Late-season snowstorm shuts down I-80 in southern Wyoming
A late-season winter storm brought heavy snow and hazardous travel conditions to southern Wyoming on May 18, 2026, shutting down sections of Interstate 80 and other roads. The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Cheyenne issued winter storm and blizzard warnings for parts of Carbon and Albany counties, while the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) reported road closures, reduced visibility, and winter travel hazards across affected corridors.
Image credit: Wyoming Department of Transportation
A late-season winter storm brought heavy snow and hazardous travel conditions to southern Wyoming on Monday, May 18, shutting down sections of Interstate 80 and affecting transport across Carbon, Albany, and Sweetwater counties.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Cheyenne issued winter storm warnings for parts of the region and upgraded the Arlington area to a Blizzard Warning due to whiteout conditions caused by heavy and blowing snow.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) reported winter condition closures and rolling restrictions along sections of I-80 through the Rawlins, Rock Springs, and Laramie areas. Many motorists were stranded for extended periods during the height of the storm, while power outages affected parts of Carbon County, including Rawlins.
Meteorologist Don Day reported as much as 61 cm (24 inches) of snow was measured in Centennial.
Early May 19 road reports listed slick roads, drifted snow, fog, black ice, strong winds, blowing snow, and limited visibility in parts of I-80.
WYDOT reported WY 71 closed between Rawlins and the southern end of the route due to winter conditions, while US 287/WY 789 south of Rawlins had slick and drifted snow, blowing snow, and reduced visibility. Additional mountain routes, including sections of WY 130, were also affected by hazardous winter travel conditions.
NWS Cheyenne maintained freeze warnings and watches for parts of southeast Wyoming and western Nebraska on May 19, warning that temperatures could fall well below freezing overnight into Wednesday morning.
Forecast temperatures in some areas were expected to drop as low as -11°C (12°F), with lows generally ranging from -11 to -7°C (12 to 19°F), prolonging icy conditions on roads.
References:
1 Snowstorm Shuts Down Southern Wyoming, Motorists Stranded On I-80 For Hours – Cowboy State Daily – May 18, 2026
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