North America Weekly Snow Roundup #321

• Fresh snowfall and record low June temps in Idaho and Montana.
• Beartooth highway closed by snowfall as Beartooth Basin ends 2026 season.
• Canada Day celebrated on the slopes of Sunshine near Banff.
• Wildfire season sees Utah ski area badly damaged.

It’s been a week of extremes in Western North America with some record cold for June and fresh snowfall reported at altitude in the mountains of the northern US Rockies region in states like Idaho, Wyoming and Montana at the weekend (Jackson Hole was amongst those posting pics of fresh snow), whilst forest fires rage elsewhere.

Despite the fresh snowfall being enough to temporarily close the Beartooth highway again, the Beartooth Basin summer ski area announced last Sunday was its final day of the 2026 season and that it would re-open around Memorial Day at the end of June next year.

Timberline (0/66” / 0/160cm) in Oregon is the main ski destination still open in the US, although it's now only a fortnight off its suggested early-closure date of July 19th (early compared to its usual mid-August closure of recent years). There are a mile or so of slopes open on the Palmer snowfield high above the resort base. You can also still ski and ride freestyle at Copper Mountain’s hike-to summer park, open to the public from Thursdays to Sundays.

In Canada, Sunshine (0/80cm / 0/32”) near Banff is nearing the end of its 16 days of summer skiing, set to run until this coming Sunday. It’s been a big week with a record run for skiing in tuxedos on Canada’s National Day on Wednesday.

At this time of year, it’s increasingly common to hear that one or more North American ski areas are being impacted by a wildfire. This week, it has been the Eagle Point ski area in Utah that has been damaged by the Cottonwood fire.

Some American ski areas have begun countdowns to the start of their 26-27 seasons, with Colorado’s Loveland announcing last Thursday that it was likely 100 days until they start snowmaking ahead of the first runs opening, hopefully in October.

USA Forecast

A cooler pattern is expected to settle over the western US to end the week, keeping Timberline’s Palmer Snowfield firm early with mid‑20s to low‑30s °F overnight and 40s–50s °F by day under mostly clear skies. Copper Mountain’s hike‑to summer park stays mild but stable, with upper‑30s to mid‑50s °F and light winds. No meaningful new snowfall is indicated, but overnight freezes at Timberline continue to support solid morning conditions before softening through the morning.