Snow and Wind Could Wreak Havoc On Southeast Wyoming

If you have hatches, it may be about time to batten them down. The National Weather Service in Cheyenne is projecting at least 8 inches of snow in Albany and Laramie Counties, and up to 16 inches in higher elevations.

The amount of snowfall mixed with 30-50 mph wind gusts is a recipe for closed roads, dangerous conditions, and limited to no visibility.

Snowfall is expected to begin Sunday night, continue all day Monday, and taper off Tuesday morning.

Release from the National Weather Service:

... WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM MONDAY TO NOON MST TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHEYENNE HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM MONDAY TO NOON MST TUESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING... SNOW WILL DEVELOP AROUND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT... AND WILL BE MODERATE TO HEAVY AT TIMES MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF TUESDAY MORNING.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS... 8 TO 12 INCHES ACROSS LARAMIE COUNTY... WITH HIGHEST ACCUMULATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN LARAMIE RANGE FOOTHILLS INCLUDING HORSE CREEK. 4 TO 10 INCHES ELSEWHERE.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY... WIDESPREAD EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH ARE LIKELY ON MONDAY WITH DECREASING WINDS MONDAY NIGHT. HIGHER GUSTS TO 40 MPH ARE LIKELY NEAR ARLINGTON. VISIBILITIES MAY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE HALF MILE IN FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW.

* IMPACTS... TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR RECREATION WILL BECOME DANGEROUS ACROSS THE AREA LATE TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT DUE TO HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW. SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW IS LIKELY WHICH COULD POSE A THREAT TO LIVESTOCK AND CAUSE POWER OUTAGES. SOME ROADS MAY BECOME CLOSED DUE TO HAZARDOUS WINTER CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AVOID TRAVEL IN THE WARNING AREA. IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO TRAVEL IN THE WARNING AREA... LISTEN TO THE LATEST WEATHER FORECAST AND CONSIDER TRAVELING AT ANOTHER TIME OR BY ANOTHER ROUTE. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL IN THE WARNING AREA... USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN APPROACHING AND DRIVING OVER RAILROAD CROSSINGS... TAKE ALONG A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT. IF YOU BECOME STRANDED IN A RURAL AREA... STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL HELP ARRIVES. TO KEEP WARM IN YOUR VEHICLE... RUN YOUR ENGINE 10 MINUTES EACH HOUR... AND MAKE SURE THE EXHAUST PIPE IS CLEAR OF SNOW TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.