Montana’s Wild Week: Storms, Snow, and Shocked Locals

Summer in Montana has too much caffeine and not enough patience. A micro-burst near Ft. Peck came in sideways with tree limbs snapping off and the rain blowing at a 90-degree angle. It was caught on video by locals, and you can almost feel those 70–80 mph gusts. In what Im sure felt like a hurricane or tornado. Nope, just another apocalyptic Montana summer storm.

Snow in August? Yep.

And as if that was not all. While most of the US is struggling to stay out of the heat, Montana is reporting snow. A cold front then blew in and snow levels dropped to 8,000 feet. Part of the South end of the Bitterroot Range and other higher terrain across west central Montana did not escape unscathed, as early summer turned to winter for those ranges, including portions of the Bitterroots, Pintlers, Flint Creek, and Mission range.

Over to the high country, peaks like Trapper Peak (10,157 ft.) and Saint Mary Peak (9,351 ft.) woke up to what felt more like early November. I'm sure ski bums are losing their minds.

Summer’s on Notice

In Montana, it is only possible to be sweating in the yard and seeing snow fall on the mountains before your sunscreen dries. If ever that was Mother Nature's way of keeping us humble, she succeeded. When we combine the damaging microburst that swept through Fort Peck and snow frosting our tallest peaks, it certainly doesn't feel much like summer.

We hope you've enjoyed those 90-degree days, because winter is definitely on its way and she's feeling frosty.