A late-season winter storm is driving hazardous conditions across the high country of southern Montana and northern Wyoming, with the National Weather Service issuing two Winter Storm Warnings for major mountain ranges along the border — including the Absaroka/Beartooth and Bighorn ranges — active through this evening.
The heavier of the two warnings covers the Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains, where the National Weather Service forecasts 8 to 15 inches of snow, concentrated on north-facing slopes above 6,500 feet. North winds are gusting to 30 mph. That warning expires at 6 PM MDT. A second warning, covering the Pryor and Northern Bighorn Mountains in Montana and the Northeast Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming, calls for 5 to 10 inches of snow with the same wind conditions and remains in effect until 9 PM MDT.
The storm’s primary danger is not to valley communities but to anyone moving through mountain passes or spending time in the backcountry. The National Weather Service specifically identified US-14 through Burgess Junction — a critical corridor connecting the Bighorn Basin to the Bighorn Mountains — as a route where wintry travel conditions are expected. Motorists planning to cross that stretch are advised to call 511 for the latest road conditions before departing.
High-country recreation is equally in the crosshairs. Hikers, campers, and backcountry travelers heading into the Absaroka, Beartooth, or Bighorn wilderness areas face heavy snow accumulation and reduced visibility through this evening. The National Weather Service warned travelers explicitly not to be caught unprepared in the high country during the storm.
May snowstorms in the northern Rockies above 6,000 feet are not unheard of, but totals in the 8-to-15-inch range can strand vehicles, close mountain roads without warning, and load steep north-facing terrain with enough snow to raise avalanche concerns. Anyone planning to access Beartooth Pass or similar high-elevation routes in the affected corridor should treat these active warnings seriously regardless of the date on the calendar.
For regional context, Billings weather — the largest city in southeastern Montana and the nearest major population center to the Beartooth front — shows how the storm’s influence is tracking into the Yellowstone Valley. Travelers approaching the Bighorn Basin from the east can also monitor Cody, WY weather for conditions near the primary eastern gateway to the affected mountain terrain.
The National Weather Service will update both warnings as conditions evolve. Anyone traveling into or through the warned mountain ranges is urged to check the 511 road condition line and current NWS forecasts before heading out.