CASPER, Wyo. — Friday night marked not only the official start of fall, but also the first snowfall of the season for Casper Mountain.
National Weather Service meteorologist Joshua Rowe said the weather is in line with when Wyoming’s higher elevations typically see their first snowfall. For lower elevations in the region, though, the first snow typically doesn’t come until roughly the middle of October.
“There have been times before that the lower elevations of Casper see accumulation in September,” Rowe said, “but on average, the middle of October is when they tend to get their first snow and see more wintry weather.”
Casper wasn’t just snowy in the 2022–23 winter, but historically so. However, Rowe said, Casper-area residents shouldn’t expect the coming season to be nearly as snowy.
“Basically, we’re in El Niño right now, and there’s a greater than 95% chance that it’ll continue January to March of this next year,” he said. “What El Niño means is that conditions are probably going to be a bit warmer [and] a bit drier.”
Rowe added that weather systems are hard to predict when looking more than a few weeks out, but that Friday night’s snow on Casper Mountain may be all the snow the area sees for the time being.
“It’s not looking like there’s any more snow in the forecast for the immediate future,” he said. “In fact, temperatures are going to get warmer next week. … Forecasts say it’s going to be in the upper 60s, low 70s on Tuesday.”
Even still, Rowe advises area residents to begin preparing for the snowy season now.
“Being prepared is key. Make sure your car has an emergency kit in case you get stranded,” he said. “Make sure your house is ready for the shift in temperatures. And if you’ve got livestock, make sure they’re ready for the colder temperatures too.”
