The official start of summer might only be three days away, but snow and winter weather conditions have just forced the closure of Beartooth Pass at the Montana / Wyoming border.

WARNING
Travelers in Wyoming are being advised to turn around and return to Red Lodge due to adverse weather conditions.


WARN
© MDOT
Almost a foot of snow fell on the area, dropped by the snowstorm that has dumped on the higher elevations of the Rockies this week. Beartooth Basin ski area, the country's only summer-only ski area, is still open.

Comment: Deep summer snowfall blankets high elevations across Idaho, Montana - 19 inches deep at several locations

The high elevation Beartooth Highway, US 212, connecting Yellowstone National Park with Red Lodge, Montana, opened for the season on May 29th.

The final section in Wyoming was cleared for summer travel on May 29, connecting with the opened Montana portion of the road. The opening came as Beartooth Basin ski area, the nation's only summer ski area, opened on 1st June. Winter weather again forced the highway to close on June 8th.

Montana, yesterday, 17th June 2020.
Montana, yesterday, 17th June 2020.
The 68-mile road, which peaks at 10,947-feet, typically closes from early Fall through April or May as a result of deep snow. After opening for Memorial Day last year, the road had to close for 5-days at the end of June due to snow. It then closed on September 11th for the winter.

The road was cleared on the Montana side on May 22, but a blizzard at the summit caused it to be reclosed. Crews work tirelessly through the spring to clear the highway, often encountering snowdrifts well in excess of 20-feet deep.