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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Heavy snow, flooding and the threat of avalanches made for an unusual mix of weather-related problems in parts of central and western Wyoming on Friday.
In Fremont County, warm temperatures melted some of the snow that had piled up in lower elevations, sending rivers and streams out of their banks.
In parts of Teton County, crews struggled to restore power to the Teton Village ski community, Jackson Hole Mountain Ski Resort and nearby residential areas where a storm on Tuesday had toppled transmission line poles. The Teton County Commission on Friday approved a disaster declaration aimed at obtaining state and federal money to help pay for damages.
In southeast Wyoming, high winds made travel hazardous for truckers and others driving vehicles that were at risk of blowing over.
Flooding was reported in Lander and Hudson, Fremont County emergency management coordinator Kathi Metzler said. Some homes and businesses suffered water damage and least one person was forced out of his home because of high water, she said.
Temperatures that warmed into the 50s melted snow that had piled up in lower elevations during the last couple of months, she said. "It came up a nice 20 degrees last night ... along the mountain there, and it just started running," Metzler said.
Some of the creeks and rivers still have ice, exacerbating the flooding, she said.
In higher elevations, heavy snow continued to fall in areas that already are well above normal for snowfall this time of year, said Jim Fahey, a National Weather Service hydrologist.
He said ever the lower elevation snowpack in the Riverton area is the most he's seen in his 13 years there.
Winter storm warnings were posted Friday for large areas of western and northwest Wyoming, including Yellowstone National Park.
The deep snow created avalanche danger along several mountain highway corridors in western Wyoming.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation closed parts of U.S. 189/191 south of Jackson on Friday morning while crews worked to reduce avalanche danger in the Hoback Canyon area.
Wyoming 22 between Wilson and the Idaho state line also was closed Friday for avalanche control.
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