Next Snow Storm on the Way

Riverton Forecast Office has addressed the next major storm to affect much of Wyoming.  Star Valley will experience precipitation beginning tonight, becoming mostly snow on Thursday.  At this time the heavier snow is once again expected to occur to the east of Star Valley.

*Updated 10/2* Significant Snow Possible Thursday and Friday

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Summary | Forecast | Monitoring & Reporting Snowfall | Safety

Did you enjoy the snowfall the last week of September? We're guessing a lot of you are still going through some cleanup associated with that wet, heavy snowfall. Well, we have some news for you - another wintry storm appears favorable to impact the state later this week. This storm may again produce significant snowfall accumulations, and will likely result in colder temperatures across the forecast area.
Stay up to date with our current products, and what they mean as they will be updated over the next couple days!

NWS Text Products and Forecasts

Area Forecast Discussion	Winter Watch / Warning	Special Weather Statement	What Does That Highlight Mean?
Watch//Warning Map	Digital Point Forecast Map	Weather Story	Rain and Snow Reports

An area of low pressure will continue to dig across the intermountain west during the middle portion of the week, and the system will begin to move across the state late Wednesday, and may persist through Friday morning as it lifts northeast.  Because of its path, this system may have a greater impact over upslope favored areas, including the southwestern portion of the Wind River Basin, and along the northern slopes of the Owl Creek mountains. Additionally, significant snowfall accumulations and hazardous impacts may be felt across much of Johnson and Natrona counties. Snowfall accumulations at this time are still being realized, and will continue to be updated and fine-tuned today and Thursday. 

Click Loop To Enlarge Loop of anticipated storm track starting Wednesday and going through Friday.	Click Image To Enlarge Graphic of current storm total snowfall forecast (inches). The snow will be wet and heavy with a high water content so there will be a lot of compaction and melting as the snow accumulates.

Cooling temperatures are expected with this storm. The most snowfall is favorable to fall across the Wind River and Big Horn Mountains, with the Lander foothills, and the lower elevations of Natrona and Johnson counties likely receiving the most snowfall in the lower elevations. The greatest impacts are currently anticipated to be east of the Continental Divide.
The snow expected to fall east of the divide could cause significant damage as most trees still have their leaves and could pose a hazard as the weight of the snow breaks branches. These breaking branches could cause property damage or power outages east of the Divide late Thursday into Friday morning. In addition, since heavy snow is possible, this may complicate the morning commute on Friday in Lander, Riverton, Casper, Thermopolis, Wind River Canyon, South Pass, Buffalo, and Kaycee.
Stay tuned to this story and NWS Riverton's winter weather products for more information regarding this developing winter system.