Snow Showers Possible Amidst the Wild Winds

Today is the final day of calm before the wind picks up. It will begin tonight in the southeastern region of the state in cities such as Cheyenne, Wheatland, and Laramie. Pine Bluffs may also see this begin tonight. Tomorrow it will encompass the entirety of eastern Wyoming along with the majority of Central Wyoming, including Casper, Rawlins, Douglas, and later in the evening Riverton will join in. Winds will predominantly be out of the west in southeastern Wyoming, the southwest for Rawlins and Casper, and the west-southwest for Douglas. Speeds will likely be in excess of 40 mph sustained, and gusts will likely hover in the 60 to 70 mph range, potentially reaching speeds of 85 mph. When the winds begin to shift a bit out of the north in the evening, that is when Riverton will begin to experience them. Anticipate Light and High Profile Closures on I-80 from Cheyenne to Rock Springs and on I-25 from Cheyenne to Buffalo. US Highway 287 from Laramie to Rawlins in the Medicine Bow will also be dealing with this as well.

Sustained wind speeds in southeast Wyoming Wednesday will likely be in excess of 40 mph, and... — Sustained wind speeds in southeast Wyoming Wednesday will likely be in excess of 40 mph, and wind gusts could reach speeds of 85 mph.(KGWN)

Along with the winds there will also be a chance for some snow. Those chances will begin as isolated showers late tonight in far northwest Wyoming, becoming more scattered as Wednesday begins. It will not be until late Wednesday afternoon that snow begins in northeast Wyoming, pushing southward through the evening and overnight hours. It is anticipated that snow will reach Casper and Douglas shortly after the dinnertime hours. It likely will not reach southeastern Wyoming until midnight or later into Thursday morning. Given the warmth outside leading into this (Wednesday will be the warmest day of the week with afternoon highs reaching the mid 50s for many locations) accumulations likely will not be a concern, especially with the extreme winds smashing the snow into the ground. Anybody traveling during this should be careful however, as visibility will be greatly reduced and the chance for snow squalls quite high. Winds will shift directions from those mentioned above to the northwest as the snow passes through, propelling the cold front through the state.

A cold front will bring snow showers (and squalls) to Wyoming Wednesday night into Thursday... — A cold front will bring snow showers (and squalls) to Wyoming Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Given the strong winds, snow squalls are likely.(KGWN)

As the cold front begins its march southeast through Wyoming, the powerful winds will shift... — As the cold front begins its march southeast through Wyoming, the powerful winds will shift direction Wednesday night from the west and southwest to the northwest, adding a bitter wind chill to the air.(KGWN)

Come Thursday the strong winds will continue, albeit out of the northwest instead of the west/southwest. There will be a significant wind chill with them for that reason, and temperatures Thursday will likely top off in the upper 20s/lower 30s under mostly sunny skies. The magnitude of wind speed may be a bit weaker on Thursday, however issues with travel due to winds will likely persist. The wind will begin to calm for Central Wyoming Thursday night and for Northeast Wyoming heading into Friday morning. However for Southeast Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle the strong northwestern winds are expected to stick around into Friday evening.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) -