Natrona County schools to stay closed on Thursday

(CASPER, Wyo.)

The Natrona County School District will implement a virtual learning day for the third time this week due to the effects of a record-breaking snowstorm.

“This decision was made out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our students and staff,” the district said online. “At this time, the windrows, drifted sidewalks, and other snow impacts create safety concerns for student and staff transportation, clearing emergency exits, bus stops, student pick-up and drop-off areas, staff ability to report to work, and students walking to and from school.”

All buildings will be closed and students will continue to do schoolwork online.

The announcement was made on Wednesday just after 11 a.m. as parents and students were in their second day of virtual learning. School was released early on Monday as the snowstorm gained momentum.

According to data released on Tuesday evening by the National Weather Service in Riverton, the storm’s two-day snowfall dumped 48 inches of fresh snow on Casper Mountain and between 25 and 35 inches in Casper’s lower elevations.

Even before yesterday’s new totals, the storm had already set a new record for all-time snowfall on a single day for Monday, breaking the old record that had stood for four decades. The NWS in Riverton said on social media on Tuesday that the storm’s final totals will likely be officially released by Wednesday afternoon.