The National Weather Service is predicting a storm before the calm before another storm this week.

The latter storm could bring significant precipitation and mountain snow to hit much of western and central Wyoming later this week, according to the Riverton office of the National Weather Service.

Initially, the cold front could deliver some accumulating snow
to the East Slope of the Wind River Mountains on Tuesday night.

The precipitation probably will stop Wednesday and Wednesday night as drier air moves in from the south.

But on Thursday, additional moisture will wrap around the back side of
the low pressure system for more precipitation with the possibility of more significant snowfall Thursday and Thursday night across the east slope of the Wind River Mountains.

Significant accumulating snow also will also fall over Casper Mountain and the Owl Creek Mountains. The temperature could drop enough for the rain to turn to snowfall across the lower elevations of Johnson, Natrona, and Fremont Counties.

That could affect Buffalo, Casper, Riverton and Lander with up to 1.5 inches of snow.

High elevation highways such as Wyoming Highway 28 over South Pass and Wyoming Highway 251 -- Casper Mountain Road -- could become slick and snow-covered.

The precipitation also could cause possible flooding in areas where streams and rivers are already running full, according to the NWS.

Tonight, isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms will occur across the west and north. An isolated strong to severe thunderstorm is possible in Johnson County.

Beginning Tuesday, there will be isolated to scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms, with snow possible in the western mountains Tuesday night.

From Wednesday through Thursday night, the National Weather Service is predicting possible widespread moderate to locally heavy rain and mountain snow across portions of central Wyoming.

In Casper, rain is likely before midnight Thursday, then a chance of rain and snow with a 60 percent chance of precipitation.

The rain and snow will continue before noon Friday, followed by a 30 percent chance of rain. The high will be near 46.

The weather will return to almost springlike conditions on Saturday with a high near 56, and a high near 65 on Sunday with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

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