not entirely uncommon, the speed and intensity of this weather shift were unusual. According to Fox Weather experts, valleys across Idaho and Montana had experienced temperatures in the 80s and 90s just days prior, with severe storms forecasted but expected to bring rain due to the higher temperatures. This heat wave was also noted to be moving across the country, bringing triple-digit temperatures to other areas.