NWS Riverton has issued Winter Storm Warnings for five zones in Wyoming, effective from 6 PM Sunday through 6 PM Monday MDT. Up to 16 inches of snow is forecast for the Wind River Mountains East, and a stretch of Interstate 80 in East Sweetwater County is explicitly named in the impacts. Wind gusts up to 50 mph are expected across the warning zones.
The Five Zones Under Winter Storm Warning
Wind River Mountains East is the heaviest hit, with 8 to 16 inches of snow possible and gusts to 50 mph. The warning specifically calls out impacts to South Pass, the main route over the Continental Divide in central Wyoming.
Casper Mountain is forecast to get 7 to 14 inches with gusts to 40 mph, threatening the Monday morning and evening commutes for the Casper metro area (population around 60,000).
Green Mountains and Rattlesnake Range, including Jeffrey City, are expected to see 6 to 11 inches with gusts to 50 mph.
East Sweetwater County, including Wamsutter, is forecast for 3 to 6 inches with gusts to 50 mph. This is the I-80 corridor: the warning text explicitly says travel could be difficult "especially along Interstate 80."
Natrona County Lower Elevations, including the city of Casper, are under warning for 3 to 5 inches generally and up to 7 inches between Hiland and Casper, with gusts to 40 mph.
What This Means for I-80
Interstate 80 is the only year-round east-west interstate in southern Wyoming and one of the busiest freight corridors in the Mountain West. The 100-mile stretch through East Sweetwater County (Wamsutter, Rawlins approach, Continental Divide) routinely closes for winter weather, even in May.
With 3 to 6 inches of snow forecast in the warning zone and 50 mph gusts, two factors stack against drivers: reduced visibility from blowing snow, and high-profile vehicle exposure on an open, treeless plain. WYDOT closures on this stretch typically come fast and last hours. If your route Sunday night or Monday takes you across southern Wyoming, plan an alternative or plan to wait it out.
What Comes Next
The same storm system is forecast to move south into Colorado on Monday into Tuesday, where the WPC Winter Storm Outlook shows another large probability footprint of warning-criteria snow over the western Colorado mountains. Formal Winter Storm Warnings from NWS Boulder and NWS Grand Junction are expected to follow, putting Interstate 70 through Vail Pass and the Eisenhower Tunnel under the same threat that I-80 faces tonight.
Driver Tips for the Wyoming Warning Zone
- Check WYDOT before you go. Live road conditions and closure status are at wyoroad.info or dial 511.
- High-profile vehicles (RVs, box trucks, anything tall) should avoid I-80 across southern Wyoming Sunday night and Monday. 50 mph crosswinds plus snow is the worst combination for rollovers.
- South Pass and Togwotee Pass travelers should carry chains, food, water, and a flashlight. South Pass sits at 7,412 feet and has no services for long stretches.
- The Casper commute Monday will be the most affected population center. Plan extra time or work remotely if possible.
This article will be updated as conditions evolve. For the full picture of this late-season Western storm across all ten affected states, see our earlier report.
Related: Winter Storm Warning: Up to 20 Inches of Snow and 70 mph Winds Hit I-5 and Western States
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