Another surge of snow and cooler temperatures will hit Wyoming between Wednesday night and Friday afternoon. Every corner of the state will be affected to some degree, with as much as 20 inches of snow expected in the central and northwest mountains and more than a foot in Casper, Douglas and the rest of central Wyoming before it's over.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Watch, Warning or Advisory for nearly every county in Wyoming. Most remain in effect from Wednesday night through 5 a.m. Friday.
“It’s an ‘Oprah’ storm,” said Cowboy State Daily meteorologist Don Day. “I wouldn’t call it a blizzard, but it’ll be impactful. You get snow, and you get snow, and you get snow. Everybody’s getting some snow out of this one.”
Snow Surge
The moisture-laden system will start spreading snow across western Wyoming on Wednesday evening. It’ll snow heavily, but not continuously.
“The snow will come in segments,” Day said. “Sometimes you'll get walls in between snowfalls, so the idea of it continuously snowing for 36 hours is probably not the right way to describe it. It’ll come in surges.”
The first surge will dump several inches in southwest Wyoming on Wednesday evening before swinging up to the northeast. Afton, Lander and Star Valley could see 5-12 inches during that time, with up to 15 inches in the Lander foothills.
Meanwhile, wind gusts as high as 45 mph are possible for the duration, increasing the potential travel hazards during the heavy snowfall.
“We could easily get a couple of feet on South Pass and the eastern side of the Wind River Range,” Day said. “People who live in those areas will get a foot, at least.”
The eastern slopes of the Absaroka and Beartooth ranges will receive heavy snow, and 6-10 inches are anticipated between Cody, Meeteetse and Thermopolis.
The only parts of Wyoming that the storm won’t severely impact are the northwest and northeast corners. Yellowstone National Park and the Black Hills could still see a few inches of snow, but the most significant impacts will be spread out across central Wyoming.
Dry Dousing
Once the winter moisture moves into central Wyoming, some of the driest regions in the state will get welcome relief in the form of heavy snowfall. Even the low elevation areas will have a thick layer of fresh snow by Friday.
“We’re looking at anywhere from 9-12 inches across central Wyoming,” said meteorologist Molly Gerhardt with the NWS office in Riverton. “The foothills and higher elevations could see upward of 20 inches.”
Gerhardt cautioned central Wyoming residents that Thursday afternoon will have the heaviest snowfall. Because temperatures will be warmer, in the high 20s to low 30s, the snow will fall heavy and wet and could start melting as soon as it hits the ground.
Day said this storm will give central Wyoming residents reasons to rejoice. This will be one of the most significant surges of moisture those regions have seen all season.
“Wheatland, Torrington, Douglas, Casper, Lusk and the areas over by Riverton and Lander have not had any good snow for quite a while,” he said. “Most of these winter systems this season have missed the central part of the state. This will be welcome moisture in many of those areas.”
Some of the moisture will leak into the southeast corner of Wyoming and the Nebraska panhandle. The NWS is calling for “widespread accumulating snow” for the higher elevations, but Cheyenne and Laramie could see a few inches before it’s over.
Rapid Deterioration
Once the storm arrives, conditions will deteriorate rapidly. Overnight temperatures will dip into the teens, while daytime highs will stay below freezing until the system moves on.
Day said all of Wyoming’s major highways — Interstates 80, 90 and 25 — will all be impacted by this two-day winter storm. Anyone traveling during this time should expect to encounter slick surfaces, low visibility, and other hazardous conditions.
“I-80 is always a problem during these systems, but the impacts will be widespread,” he said. “I could see problems on I-25 from just north of Cheyenne up to Buffalo and Sheridan, and between Sheridan and Gillette on I-90. The roads between Casper, Riverton, South Pass, and the Shirley Basin are going to get a good shot of snow.”
Strong wind gusts will add to the hazards. Although the wind won’t be as intense as the 55 mph winds experienced in southern Wyoming earlier this week, it could still be enough to impair driving and possibly increase the blowover risk for high-profile vehicles.
“Wind gusts from anywhere from 20 to 30 mph are possible, blowing from east to northeast, across central Wyoming,” Gerhardt said. “People should take extra time while traveling, because stronger winds and heavy snow will mean lower visibility on the road.
Warm, Wet Weekend
Once it falls, the snow will not last long. Warmer temperatures and sunny skies will accelerate melting by Friday.
“In typical March fashion, we get a snowstorm and the sun comes up over the weekend. We'll have a lot of melting and improved weather by Monday,” Day said.
The latest winter storm will be intense throughout its duration, even if it isn’t bitterly cold. It’ll be a lot before it’s over.
“This system is going to be a pain,” Day said. “It will cause travel problems, without a doubt, but we will see precipitation falling in areas that really need it.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
