Melting snow closes US 287, increases stream flows in central, northeast Wyoming

Rapidly rising temperatures began melting winter snow quickly Thursday and early Friday, leading to localized flooding, increased streamflows and causing a short closure of US 287 on the north edge of Lander.

The Lander highway closure was caused by swelling flows in Squaw Creek. Water left the banks of Squaw Creek and flowed through the Museum of the American West and Pioneer Museum parking lots, across US 287 and through the parking lot of KOVE-KDLY radio station for about five to six hours Friday morning. Northbound and southbound traffic was rerouted to North Second Street and Milford, and the highway was reopened to traffic by 8 a.m. Friday.

School was canceled in Lander on Friday. The melting snow caused flooding in some homes in the Lander area near Lander Valley High School.

In other areas of central and northwest Wyoming, snow-melt water was running across the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway (WYO 296) Thursday afternoon, and water left the banks of Owl Creek near WYO 170, northwest of Thermopolis Friday morning.

Water from the Big Horn River was also flowing over the top of river ice near Worland on Friday morning.