A snow day interrupted summer celebrations in the Northern parts of the United States this weekend.
In the days leading up to the July Fourth holiday, a rare June winter storm brought arctic temperatures, strong winds, and heavy snow to those living in parts of the Rockies.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service issued winter storm and weather alerts across portions of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming that are still in effect as of Monday as temperatures continue to drop.
As for the summer flakes, Jackson, MT, reported 16 inches of snow on Sunday, according to The Weather Channel, while 4 to 8 inches of heavy wet snow was forecast for Lemhi County in East Idaho, according to local reports.
But this unexpected weather isn’t just affecting homeowners.
National Parks get a dusting of snow
The NWS has advised the public to prepare for “winter-like conditions” in the backcountry and higher elevations.
In their alerts, they mention that their Winter WeatherAdvisory includes U.S. 20 over Targhee Pass, which is the main approach to the busy West entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
Meanwhile, summer tends to be one of the few times Glacier National Park’s iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road is accessible in Montana, as it’s closed most of the year due to snowfall. Now, it looks like that might happen sooner than travelers anticipated.
Travelers headed to the area for hiking should keep in mind that the weather may close many trails on their trip.
Weather whiplash
While snow in this region is entirely uncommon in June, it is unusual to see such a dramatic change in weather so quickly.
Just days before, the valleys across Idaho and Montana were baking in the 80s and 90s, severe storms were in the forecast, but with the higher temperatures, rain was more likely, according to Fox Weather experts.
But the heat wave is making its way across the country, bringing triple digit temperatures to over 200 million homeowners, according to AccuWeather.
Meteorologists forecast that a heat dome will unleash a stretch of dangerous heat from the Midwest to the East, starting mid-week and through the July Fourth weekend.
Major metros like Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City will all see temps soar towards the 100 mark, with some areas seeing RealFeel® Temperatures soaring above 110, according to Accuweather.
Preparing your home for any kind of weather
Both extreme heat domes and heavy, wet summer snow can put immense stress on a person’s home, so it’s best to be prepared no matter where you live.
For example, check on your sprinkler system. In the heat wave, you’ll want to make sure it’s operational both to care for your lawn and as a welcomed respite for pets, kids and kids at heart.
On the flip side, by June, everyone has dewinterized their yards. A sudden arctic plunge would freeze trapped water, leading to cracking pipes. Homeowners dealing with unseasonably cold weather would do well to disconnect hoses, shut off their main irrigation valve, and drain the above-ground components before the freeze sets in.
The same goes for running the electricity. While heavy snow could snap trees onto power lines, millions of homeowners running air conditioners simultaneously can trigger brownouts.
No matter what you’re dealing with, charge your backup power banks and keep flashlights handy, just in case.
