CASPER, Wyo — Snowfall totals in central Wyoming are already beating earlier projections, according to the National Weather Service in Riverton. The agency says snowfall rates at the station had exceeded an inch per-hour for two hours running.
The bad news: hazardous travel conditions, with multiple highway slide-offs having been reported and a high volume of crashes in Casper and other cities. Roads could also become slushy as temperatures rise in the afternoon, the NWS said.
The good news: eight inches of fresh snow at Hogadon Ski Basin as of noon Wednesday. The facility also reported on social media that the road up the mountain — a state highway — is in better shape than the roads in town.
Also: wind gusts on Outer Drive have been averaging only 12 mph, with a high gust of 17. The NWS has advised that gusts may reach 31 mph in the city, and up to 40 mph in some locations.
2.8 inches of snow had already fallen in Casper by 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to the NWS preliminary snowfall totals.
The winter weather advisory remains in effect for Natrona County through 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, with snowfall possible until 7:00 p.m.
“Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible,” the NWS said.
