CHEYENNE, WY — Snow is spreading onto a high stretch of I 80 tonight, and the National Weather Service says the system is the season’s first winter storm to hit the Sierra Madre, Snowy and Southern Laramie ranges. Winter weather advisories are in place through Thursday, with the heaviest mountain totals expected to reach 12 inches and wind gusts as strong as 45 mph.
Totals on the interstate itself should be lower than in the surrounding ranges, but forecasters say travel could still become difficult. That matters because this part of I 80 has closed before when snow combined with strong wind, and the current setup includes both. The advisories also cover several nearby high-elevation roads where visibility can drop fast.
NWS Cheyenne expands the alert to cover the interstate
NWS Cheyenne updated the winter weather advisories at 4:06 a.m. ET Wednesday and broadened the warned area overnight to include the interstate corridor. The office said the storm is the season’s first to affect the Sierra Madre, Snowy and Southern Laramie ranges, with the heaviest impacts focused on the higher terrain.
South of the Wyoming state line, the same weather system is already prompting advisories on Colorado high passes, including Vail Pass on I 70. That wider setup shows how the storm is spreading across mountain travel routes, not just one isolated stretch. For drivers on I 80, the key concern is that snow and gusty winds may line up at the same time overnight and into Thursday morning.
Snowy Range expected to take the brunt of the storm
The Snowy Range is forecast to see the heaviest snowfall, with 6 to 12 inches expected and gusts reaching 45 mph. That advisory is already active and is scheduled to run until 2 p.m. ET Thursday. NWS Cheyenne says travel could be very difficult along Highway 130, which climbs through the range.
The same warning also flags a different kind of hazard for people away from the roadway. Hunters and hikers may become disoriented and lost because snow could sharply reduce visibility. With stronger wind on exposed ridges, conditions can change quickly enough to make navigation difficult even for people familiar with the area.
Southern Laramie Range and I 80 summit face lower but still disruptive snow
The South Laramie Range, which includes the I 80 summit between Cheyenne and Laramie, is forecast to receive 3 to 6 inches, mostly above 7,000 feet. Forecasters also expect gusts up to 35 mph there. A similar forecast covers the North Snowy Range Foothills around Arlington and Elk Mountain, where the same snowfall range is expected.
Those advisories begin at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday and continue until 2 p.m. ET Thursday. The National Weather Service says the storm should reach the I 80 summit early Wednesday evening locally, before the official advisory window begins. It also warns that locally heavier totals are possible in the advisory zones, and that travel on the interstate could be difficult.
Elk Mountain has already seen how fast I 80 can shut down
Elk Mountain sits inside the advisory area, and the corridor there has already proved vulnerable to winter weather. In April, a spring storm with strong winds created blizzard-like conditions, several semitrucks jackknifed, and the Wyoming Department of Transportation closed I 80. The weather made driving so difficult that one truck driver said he could not see 10 feet ahead.
That earlier event is a reminder that even when interstate snow totals are lower than in the surrounding mountains, wind can turn a manageable snowband into a road closure. The current forecast again pairs snow with strong gusts, which is why forecasters are focusing so closely on the exposed summit and nearby stretches of pavement.
High winds raise the risk for trailers, trucks and rooftop cargo
Drivers of box trucks, empty trailers, camper vans and SUVs with roof boxes should pay close attention to the wind forecast. On wet or snowy pavement, a 35 to 45 mph gust can push those vehicles sideways, especially on open stretches with little shelter. Slowing down leaves more room to recover if the vehicle starts to drift.
Towing a light trailer can be even harder in a crosswind because the trailer can move more easily than the vehicle pulling it. During the April storm, WYDOT closed nearby Highway 34 to high-profile vehicles under 40,000 pounds, and similar restrictions could be used again if winds strengthen. For now, the main advice is to expect changing conditions and plan accordingly.
WYDOT and NWS advise drivers to check road reports before heading out
WYDOT posts closures, restrictions for high-profile vehicles and current road conditions on WYOroad.info. The National Weather Service in Cheyenne also tells drivers to call 511 for the latest road reports before traveling through the affected area. Those updates matter most for anyone crossing the ranges overnight or early Thursday.
The local forecast adds another layer of concern for Cheyenne and Laramie. Cowboy State Daily says Wednesday night is expected to bring rain and snow that is near certain in both cities, along with gusts up to 30 mph in Cheyenne. That means the storm is not limited to the highest peaks; it could also affect lower-elevation travel and commuting plans across southeastern Wyoming.