Although the Fall equinox is still a few weeks away, Mother Nature has gotten a head start on the changing of the seasons. Cold fronts moved across several parts of Washington, the Rockies, and Canada over the weekend, bringing snow to some higher elevations and marking the beginning of a seasonal shift.

On Sunday, August 30, 2026, a low-pressure system moved across the Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains, bringing cold temperatures and precipitation above 10,000 feet. As temperatures dropped to freezing, 1-3 inches of snow accumulated on the Beartooth Highway, on the Montana/Wyoming border. US-212 was reportedly slick and snowy in some spots, but has since dried out.

Although winter is still a ways away, the Beartooth Highway recommends travelers check WYDOT District 5 and Montana Department of Transportation’s websites for road conditions and highway status when planning a trip over the pass. With a summit of 11,000 feet, weather and conditions can change quickly, as they did over the weekend.

Tap or click below to watch Brandon Montgomery driving through the snow on Beartooth Pass, yesterday, August 30, 2026.

Temperatures are expected to rise a bit throughout the week, but not by much. Forecasts have highs in the 40s and low 50s and lows in the high-30s and mid-40s through Labor Day weekend on Beartooth Pass. Trace amounts of rain are possible into Tuesday, September 1, and more snow could be on the way next week.

The iconic summer ski area on the pass, Beartooth Basin, closed for the season on June 28th. The roadway is usually closed for the winter by mid-October, depending on weather and snow accumulation.

While forecasters warn that long-range forecasts should be taken with a grain of salt, signs are pointing to an El Niño winter, which could mean increased precipitation in certain locations.