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Blizzard forces multiple road closures, non-emergency travel discouraged

Multiple roads remain closed across Campbell County and northeastern Wyoming. (Screenshot/Wyoming Department of Transportation)

UPDATE 2 p.m., April 24: the City of Gillette has ended the Level 2 Snow Emergency, though the Level 1 emergency remains in effect. The closures listed in the previous update still apply.

UPDATE 1:30 p.m., April 24: eastbound I-90 to Rozet has been reopened. North Highway 14-16 to the North Highway 59 junction is open, though North Highway 59 remains closed to the Montana border and North Highway 14-16 is closed to Spotted Horse. South Highway 59 is partially open to Gap Road. South Highway 50 is partially open to Barrett Road.

UPDATE 2 p.m., April 23: South Highway 59 to Wright and Douglas has been closed. As of 2 p.m., April 23, there is no estimated time of opening for any major highways in Campbell County, per WYDOT.

GILLETTE, Wyo.—Winter weather conditions have forced multiple highway closures throughout Campbell County and the City of Gillette to declare a Level 2 Snow Emergency.

As of 8:20 a.m., April 23, Highway 50 south to Highway 387, Highway 387 to Midwest, westbound I-90 to Buffalo, eastbound I-90 to Moorcroft, North Highway 14-16 to Spotted Horse, and North Highway 59 to the Montana border are all closed due to weather conditions with no estimated opening time, according to the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Parking along roadways is prohibited and delays highway openings.

Effective at 6:30 a.m., April 23, City Administrator Hyun Kim has declared a Level 2 Snow Emergency that advises against non-emergency travel within city limits. Roads across Gillette may be impassable and non-emergency travel could interfere with city efforts to clear snow and storm damage as well as emergency services.

All city facilities are closed, though it is up to the individual employer to determine whether to remain open for business during the emergency.

For residents hoping to have food delivered to their homes via DoorDash, the company has implemented its Severe Weather Protocol and has suspended all services in Gillette.

“The safety of Dashers, merchants, and customers is our top priority,” DoorDash spokesperson Julian Crowley said in a statement.

The City first issued a Level 1 Snow Emergency on Friday, April 22.

The National Weather Service in Rapid City, South Dakota, has a Blizzard Warning in effect until 6 a.m. Sunday, April 24, with predictions of additional snow accumulations of 10 to 18 inches with winds gusting 65 mph.

This is a developing story; County 17 will have updates throughout the emergency with additional information as it becomes available.

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