Photos: Wyoming begins to dig itself out of massive winter storm
Three days after being hit by a historic winter storm, the cities of Casper and Cheyenne were still contending with closures and huge amounts of snow.
Casper snowstorm
A bulldozer moves snow away from the entrance to Manor Heights Elementary School on Tuesday in Casper. On Wednesday, the city of Casper will work with private contractors to help clear roads from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Casper snowstorm
A snowy Casper is seen Tuesday after a historic snowfall blanketed the city.
Casper snowstorm
A snowy downtown Casper is seen Tuesday.Â
Casper snowstorm
Workers push snow off of a building Tuesday in downtown Casper.
Casper snowstorm
A man shovels snow Tuesday in downtown Casper.
Casper snowstorm
Snow covers much of a road in North Casper on Tuesday.Â
Casper snowstorm
High berms of snow cover parts of the sidewalk in downtown Casper on Tuesday. Warmer weather is expected later this week.
Snowstorm
Plowed snow sits in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn in east Casper on Tuesday.
Snowstorm
A fire hydrant is covered in snow Tuesday in east Casper.
Snowstorm
A field in east Casper is covered in snow Tuesday after a historic snowstorm hit the city.
Snowstorm
Plowed snow is piled in front of Mainstay Suites in east Casper on Tuesday.
Snowstorm
A car is covered in snow Tuesday in Casper following a storm that dropped more than two feet of snow.
Snowstorm
A snow drift is seen Tuesday in east Casper after a historic snowstorm dumped more than two feet of snow on the city.
Snowstorm
A mound of snow sits in the parking lot of the Best Western Plus on Tuesday in east Casper.
Snowstorm
A truck with a plow drives down Second Street on Tuesday after a historic snowstorm hit Casper.
Rockies Storm
Snow covers nearly the entire front window in downtown Cheyenne, Wyo. on Monday, March 15, 2021. Denver's airport reopened Monday after a powerful late-winter snowstorm dumped over 3 feet of heavy, wet snow on parts of Colorado and Wyoming, shutting down roads, closing state legislatures in both states, and interfering with COVID-19 vaccinations. (Michael Cummo/Wyoming Tribune Eagle via AP)
Rockies Storm
Cars and pedestrians travel down West Lincoln way in downtown Cheyenne, Wyo. on Monday, March 15, 2021. Denver's airport reopened Monday after a powerful late-winter snowstorm dumped over 3 feet of heavy, wet snow on parts of Colorado and Wyoming, shutting down roads, closing state legislatures in both states, and interfering with COVID-19 vaccinations. (Michael Cummo/Wyoming Tribune Eagle via AP)
Rockies Storm
A pickup sits covered in snow in downtown Cheyenne on Monday. The storm closed highways throughout the state.
Rockies Storm
A bicyclist travels down Yellowstone Avenue in Cheyenne on Monday. A powerful late-winter snowstorm dumped over 3 feet of heavy, wet snow on parts of Colorado and Wyoming, shutting down roads, closing state legislatures in both states, and interfering with COVID-19 vaccinations.Â
Rockies Storm
A car sits buried in snow on West 17th Street in downtown Cheyenne on Monday.
Rockies Storm
Snow is piled in front of Cheyenne City Center on Monday in downtown Cheyenne. The storm caused widespread business closures.
Rockies Storm
Cars sit in an apartment parking lot while buried in snow in Cheyenne, Wyo. on Monday.Â
Rockies Storm
A man uses a sled to shovel out his stuck vehicle on Monday, March 15, 2021, in downtown Cheyenne. Denver's airport reopened Monday after a powerful late-winter snowstorm dumped over 3 feet of heavy, wet snow on parts of Colorado and Wyoming, shutting down roads, closing state legislatures in both states, and interfering with COVID-19 vaccinations. The 27 inches (68 centimeters) that had fallen by the end of Sunday at Denver International Airport on the plains east of downtown made it the fourth biggest snowfall in the city's history, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder. (Michael Cummo/Wyoming Tribune Eagle via AP)
Rockies Storm
A group of people walk across Yellowstone Avenue in downtown Cheyenne, Wyo. on Monday, March 15, 2021. Denver's airport reopened Monday after a powerful late-winter snowstorm dumped over 3 feet of heavy, wet snow on parts of Colorado and Wyoming, shutting down roads, closing state legislatures in both states, and interfering with COVID-19 vaccinations. The 27 inches (68 centimeters) that had fallen by the end of Sunday at Denver International Airport on the plains east of downtown made it the fourth biggest snowfall in the city's history, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder. (Michael Cummo/Wyoming Tribune Eagle via AP)
Rockies Storm
Drivers on all-terrain vehicles drive down Yellowstone Avenue in downtown Cheyenne, Wyo., on Monday, March 15, 2021. Denver's airport reopened Monday after a powerful late-winter snowstorm dumped over 3 feet of heavy, wet snow on parts of Colorado and Wyoming, shutting down roads, closing state legislatures in both states, and interfering with COVID-19 vaccinations. The 27 inches (68 centimeters) that had fallen by the end of Sunday at Denver International Airport on the plains east of downtown made it the fourth biggest snowfall in the city's history, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder. (Michael Cummo/The Wyoming Tribune Eagle via AP)
Snowstorm
Interstate 80 is seen near Remount and Harriman after a historic snowstorm hit Wyoming.
Snowstorm
Interstate 80 is seen near Remount and Harriman after a historic snowstorm hit Wyoming.
Snowstorm
Interstate 80 is seen near Remount and Harriman after a historic snowstorm hit Wyoming.
Snowstorm
Interstate 80 is seen near Remount and Harriman after a historic snowstorm hit Wyoming.
WYDOT employees and equipment are being deployed from Sheridan, Gillette, Sundance and other areas not affected by the snow to assist crews overwhelmed by continuing snowfall and low visibility.
With more than two feet of snow covering parts of the state, vaccine shipments coming into Wyoming have been halted until the weather clears.
The dip in arrests was a welcome respite after seeing property theft and other crime rise over the past year, Casper Police Chief Keith McPheeters said.
The declaration mobilizes Wyoming's Office of Homeland Security to use both state and federal resources to mitigate the damage caused by the storm.
With more than two feet of snow covering parts of the state, vaccine shipments coming into Wyoming have been halted until the weather clears.
WYDOT employees and equipment were deployed from Sheridan, Gillette, Sundance and other areas not affected by the snow to assist crews overwhelmed by continuing snowfall and low visibility.
The snowpack in the Laramie Range, lower North Platte and Powder River watersheds all increased 20% to 30% by mid-March. But it could still be a dry summer in Wyoming.
Along with colder temperatures, forecasters expect the storm could blanket central Wyoming with snow.
Another cold front is expected to hit the region beginning Sunday night, plunging temperatures into the teens.