A rare weather event swept across North America's western high-elevation ski resorts on June 21, as the first day of summer brought a fresh blanket of snow to mountains from Oregon to Alberta. While many regions prepared for summer heat, a cold front delivered winter conditions to several iconic destinations, surprising locals and visitors alike.

In Montana, Whitefish Mountain Resort awoke to six inches of new snow, while Logan Pass in Glacier National Park was buried, prompting the closure of the Going-to-the-Sun Road's alpine sections. The National Weather Service reported that elevations above 6,000 feet could see up to two feet of accumulation.

Canada's Banff Sunshine Village recorded up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snow, as heavy rain and wind battered the surrounding foothills. Similar scenes played out at Mount Bachelor and Timberline Lodge in Oregon, as well as at resorts across the northern Rockies, including Panorama in British Columbia, Bridger Bowl and Big Sky in Montana, Grand Targhee in Wyoming, and Sun Valley in Idaho.




Check out the photos below from resorts' social media channels and webcams, where summer's arrival was celebrated with a return to winter.


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