Winter Storm Warning: 'Heavy' Snow Over 1 Foot, 30 mph Winds Coming Before Memorial Day
Memorial Day is drawing near and while most will be making their final preparations for a cookout by securing hamburgers and hot dogs, others in one region of the United States will be battling winter elements.
The latest forecast from the National Weather Service shows another upper trough from western Canada will dip into the northern Rockies, bringing a broadening area of rain and high-elevation snow across northern Rockies into the northern High Plains.
The inclement weather is expected to run through Thursday night. From Thursday night to Friday morning, the upper trough will interact with the southern Plains upper trough to bring a period of rain from the northern Plains down into the central High Plains with wet snow along the Front Range of Colorado.
Winter Storm Warning for Montana, Wyoming
A new winter storm warning was issued for Southern Montana, while a winter weather advisory was issued for Northern Wyoming as the states prepare for over one foot of snow.
The Billings office of the National Weather Service issued the winter storm warning for the Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains region including Cooke City. Total snow accumulations between 8-13 inches are expected with winds gusting as high as 30 mph.
The office warned that "recreation in the high country will be impacted by heavy accumulating snow."
Here's a look at what precipitation could look like through Thursday. Weak isolated thunderstorms are possible today and Thursday. pic.twitter.com/6mammA8d8x
— NWS Billings (@NWSBillings) May 20, 2026
It also issued a winter weather advisory for Pryor/Northern Bighorn Mountains and Northeast Bighorn Mountains, including the locations of Burgess Junction and Story.
A graphic from the Billings office showed that some regions of the states could see between 12-18 inches of snow.
The Riverton office of the National Weather Service showed that Beartooth Pass and Gannett Peak will see the most amount of snowfall with up to 14 inches over the next two days.
Lower elevations are expecting heavy rain and thunderstorms in place of the heavy snow hitting across the mountainous regions.
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This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 3:01 AM.