Uncommon Knowledge
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Montana
Winter storm maps show where state could be hit with 7 inches of snow
Residents of Montana could be hit by unseasonably cold weather and snow starting on Sunday, the National Weather Service (NWS) has reported.
Montanans in some parts of the state can expect chilly temperatures and snow throughout Sunday and into early next week. Winter weather advisories are in place across numerous areas currently, while temperatures are expected to drop close to or below freezing.
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From 6 p.m. on Sunday, those in Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains, Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains, Little Belt and Highwood Mountains, Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains, and Northwest Beaverhead County can expect up to 7 inches of “heavy, wet snow,” particularly at higher elevations above 6,000 feet, according to a winter weather advisory issued by the NWS.
“Travel could be difficult, especially on backcountry roads. Those in the backcountry should ensure they have appropriate knowledge and gear and may want to consider alternate plans,” the advisory reads. “The heavy, wet nature of snow can bring down tree limbs and power lines.”
GETTY
Another advisory warns of 6 inches of snow for those in the East Glacier Park Region and along the Southern Rocky Mountain Front, particularly in areas between 6,000 and 8,000 feet. Both advisories are currently in place until Tuesday evening.
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Those in Missoula and Bitterroot Valley are also subject to a winter storm watch advisory, with 3 inches of heavy, wet snow expected to fall on Sunday night through to Monday morning. During the same period, 1 to 5 inches of snow is forecast at Georgetown Lake, Macdonald Pass and along Highway 12, with five to 12 inches possible in the highest terrain.
6/13: Winter Storm Watches are in effect along the Divide Monday into Tuesday, June 17-18, where heavy wet snow is possible. The main concern is for hazardous backcountry conditions and an increased risk for power outages as snow loads onto vegetation and infrastructure. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/KKAnBan35m
— NWS Missoula (@NWSMissoula) June 14, 2024
Similar conditions are also expected overnight on Sunday along several roads, including the I-90 East Missoula to Bearmouth, Highway 200 from Bonner to Greenough, and Highway 83 from Seeley Lake to Condon. Motorists are encouraged to “slow down and use caution” while on the road.
Residents of the areas covered by the warnings are warned of the risk of hypothermia if heading out unprepared, with temperatures expected to drop to the low 30s. Overnight, the NWS X, formerly Twitter, account said “temperatures will be dropping into the 30s tonight across valley areas,” which could also have an adverse effect on plants as frost forms.
6/15: Temperatures will be dropping into the 30s tonight across valley areas! Frost is a concern for sensitive plants, especially along the divide! The graphic below shows probabilities for temperatures to drop to 36F or colder, which is typically when frost develops. #mtwx #idwx pic.twitter.com/ON9Q0PDI14
— NWS Missoula (@NWSMissoula) June 15, 2024
While Montanans feel the chill, other parts of the U.S. are expecting more predictable warm weather for this time of year. Excessive heat watch warnings are in place in the Midwest, and also Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Further south in Texas and New Mexico, heat advisories are also in place.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Sugarland’s Thad Beaty says Big Sky country scene is ‘not scripted’
Beaty says the Montana destination is ditching choreography and leaning into real-time connection with fans.
Big Sky, Montana, is known for skiing, luxury resorts and sweeping views. Now, it is positioning itself as a destination for live country music.
That shift will be on display July 31 and Aug. 1 when Wildlands returns to Big Sky Events Arena with headliners Carrie Underwood, Riley Green, LeAnn Rimes and Kaitlin Butts. The two-night event, produced by Outlaw Partners, has grown into one of the area’s largest draws, bringing in visitors who are traveling specifically for country music.
According to a Luminate survey of global music fans, music tourism is especially popular among Gen Z travelers. Among U.S. respondents, across age demographics, those who said that traveling to an event was a barrier to seeing live music decreased from over 60% in 2024 to barely over 30% in 2026. It’s not that the cost of travel has decreased, it’s that ticket prices have gone up. For some fans, traveling to see an artist in a different region may now be comparable to the cost of seeing concerts in their hometown. When the difference shrinks, music lovers are more inclined to travel to remote festivals.
“We’re seeing an increase over the past few years just in people traveling for music,” said Thad Beaty, music and entertainment manager for Lone Mountain Land Company. “People come to Big Sky to see their favorite artist and then spend the day in Yellowstone National Park or fishing on a Blue Ribbon River.”
Beaty, a longtime member of the country music group Sugarland, is part of a broader effort to build a music culture in Big Sky that complements its outdoor appeal. For him, Wildlands is a part of a longer strategy to make music a primary reason people choose the destination. The festival is designed to feel different from larger touring events. Attendance is limited, and the setting places artists against the backdrop of Lone Mountain.
When compared to other music tourism opportunities popular among country fans, including country-themed cruises and events like the Tortuga Music Festival in Florida or Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa in Mexico, Wildlands offers a unique combination of modest scale, roughly 5,000 tickets, and a peaceful setting, which has helped fuel growing demand since Montana’s country festival started in 2018. Tickets for the 2026 event sold out in less than an hour.
According to Outlaw Partners, the 2025 Wildlands Festival event raised $1.3 million for charity last year. Beyond ticket sales and philanthropy, the festival delivers a significant boost to the local economy, driving business for hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related stops across Big Sky. National Park Service data indicates that 4.7 million people visited nearby Yellowstone last year. Although Tennesseans can see country music and beautiful trees any day, visitors from the Volunteer State are certainly among those travelers. A survey by AAA found that roughly 48% of Tennesseans plan to take a road trip this year.
Against that backdrop, the Wildlands festival is continuing to deepen ties between Music City and Big Sky. Dierks Bentley, Maren Morris and Wyatt Flores have all performed at Wildlands in the past. And, while she probably didn’t drive, Entertainment Tonight reported that Taylor Swift spent a few days relaxing at Yellowstone Club, a members-only ski and golf resort in Big Sky, earlier this month.
For Beaty, the music push is about more than tourism. He said Lone Mountain Land Company views entertainment and the arts as part of building the soul of the community, not just its infrastructure.
“There is no soul, then all you have is buildings,” he said.
After the festival, Beaty will remain focused on building that identity year-round. He converted a spot near U.S. Highway 191 and Lone Mountain Trail into a music studio, creating a space for artists to write and record without leaving Big Sky. Vibrant rugs cover the floor while amps and guitars line the walls. It offers a serene retreat for Nashville’s songwriters. In May 2024, songwriters from Nashville publishing company Creative Nation spent a week writing in Big Sky. One song from the trip — “I Ain’t Sayin’” by Jordan Davis — later became a No. 1 hit.
That same influence carries into live performances. Similar to a Broadway honky-tonk, Beaty routinely performs at Lone Mountain Ranch alongside his wife, Annie Clements, and Montana artist Amanda Stewart. He encourages a lot of engagement with the audience throughout the show.
“I think doing this all request format and just finding out people’s life stories in the midst of the show is something that just doesn’t happen in many places,” Beaty said. That approach reflects a broader philosophy that separates Big Sky from more crowded urban venues. It may even remind some Music City veterans of a quieter night at Station Inn or Bluebird Cafe, which are increasingly rare as more tourists flock to Nashville’s venues.
“It’s not scripted,” he said. “There’s no LED wall in Big Sky. There’s no choreography. So the set list, if you will, can evolve and people can have different conversations during the course of the evening. And it’s pretty exciting.”
Tickets for Wildlands are on sale now, with single-day general admission starting at $195, GA Floor Plus at $350 and VIP at $575. Two-day passes begin at $390 for general admission, with GA Floor Plus at $700 and VIP packages priced at $1,150.
Bryan West is a music reporter at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.
In 1953, Ford introduced the Thunderbird as a direct response to Chevrolet’s Corvette. While the Corvette was marketed as a sports car, Ford promoted the Thunderbird as a personal luxury car, By 1955, the Thunderbird was outselling the Corvette by 23 to 1.
Shown below are some of the Ford Thunderbirds in the Montana Auto Museum in the Old Montana Prison in Deer Lodge, Montana.
1956 Ford Thunderbird
This car sold new for $3,151.
1957 Ford Thunderbird
This car sold new for $3,408.
1957 Ford Thunderbird
This car sold new for $3,406.
1963 Ford Thunderbird
This car sold new for $4,548.
Note: these photos were taken on September 21, 2025.
We’ll get straight to the point: The financial hardships that Daily Kos is facing this year are tough.
We continue to be paywall-free. We continue to be supported by our readers, not billionaires or corporations. But we need to bring in more revenue. We are leaning on our community more than ever to help make ends meet.
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The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 18, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from July 18 drawing
09-14-44-50-56, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from July 18 drawing
13-17-22-28-40, Star Ball: 03, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from July 18 drawing
10-11-14-22, Bonus: 11
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from July 18 drawing
05-11-25-26-64, Powerball: 11
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from July 18 drawing
12-13-26-33-43
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 18 drawing
18-23-28-32-49, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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