A significant winter storm is set to bring heavy snowfall and strong winds to western Wyoming, prompting advisories and warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Riverton.
The NWS has forecast snow accumulation of up to 18 inches in the western mountains and 4–10 inches in valleys. The heaviest snowfall is anticipated Thursday evening and again Friday afternoon, potentially affecting travel on Teton Pass during both evening commutes.
Snowfall is expected to continue through Friday night, with additional Winter Storm Watches extending into the weekend as another system moves into the region.
Strong gusts of up to 65 mph are predicted in areas from southern Fremont County to southern Johnson County on Thursday afternoon. These high winds, combined with minimal precipitation, have created extreme blowover risks on routes like Casper’s Outer Drive and Interstate 25 between Casper and Douglas, according to the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT).
Meanwhile, road conditions along Togwotee Pass, part of US 26/287, remain challenging but passable, with the area currently described as “slick with snowfall.” Travelers are urged to monitor WYDOT updates for the latest road conditions.
Natrona and Fremont Counties are expected to remain relatively dry, continuing a trend seen over the holiday period. However, windy conditions will persist, particularly on exposed roadways.
The initial winter storm advisory for areas like Jackson is set to transition to a watch by Friday night, lasting through Sunday. NWS cautions that a second storm system will bring additional significant snowfall to western Wyoming over the weekend.
Oil City News and County 10 contributed to this report.
