Late April is still delivering winter across the Rocky Mountains. The National Weather Service has Winter Weather Advisories active across mountain ranges of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah, with two shortwave troughs pushing snow into the high terrain today through early Tuesday. The Weather Prediction Center says snowfall rates of 1 to 1.5 inches per hour are possible across the Wasatch, Uinta and Absaroka ranges tonight.
Wyoming Takes the Heaviest Hit
Wyoming is the bullseye. The NWS office in Cheyenne issued a heavy snow warning for the Sierra Madre Range and Snowy Range, including the communities of Albany and Centennial, where 12 inches of heavy, wet snow is expected. Snowy Range Pass could see up to 20 inches over the next two days. Battle Pass tops the state forecast at 24 inches.
The NWS warned that outdoor recreation could become dangerous, with hunters, hikers and snowmobilers at genuine risk of becoming disoriented in falling and blowing snow. Visibility could drop to a quarter mile or less across the highest terrain.
Colorado Mountain Passes Buried
Colorado is dealing with a broad-reaching system. The NWS Denver office is calling for up to 8 inches with 45 mph wind gusts across Berthoud Pass, Eisenhower Tunnel, Rocky Mountain National Park, Winter Park, Breckenridge, Cameron Pass and Rabbit Ears Range.
Farther west, the NWS Grand Junction office warns of up to 12 inches in Crested Butte, Silverton, Monarch Pass, Molas Pass, Coal Bank Pass, McClure Pass and Trappers Lake. Grand Mesa stands out as the heaviest forecast in the state at 24 inches, matching Battle Pass in Wyoming for the most extreme totals in the region.
The NWS travel warning is direct: heavy snow will reduce visibility to a quarter mile or less at times, and roads will become slippery in spots, especially through mountain passes.
Utah and Montana Round Out the Advisories
In Utah, Eagle Point Resort is forecast for 12 inches on top of the 10 to 12 inches the area received this past weekend. The NWS Salt Lake City office highlights the Wasatch and Uinta ranges as the zones most likely to see the highest snow rates tonight. Snow levels are hovering around 7,000 feet across the Utah-Nevada corridor.
Montana has been hammered by repeated late-season storms over the past few weeks, with nearly 5 feet falling in several locations. This round adds up to 4 inches across communities from Sheridan to Hardin, with Daisy Pass expecting up to 10 inches. The NWS Billings office expects Montana’s advisory to expire by noon Sunday, offering a brief reprieve.
Why This Snow Matters
The Rockies are in rough shape heading into summer. The WPC notes that ranges across the region are classified anywhere from class 2 severe drought to class 4 exceptional drought. Every inch of late-season snow helps delay runoff and buy time for reservoir levels, even if nobody driving over Monarch Pass this week is thinking about water supply.
This is also not the last round. OpenSnow is tracking a second storm system around April 30 to May 1, with substantial accumulations possible again before the calendar flips to May. If your vehicle is not ready for sudden winter conditions on a mountain highway, Autoblog’s winter car readiness checklist covers tread depth, emergency kits and everything you need to know about driving in snow and ice.
Roads & Highways Most Impacted:
Wyoming
Battle Pass (WY-70): Up to 24 inches Monday night through Tuesday. Closure likely.Snowy Range Pass (WY-130): Up to 20 inches Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. Quarter-mile visibility, heavy wet snow.
Colorado
Grand Mesa (CO-65): Up to 24 inches Monday night through Tuesday. Highest totals in the state, near-certain closure.I-70 corridor through Eisenhower Tunnel and Vail Pass: Up to 8 inches with 45 mph gusts Monday evening through Tuesday morning. Traction law in effect, chain requirements for commercial vehicles likely.
Utah
Wasatch and Uinta ranges: Snow rates up to 1.5 inches per hour Monday evening through overnight. Snow levels around 7,000 feet.Eagle Point area (UT-143): 12 inches on top of 10-12 from the weekend. Accumulating through Tuesday morning.
Montana
Daisy Pass area near Beartooth Range: Up to 10 inches through early Tuesday.Sheridan to Hardin corridor (US-87/US-312): Up to 4 inches Monday into early Tuesday. Advisory expires noon Sunday, lightest-hit state.
